Compassionate visits

Compassionate visits are for people in prison to see their family or partner when there are issues happening outside prison. These visits happen outside the usual visit program and can happen over video-call or in a residential visit facility.

Residential visit facilities are buildings that are in some prisons, which are usually separate from the prison and used for extended, private visits with family members through the Residential Visits Program.

Even though compassionate visits can happen in residential visit facilities, they are different from the Residential Visits Program. They are likely to be for less time and will have more prison officer supervision. You do not have to be in the Residential Visits Program to have a compassionate visit.

Part 3.04 of the Deputy Commissioner’s Instructions has examples of family issues outside prison where compassionate visits might be used:

• When there is a crisis or emergency in a family, like a death or serious injury of a close family member, or breakdown of a marriage
• For supervised visits with children
• Where contact visits are not enough to address the issue
• If it is recommended by support workers for family reintegration or bonding

Important: compassionate visits can only happen with the approval of the General Manager.

If there is an important issue happening with your family outside prison, you should speak to your case worker or unit manager about requesting a compassionate visit.