Hutchinson ? A new Kansas prison policy will bar sex-offender inmates from having contact with their visitors, according to a memo written by the warden at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility.

Kissing, hugging, hand-holding or other greeting gestures between sex-offender prisoners and visitors will be banned beginning Sept. 1, according to the memo written by warden Louis Bruce, which was mailed anonymously to the Hutchinson News.

Hutchinson prison spokesman Steve Schneider said the plan remained incomplete. The changes will be made statewide.

Russell attorney Michael Holland said the change apparently was in response to sexual abuse charges against Steve Beem, 49, formerly of Plevna. Beem, who is serving 150 years for arson and another sex abuse case, is charged with aggravated indecent liberties with a child and indecent liberties with a child for a June 2, 2001, incident at the prison with a 15-year-old girl. Beem is now imprisoned at Lansing.

Holland said he doubted he could challenge the new policy.

“Generally, Kansas courts tend to side with wardens in these situations as administrative issues,” Holland said. “We’re looking at it, but unless we can find some specific case law to argue, I don’t know what can be done.”

Department of Corrections spokesman Bill Miskell said the changes were broader than just the no-contact visitation policy, encompassing the entire management of sex offenders.