{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/53.1-35.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/53.1-35.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/53.1-35.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/53.1-35.2.html"}],"law_id":367739,"edition_id":2,"section_id":367739,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-35.2","catch_line":"Visitation of certain prisoners by minor dependents","history":"2020, c. 526.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Director is authorized to prescribe reasonable rules regarding visitation that shall include authorization of visitation by minor dependents of prisoners who are primary caretakers of minor children with Level 1 or Level 2 security classifications that include (i) opportunities for dependent children under the age of 18 to visit their incarcerated primary caretakers at least twice per week unless an employee of the Department has a reasonable belief that the child (a) may be harmed during visitation or (b) poses a security risk due to a gang affiliation, prior conviction, or past violation of a correctional facility’s contraband policy; (ii) the elimination of restrictions on the number of dependent children under the age of 18 that may be permitted visitation privileges; and (iii) authorization for contact visits for prisoners who are primary caretakers of minor children.\n\nB\n\nNothing in this section shall prevent the Department from refusing visitation of a minor child based on an individualized determination by the Director, warden, or superintendent that such visitation presents security or operational risks.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1368869,"text":"The Director is authorized to prescribe reasonable rules regarding visitation that shall include authorization of visitation by minor dependents of prisoners who are primary caretakers of minor children with Level 1 or Level 2 security classifications that include (i) opportunities for dependent children under the age of 18 to visit their incarcerated primary caretakers at least twice per week unless an employee of the Department has a reasonable belief that the child (a) may be harmed during visitation or (b) poses a security risk due to a gang affiliation, prior conviction, or past violation of a correctional facility’s contraband policy; (ii) the elimination of restrictions on the number of dependent children under the age of 18 that may be permitted visitation privileges; and (iii) authorization for contact visits for prisoners who are primary caretakers of minor children.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1368870,"text":"Nothing in this section shall prevent the Department from refusing visitation of a minor child based on an individualized determination by the Director, warden, or superintendent that such visitation presents security or operational risks.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":52421,"edition_id":2,"name":"Treatment and Privileges of Prisoners","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":2,"parent_id":52400,"metadata":{"child_laws":20,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:35","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:45","permalink":{"id":1464955,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52421,"identifier":"2","token":"53.1\/2\/2","url":"\/53.1\/2\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52400,"edition_id":2,"name":"State Correctional Facilities","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":2,"parent_id":52379,"metadata":{"child_laws":99,"child_structures":11},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:25","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:45","permalink":{"id":1464863,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52400,"identifier":"2","token":"53.1\/2","url":"\/53.1\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52379,"edition_id":2,"name":"Prisons and Other Methods of Correction","identifier":"53.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":117,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":402,"child_structures":56},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:08","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:44","permalink":{"id":1464593,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52379,"identifier":"53.1","token":"53.1","url":"\/53.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":367734,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-32","catch_line":"Treatment and control of prisoners; recreation; religious services","url":"\/53.1-32\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-32","metadata":false},{"id":367731,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-32.01","catch_line":"Payment for bodily injury","url":"\/53.1-32.01\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-32.01","metadata":false},{"id":367732,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-32.1","catch_line":"Classification system; program assignments; mandatory participation","url":"\/53.1-32.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-32.1","metadata":false},{"id":367733,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-32.2","catch_line":"Reentry planning","url":"\/53.1-32.2\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-32.2","metadata":false},{"id":367736,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-33","catch_line":"Physical examination of prisoner; ability to work","url":"\/53.1-33\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-33","metadata":false},{"id":367735,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-33.1","catch_line":"Mandatory testing for human immunodeficiency virus","url":"\/53.1-33.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-33.1","metadata":false},{"id":367737,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-34","catch_line":"Treatment of prisoner with contagious disease","url":"\/53.1-34\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-34","metadata":false},{"id":367740,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-35","catch_line":"Correspondence privileges; receipt of publications","url":"\/53.1-35\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-35","metadata":false},{"id":367738,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-35.1","catch_line":"Electronic visitation and messaging with inmates","url":"\/53.1-35.