Copies of all policies governing family and parent-child communications in correctional institutions were requested from the directors of corrections in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Useable replies were obtained from 41 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. In the responses, the following aspects of parent-child visits were covered by State policies: visiting eligibility, 29 States; frequency of visits, 28 States; length of visits, 30 States; visit schedules, 32 States; and supervision/activity during visits, 35 States. Overall, parent-child relationships are rarely addressed in State corrections policies. Survey data suggest that policies governing visiting are seldom developed with attention to the special needs of children, the importance of parent-child attachments, or the nature of complex family networks. Corrections policies typically restrict a child's visiting accessibility. The length of time the parent and child may spend together is limited. Access to an incarcerated parent may be further restricted by policies that limit the adult who may accompany the child. Parent-child attachments are also undermined by restrictions on social interactions between parents and children during visits and by the focus on discipline and control of children without provision of child-centered activities.