Kansas prisons suspend visitation as area corrections facilities step up screening
State prisons in Kansas have suspended visitation in response to concerns about the spread of the new coronavirus, the Kansas Department of Corrections announced Friday.
The suspension is effective immediately.
The decision came a day after the Missouri Department of Corrections enacted a 30 day suspension on visits.
Families are encouraged to communicate by email, phone and video visits, the Kansas Department of Corrections said.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment recommends correctional facilities screen incoming inmates.
Area jails have started incorporating COVID-19 screening into their admissions process. Officials in Jackson County and Wyandotte counties said those being booked into jail will undergo screening questions.
Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forte said anyone with symptoms will be isolated and that the facility has initiated a campaign to increase hand washing.
The Clay County Detention Center has halted visitation and is screening incoming people, the sheriff’s office said.
Visitation at the Johnson County Detention Center is suspended starting Saturday.
Officials also said they may increase the use of video court appearances.
Visitation was also suspended at the Platte County Detention Center. Officials said inmates will be given two free phone calls each week until visitation is reinstated.
The threat of the spread of the coronavirus has delayed jury trials in several jurisdictions, including Johnson County where trials through May 1 have been continued. In Jackson County, trials through March 27 have been suspended as have dockets involving large numbers of people.
Six coronavirus cases have been identified in Kansas and four have been found in Missouri.
On Friday, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency over the pandemic.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 5:23 PM.
