Simon Says

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5 Things to know about lawyer visits in prison

Sometimes it can seem like it takes a long time for an inmate to see a lawyer or a visit may get cancelled last minute without the inmate knowing why. A lot goes into even a quick visit with a lawyer, and below are a few things to remember:

  1. Visits need to be booked in advance, and it usually takes a few days to a couple of weeks to arrange a visit through CSC.
  2. Different institutions have different rules about when lawyers can visit, how long visits can be, etc. Lawyers can’t just call up and request a particular time. Generally, only certain blocks of time are available during the week, and lawyers have to choose one.
  3. Lawyers go through security like everyone else. If a lawyer isn’t on the list at the gate or has any issues with security, then he or she may not be allowed in that day.
  4. Lawyers can give and receive legal documents to clients.
  5. In a lock down, lawyer visits are generally cancelled.
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