How to Visit a Prison Inmate

When a friend or loved one is incarcerated, one must prepare for the difficult task of visiting them in prison. Not only is it difficult from an emotional and personal standpoint, but also from a bureaucratic one since the prison decides when and how you can visit your friend or loved one.

Instructions

1. Check online or call the prison facility to find out the specific rules regarding visiting inmates. Though most facilities have a website, some are still behind the times.

2. Find out the specific dates, times and prerequisites before visiting a prison inmate. Most prisons only allow visitation on designated days at designated times. Also, they have rules regarding what you are allowed to bring into the prison, so educate yourself on those before going or you will be barred from entering the prison.

3. Prepare yourself psychologically before you go. Seeing someone you love behind bars and wires is as difficult a situation as you can possibly imagine. You should take the time before arriving to center yourself emotionally so that you will make the most of your visit without making the inmate feel any worse than they already do.

4. Understand that if you have been convicted of a felony in the past, a warden will most likely not let you visit the prisoner without express permission. Get this in advance and get it in writing.

5. Apprehend that there are contact visits and non-contact visits in various prisons. For example, if you are family of the inmate, you can sit with them in open areas and actually share the same space with them. If you are a friend, you will be allowed a non-contact visit, which means you will sit behind glass when talking to the prisoner.