What Physical Contact Is Allowed During Visits at South Mississippi Correctional Institution
Visits help you stay connected, but MDOC treats visitation as a privilege with strict conduct rules. Understanding what physical contact is allowed—and what will get a visit cut short—protects your future visiting time.
MDOC allows some affection during visits at South Mississippi Correctional Institution, but within strict limits. Breaking the rules can cost you future visits. Keep greetings and goodbyes brief, and stick to contact MDOC clearly lists as appropriate.
- ✓ A brief kiss and embrace only when you enter and when you leave
- ✓ Holding hands during the visit
- ✓ Walking or sitting with arms around the shoulders or waist
- ✓ Hands resting on parts of the body that are not considered sexual
- ✓ Lip kissing only at the beginning or end of the visit
MDOC draws a hard line at anything sexual. Touching or fondling sexual areas is prohibited. Any sexual activity during a visit is prohibited. Staff who see behavior fitting those categories treat it as inappropriate affectionate behavior - putting that visit and future visits at risk.
- ✓ Prolonged body kissing or prolonged body embracing
- ✓ Lip kissing during the visit (lip kissing is only allowed at the beginning or end)
- ✓ Sitting in a way that exposes areas of the body considered sexual
- ✓ Sitting on each other’s lap (this restriction does not apply to children under age 12)
- Keep the greeting short - If you choose to kiss, limit it to a brief kiss when you first come in, and pair it with a brief embrace.
- Use “safe” contact during the visit - Holding hands or putting an arm around the shoulders or waist while sitting or walking fits what MDOC describes as appropriate.
- Watch where hands rest - Keep hands on parts of the body that are not considered sexual.
- Skip lip kissing until you’re leaving - Lip kissing during the visit is prohibited, even if you’re trying to be discreet.
- Avoid anything that looks prolonged - Long embraces or extended kissing can be treated as “prolonged” and lead to problems.
- Sit in a straightforward, respectful way - Don’t sit in a manner that exposes areas of the body considered sexual.
Warning: Visitation is a privilege, and inappropriate behavior can end a visit immediately and may lead to loss of visiting privileges. If there’s any chance a touch could be seen as sexual, don’t do it.
Violate institution rules and your visit can be terminated on the spot. MDOC allows staff to end visits immediately for inappropriate affectionate behavior. Beyond losing that day's time together, rule violations may restrict you from future visits entirely.
- ✓ Stop the behavior right away and follow staff instructions.
- ✓ Be prepared for the visit to end immediately if a rule is violated.
- ✓ Plan for the possibility of restricted future visits if rules are broken.
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