The Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections has announced the resumption of under glass, non-contact visitation at both facilities: the Alexander A. Farrelly Justice Center on St. Thomas) and the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility on St. Croix, effective Dec. 15.
Each facility has established visiting days/hours, procedures and reserves; they have the right to modify visitation rules as circumstances warrant. All visitors must wear a mask for the entire visit and comply with all Bureau rules and regulations governing visits, and they must abide by the COVID-19 protocols at each facility.
Inmates/detainees whose last names begin with the letters A to L can receive visitors from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Saturdays and Sundays only. Inmates/detainees whose last names begin with the letters M to Z can receive visitors from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., on Saturdays and Sundays only.
“We recognize the significance of allowing incarcerated loved ones’ families and friends to interact with them. The bureau has determined that we can safely resume in-person visitation at our facilities, as positivity rates and hospitalization rates continue to decline in the territory,” Director Wynnie Testamark said.
“Since the pandemic began in March 2020, the bureau has worked tirelessly to reduce COVID-19 at its facilities. As a result, neither a prisoner nor a detainee required hospitalization, and, thankfully, none died,” she said.
The bureau continues to offer video visitation through the VendEngine kiosks at each facility.
