New Mexico prisons to end overnight family visits after 'careful consideration'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The New Mexico Department of Corrections has announced that it is ending overnight family visits for inmates.
The agency said Wednesday inmates will no longer be allowed conjugal visits beginning May 1.
Officials say the policy change comes after two years of "careful consideration."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The policy recently drew scrutiny after it was revealed last year that convicted killer and rapist Michael Guzman fathered multiple children while serving a life sentence.
Officials say only a small portion of the nearly 7,000 New Mexico prison inmates qualified for overnight family visits.
Currently, only four other states -- California, Connecticut, New York, and Washington -- allow conjugal visits. The practice is forbidden in federal prisons.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Mississippi ended its conjugal visit policy earlier this year.