The Bristol County House of Corrections in North Dartmouth is ending in-person visits opting instead to have visits over video conference.

Correction officials believe the switch will prevent illegal substances from getting into the jail.

"We want to keep visitors out of the secure portion of our jail," County Sheriff's Office Spokesperson Jonathan Darling said, adding they've had issues with drugs being left in the visitor's room.

In coming weeks, visitors will enter a trailer on prison grounds which will soon feature rows of video conferencing equipment.

Remote video calls will also be possible. Like phone calls from the jail, the visitors will be charged for video calls. Correctional officials said the fees have yet to be determined.

The house of corrections is the first in the state to opt for video over in-person visits.

This is not the Bristol County Sheriff's first controversial decision. Sheriff Thomas Hodgson said earlier this year he'd like to charge prisoners a daily incarceration fee. Additionally, he suggested sending Massachusetts inmates to work on the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.

Editor's note: This article has been edited to include updated comments from the Bristol County Sheriff's Office.