That process usually takes only a few minutes; but if the visitor is leaving at the end of visiting, there will be many prisoners to be searched at the same time and the wait (if the visitor is required to wait) can take much longer, up to 30 minutes. In addition to providing information regarding days and hours for visiting, the 800 Visitors’ Information number and website will also provide information on lockdowns, medical quarantines, or other circumstances affecting visiting, addresses, and directions to the prisons. Prisoners can sign-up to use the designated phones in 15-minute time slots. will be taken to a private room where they can remove the item and staff of the same gender will use a wand to search. Staff at the Visitor Centers are quite familiar with visiting rules and procedures and can be a good source of information for the family and friends of prisoners. Prison visiting rooms have digital cameras available for photographs of prisoners and/or their visitors to be taken. _____ Site Moderator: Cali What you Need to Know ~ Arizona ~ Arkansas~ KVSP ~ Loving a Lifer. The area is usually relatively small (about the size of a typical bedroom) and has toys, games, and books for the children. How to Visit an Inmate. Staff will write which visiting room the visitor is to go to on the pass.
Although the pass and identification may be held by staff once the visitor gets to the visiting room, it will be returned to the visitor upon leaving the visiting room. Prisoners are given information about process when they first enter prison. You should contact the institution you plan to visit for more information regarding visitor processing scheduling. Family visits are restricted to approved visitors who are immediate family members (parents, children, siblings, legal spouses, or registered domestic partners) of the prisoner. (When visiting room staff calls the housing unit for the prisoner, it becomes the responsibility of housing unit staff to advise the prisoner. Acceptable forms of identification must be valid and current (not expired) and include: Minors (children under 18 years old) are required to be accompanied by an adult who is an approved visitor. A driver’s license (from any state) with photo; A Department of Motor Vehicle identification card (from any state) with photo; An armed forces identification card with photo; A United States Department of Justice Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) identification card; A United States passport with photo or a foreign passport with photo; or.

This handbook is a useful guide for visitors, taking you through the process step-by-step, explaining the procedures and rules, and providing information and guidance on what you will need to do to visit and what you will encounter as you go through the process.

In general, rules exist to protect the safety and security of the prison, staff, prisoners, and visitors, (for example, not being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, not using gang slogans, or walking somewhere on prison grounds you are not allowed.) A visitor whose visit is terminated or whose future visits are suspended, must be given written notice of the violation, the reason for the termination or suspension, and the name of the person authorizing the action.

[Note: Prisons still vary on inclement weather gear; it is recommended you check prior to your visit.]. You can find out the visiting status of a CDCR facility in one of two ways: Call the Visiting Status Hotline at 1-800-374-8474; Check the VPASS Visiting Status; locate the facility you plan to visit. That period can be longer due to factors such as the need for an escort, the readiness of the prisoner for his/her visit, or unforeseen lockdowns, incidents on the yard, or quarantines. Visitors are usually allowed to sit facing any direction, but some prisons may have restrictions for visitor seating as well. At other prisons, the prisoner is required to purchase the photo ticket from the canteen. During the call, there will be a message played periodically reminding the called party that the call is from a state prison. Box 942883, Room 351-N, Sacramento, California, 94283-0001 and seek assistance. Learn how to send packages. Either the prisoner may keep the photo (taking it back with him/her after his/her visit) or the visitor may take the photo. If you arrive in the visiting room during a count period, you will be required to wait for the prisoner’s arrival until count has cleared (meaning that the prison has accounted for all the prisoners being counted), a period that can last more than an hour. All visitors should also be aware that CDCR is prohibited from recognizing hostages for bargaining to affect an escape by inmates or for any other reason(s). © Copyright 2020 California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, Link to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation website, Sending Money, Packages and/or Messages to Inmates, Guidelines for Visitors to Division of Juvenile Justice Facilities, Message to Approved Vendors for Inmate Packages, COVID-19 response and prevention recommendations, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/, Guidelines for Visiting Juvenile Facilities, Read Visitation Guidelines to understand what you can expect and what is expected of you, Find out in which facility your inmate is housed, Schedule a visit online using the VPASS system, The day of your scheduled visit, check the Visiting Status to ensure the institution is accepting visitors.