Families Excited After ODOC Announces Visitations Can Resume At Correctional Facilities

It's been months since families have been able to see their loved ones in Department of Correction facilities across the state because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

That will change starting April 1 after the DOC announced Tuesday that visitations can resume. 

It's been more than 250 days since Bernadette Anderson has been able to visit her son Christopher at the Jess Dunn Correctional Center. 

"I can't wait, I am so excited, and I can't wait until they open it back up so we can go and see him," Anderson said. 

Starting April 1, that can change as the Oklahoma Department of Corrections will be resuming visitations. 

Director of Communications Justin Wolf said it wasn't an easy decision to stop visitations in the fall, but it had to be done to keep inmates safe. 

"Inmates’ health and safety always comes first and foremost, that's why it was suspended in the first place, so we are glad to have it back," Wolf said. 

Anderson said it has been a hard few months for their family as her husband died in January. She hasn't been able to see her son since her husband died. 

"I needed him to take and give me a hug, and I needed to give him a hug when he lost his dad," Anderson said. 

She said the lack of visits has also been hard on her son, but he's tried to be strong for their family. 

"You can tell in his voice when you talk to him on the phone, you can kind of sense that he's not the same happy person that he always is," Anderson said. 

During the visits, the DOC will be following CDC guidelines like wearing masks and physical distancing. Appointments will also be required.