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-35.1","metadata":false},{"id":367739,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-35.2","catch_line":"Visitation of certain prisoners by minor dependents","url":"\/53.1-35.2\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-35.2","metadata":false},{"id":367741,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-36","catch_line":"Prisoners may assist in medical research programs","url":"\/53.1-36\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-36","metadata":false},{"id":367742,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-37","catch_line":"Furloughs generally; travel expenses; penalties for violations","url":"\/53.1-37\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-37","metadata":false},{"id":367743,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-38","catch_line":"When ineligible for furloughs","url":"\/53.1-38\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-38","metadata":false},{"id":367747,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-39","catch_line":"Certain punishment of prisoners prohibited","url":"\/53.1-39\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-39","metadata":false},{"id":367744,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-39.1","catch_line":"Restrictive housing; data collection and reporting; report","url":"\/53.1-39.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-39.1","metadata":false},{"id":367745,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-39.2","catch_line":"Restorative housing; restrictions on use","url":"\/53.1-39.2\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-39.2","metadata":false},{"id":367746,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-39.3","catch_line":"Use of canines in state correctional facilities; prohibited acts; policies and regulations made public; incidents of use of canines reported; exception","url":"\/53.1-39.3\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-39.3","metadata":false},{"id":367767,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-40","catch_line":"Appointment of counsel for indigent prisoners","url":"\/53.1-40\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-40","metadata":false},{"id":367749,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-40.01","catch_line":"Conditional release of geriatric prisoners","url":"\/53.1-40.01\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-40.01","metadata":false},{"id":367750,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-40.02","catch_line":"Conditional release of terminally ill prisoners","url":"\/53.1-40.02\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-40.02","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":367738,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-35.1","catch_line":"Electronic visitation and messaging with inmates","url":"\/53.1-35.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-35.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":367741,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-36","catch_line":"Prisoners may assist in medical research programs","url":"\/53.1-36\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-36","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/53.1-35.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2020. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 526<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1464993,"object_type":"law","relational_id":367739,"identifier":"53.1-35.2","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-35.2","url":"\/53.1-35.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/53.1-35.2\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-35.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Visitation of certain prisoners by minor dependents","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 53.1-35.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Director<\/span> is authorized to prescribe reasonable rules regarding visitation that shall include authorization of visitation by minor<\/span> dependents of prisoners who are primary caretakers of minor<\/span> children with Level 1 or Level 2 security classifications that include (i) opportunities for dependent children under the age of 18 to visit their incarcerated primary caretakers at least twice per week unless an employee of the Department<\/span> has a reasonable belief that the child (a) may be harmed during visitation or (b) poses a security risk due to a gang affiliation, prior conviction<\/span>, or past violation of a correctional facility’s contraband policy; (ii) the elimination of restrictions on the number of dependent children under the age of 18 that may be permitted visitation privileges<\/span>; and (iii) authorization for contact visits for prisoners who are primary caretakers of minor<\/span> children. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Nothing in this section shall prevent the Department<\/span> from refusing visitation of a minor<\/span> child based on an individualized determination by the Director<\/span>, warden, or superintendent that such visitation presents security or operational risks. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nVISITATION OF CERTAIN PRISONERS BY MINOR DEPENDENTS (\u00a7 53.1-35.2)\n\nA. The Director is authorized to prescribe reasonable rules regarding visitation\nthat shall include authorization of visitation by minor dependents of prisoners\nwho are primary caretakers of minor children with Level 1 or Level 2 security\nclassifications that include (i) opportunities for dependent children under the\nage of 18 to visit their incarcerated primary caretakers at least twice per week\nunless an employee of the Department has a reasonable belief that the child (a)\nmay be harmed during visitation or (b) poses a security risk due to a gang\naffiliation, prior conviction, or past violation of a correctional\nfacility’s contraband policy; (ii) the elimination of restrictions on the\nnumber of dependent children under the age of 18 that may be permitted\nvisitation privileges; and (iii) authorization for contact visits for prisoners\nwho are primary caretakers of minor children.\n\nB. Nothing in this section shall prevent the Department from refusing visitation\nof a minor child based on an individualized determination by the Director,\nwarden, or superintendent that such visitation presents security or operational\nrisks.\n\nHISTORY: 2020, c. 526.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}