217.265. Visitors, regulation of--clergymen's privileges.

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

217.265. Visitors, regulation of--clergymen's privileges.

Visitors, regulation of--clergymen's privileges.

217.265. 1. Except as provided in subsections 2 and 3 of thissection, no person shall be permitted to enter a correctional center exceptby special permission of the chief administrative officer of the facility,the division director, the department director or under such regulations asthey shall prescribe.

2. The following persons shall be authorized to visit thecorrectional centers of the state at any time: all authorized employees ofthe department, the governor, lieutenant governor, members of the generalassembly, judges of the supreme court, courts of appeal, and circuitcourts, attorney general, state auditor, state treasurer, secretary ofstate, director of public safety, adjutant general, commissioners ofelementary and secondary and higher education, and circuit and prosecutingattorneys. The assistants of all above-named officers shall be authorizedto visit correctional centers at any reasonable time as specificallyauthorized by their superiors and in accordance with regulationsestablished by the department.

3. All clergymen of every recognized denomination shall have accessto the correctional centers and may visit any offender confined in afacility, subject to such rules as may be deemed necessary for maintainingsecurity and safety in the correctional center. Such clergy may administerthe rites and ceremonies of the church to which they belong, if suchoffender desires it and it is in compliance with department rules.