Pathology

Disease

Prison

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Infectious disease (medical specialty)

Criminology

Pandemic

Algorithm

Internet privacy

Philosophy

Hotline

Political science

Psychology

Chemistry

Legislation

CLARITY

Phone

Computer science

Linguistics

State (computer science)

Biochemistry

Medicine

Telecommunications

Psychology Public Policy and Law

To limit the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 virus, departments of corrections (DOCs) in all 50 states suspended in-person visits to state prisons between March 7 and March 19, 2020 null This article describes changes to policies related to the contact incarcerated individuals could have with family members and others since the pandemic began null We also examine the clarity of the information presented to the public regarding COVID-19 testing and outbreaks in state prisons null The results show that DOCs quickly made free phone calls available to incarcerated individuals, although for how long this policy remained in place is unclear null The capacity for video visits during the pandemic was notably less;only 25 state DOCs had video visits in place before March 2020, and 16 of those reported adding free video visits with family members during the pandemic null A smaller proportion of states reported offering free email access (n = 15) and free postage/stamps (n = 10) null Analysis of state DOCs' webpages showed variability in the range of information available about testing and outbreaks null The clarity of the information presented on DOCs' websites was associated with the total number of policy changes DOCs made related to other forms of contact with family members null States that made more policy changes had more accessible and informative data related to COVID-19 testing and prevalence on their webpages null These results have important implications for policy considerations related to incarcerated people's contact with their families as the pandemic continues and are discussed in light of pending legislation in the U S null Senate null (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

COVID-19 and prison policies related to communication with family members.