How to Prepare to Visit Someone in Prison

You'll learn what to do to get ready for the visit, what not to do, what to bring, and what to expect once you're there.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Have your name on the inmate's approved visitor list.
• Picture I.D.
• Schedule for visiting days and hours
• Appropriate dress

1. 
    
   Some don't allow contact or face-to-face visits.

   Have your name added to the approved visitors list. The person you're going to visit must request this through prison staff. Remember, not on the list, no visit.

2. 
    
   Federal Regulation

   Find out the visiting days and hours. Some prisons have web sites or you can call. Be sure to let the person you're visiting know when you're coming.

3. 
    
   You're going inside for a visit.

   On the day of the visit, park in the visitors area or follow signs for visitors. Do not bring any weapons in your car or person. You probably won't be allowed to bring anything but yourself inside. Leave the cell phone, books, papers, food, etc. in the car.

4. 
    
   Typical visiting room

   Sign in at the entry desk. Usually there are forms to fill out, especially one that gives your consent to be searched. Most prisons will have you walk through a metal detector. Some prisons have a new technology that can detect trace amounts of illegal drugs.

5. 
    
   Like at an airport, there are certain things that you don't want to joke about.

   Once you get through with the entry procedures, you'll go to the visiting room to meet the person you are visiting. Follow the rules for visiting, like no "make-out" sessions if you are seeing your sweetheart.
   Don't give your visitee anything. This is called contraband and you can get into legal trouble.

6. 
    
   Someone had Santa on his visiting list.

   Conclude your visit when the visiting room officer says time is up.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't wear clothes and accessories with a lot of metal. You won't get past the metal detector.
• Visits are what inmates live for. Although it is intimidating to enter a prison, you are doing a great service by visiting.
• Violations of visiting rules may constitute a crime. Follow the rules.

Resources

• Visiting Hours & General Information
• San Quentin Visiting Information

[jeff2037]

on 8/16/2008 People make mistakes. Some are just pure evil but the majority of convicted felons are sentenced because of drug offenses. They will re-enter society and visitation helps maintain a social network for them to integrate back into the society. It helps hold their family unit together. Believe it or not, the scariest day for many inmates is not the they come to prison, it's the day they go home.

[AbbyNormal]

on 8/16/2008 You say that "Visits are what inmates live for. Although it is intimidating to enter a prison, you are doing a great service by visiting." Perhaps they should have thought of that prior to committing a crime.