Visitation Information:

Visits from family and friends are an important part of the patients' therapeutic progress. All visits are screened by DSH-M's Police Department. Visit may be denied if considered to be therapeutically harmful to the patient. All patients retain the right to decline visits from anyone.

Department of State Hospitals - Metropolitan offers in-person and virtual visitation. This information can be shared with family and friends who may wish to visit. It can also be found on the DSH-Metropolitan webpage under 'Visitor Information'.

If you have any questions, please contact your designated Social Worker or the social work department at (562) 474-2896.

General Guidelines:

  • In-person visitation may be modified or suspended based on the hospital's current COVID-19 conditions or as recommended by CDC, CDPH, and local Public Health Department guidance.
  • Patients in isolation with active COVID-19 virus are not permitted to have in-person visitors until released from isolation.
  • If the unit is on quarantine, the patients on that unit may not have in-person visits until quarantine is lifted. Televisits will be offered for patients if their unit is on quarantine.
  • Infection prevention measures are performed by hospital staff before and after each visit, including cleaning of tables, chairs, commonly touched surfaces, etc.
  • Hand hygiene should be performed by both parties before and after the visit
  • Snacks and beverages from the vending machines (located in the Visiting Center) are available to purchase for their visits.
  • Patients residing in Programs II/III/IV/V will conduct their visits in the Visiting Center located inside the Secured Treatment Area. Patients residing in Program 1 will conduct their visits in the designated Program 1 visiting area. Program 6/Skilled Nursing Facility residents may have their visits in the Visiting Center inside the Secured Treatment Area or in a designated visiting area approved by Program Management.
  • Special circumstances may be permitted for visits to occur outside of regularly scheduled hours.
  • Each visit is allowed up to two adult visitors and one minor visitor. Minors must be accompanied by an adult who is responsible for the supervision of the minor.
  • For in-person visits, visitors are encouraged to arrive at least 20 minutes prior to their scheduled visits in order to complete the screening process timely.

Visiting Hours

For patients assigned to Programs II/III/IV/V/VI:

Daily 1:30 to 4:00 pm.

Visits are held in the Visiting Center inside the Secured Treatment Area.


For patients assigned to Program I:

Daily 1:30 to 4:00 pm.

Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 to 11:30 by appointment only.

Visits are held in the Program 1 Visiting Area.

Visitor Attire

Visitors are expected to dress in an appropriate manner so as not to cause disruption in the Visiting Center. Visitors who are dressed in such a manner as to cause disruption shall be denied access to the Visiting Center and have the opportunity to return for a visit when appropriate attire is worn. Attire should be conservative and non-revealing. The following clothing items will not be allowed in the Visiting Center:

  1. Khaki-colored clothing. Visitors are prohibited from wearing khaki-colored clothing of any variation.
  2. Clothing which in any way resembles officers' or patients' clothing.
  3. Camouflage-type clothing or Army fatigues.
  4. Wigs, except for medical reasons with prior approval.
  5. Scarves, hats, bandanas, gloves or other excess clothing.
  6. Offensive or hate/extremist/gang clothing (baggy clothing).
  7. No open toed shoes or shoes with a heel greater than one inch.
  8. Athletic jerseys.
  9. No provocative clothing.

Official Visitors

Official visitors may include public guardians, public defenders, court personnel, county case managers, attorneys, etc. Requests for visits are coordinated through DSH-M's Forensic Department. Email msh.forensic@dsh.ca.gov or call (562) 521-1509 or (562) 521-1510.

Forms of Identification

The following are the only acceptable forms of identification for adult visitors:

  1. Any U.S State or territory valid driver's license with photo.
  2. Any U.S. State or territory valid Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) Identification Card with photo.
  3. Valid U.S. passport with photo. d. U.S Military Identification Card with photo.
  4. USINS Alien Identification Card with photo

Acceptable identification cards for MINORS:

  1. birth certificate, school ID, CA DMV ID, and U.S. Government issued ID.
  • Matricula Consular de Alta Seguridad (MCAS) is not an acceptable form of identification.
DSH-Metro Visitation Scheduling  (NOTE: best viewed using Chrome)

 

Both in-person and virtual visits are available. All patients at DSH-Metropolitan are able to participate in visits depending on scheduling availability. This link will take the visitor to the Tele-Visit form. Instructions are provided on the form.

Please note: For televisits, the visitor(s) will be required to present their ID at the beginning of the web conference. The information provided will need to match what has been submitted. The form should include the legal name as it appears on the visitor's state-issued ID. Once the visit request form is completed and submitted online, hospital staff will contact the visitor to arrange the date and time of the visit.

Department of State Hospitals – Statewide Contraband List (Social Workers has updated Contraband list)

In accordance with Welfare & Institutions Code Section 7295, to ensure its safety and security, the Department of State Hospitals has developed a list of items deemed contraband at every state hospital.

A. "Contraband" means materials, articles, or goods that patients are prohibited from having in their possession because such materials, articles or goods present a risk to safety and security in the facility. (Welf. & Inst. Code, 7295, subd. (i); Cal. Code Regs., tit. 9, 881, subd. (e).)

B. Items restricted to use only under supervision or control may be considered contraband for the purposes of this list, as they should not be in patient's possession without supervision. All items that are illegal to possess are by default considered to be contraband, whether specifically contained in this list or not. This includes any items prohibited as a condition of parole as it applies to any patient on active parole while housed in a DSH facility.

LPS Contraband List

STA Contraband List

Smoking

Metropolitan State Hospital is a tobacco free facility. No use of tobacco in any form is allowed on the hospital grounds.

All visits must be scheduled in advance. There is no walk-in visitation at this time. Please read through and comply with the visitor guidelines before using the scheduling link to reserve your visit.
DSH-Metropolitan Visitation Scheduling  (NOTE: best viewed using Chrome, Internet Explorer may not be supported)

 

 

 

 

Metropolitan

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