People who visit inmates at the Westchester County jail will have to follow new restrictions that officials announced Friday in the wake of inmate overdoses on synthetic marijuana.
County Executive Rob Astorino joined local leaders in White Plains to outline the policy changes. One of the biggest changes includes limiting physical contact between prisoners and visitors to a hug and kiss at the start and end of a visit. In the past, full contact had been allowed during the duration of visits.
Another policy change includes reducing the number of visitors who can see an inmate at a time from four to two.
The changes come after 13 inmates overdosed on synthetic marijuana last month. An inmate's wife has been charged with smuggling in the drug.
"Some people would say, 'Is this really necessary?'" said Astorino. "The answer to this is absolutely. You know the overdoses that happened in July, some were life-threatening."
The policy changes are expected to be in effect by Sept. 14.