The purpose of this report is to fulfill the requirements set forth in Chapter 571 of the 2026 Acts of Assembly, which directs the Virginia Department of Corrections to convene a work group and evaluate opportunities to modernize and strengthen the Department’s visitation system statewide.

The legislation outlines five specific goals to achieve:

1. Balancing the encouragement of appropriate physical affection between visitors and prisoners with security needs;

2. Implementing a feasible family visitation enhancement program that offers access to additional in-person visitation days and hours as achievable incentives while maintaining baseline levels of in-person visitation access to all prisoners and their loved ones;

3. Implementing a plan that allows for extended meals with families during in-person visitation at and around selected holidays, where visitors may bring or purchase special meals;

4. Implementing a policy to allow for additional visitation access for minor and infrequent visitors;

5. Developing a plan to return in-person visitation to 2019 levels.

In accordance with these statutory directives, the Department convened a diverse group of stakeholders and facilitated a structured, collaborative review of current policies, operational practices, and opportunities for improvement. This report summarizes those discussions, presents the work group’s recommendations, and outlines the Department’s position and planned actions for each required focus area.