How long before I’m approved to visit an inmate?

When your husband arrives at Colwell Detention Center, he will first go through an intake process called Admission and Orientation, often referred to as A and O. During this time, the facility evaluates him, assigns housing, and sets up his records.

This intake period usually takes anywhere from a few days up to a couple of weeks, depending on the facility. In some cases, parts of orientation can extend longer, but basic processing is typically done within the first week or so.

Visitation cannot start until two things happen:

• He completes enough of the intake process to be placed in general population or assigned housing
• He submits his visitation list and you are approved by the facility

Once he is allowed to create a visitor list, your name must be added and sometimes approved before you can schedule a visit. That approval process can take several additional days to a couple of weeks depending on how quickly the facility processes requests.

In general, most people are able to start visits within 1 to 3 weeks after arrival, but it can vary.

The best thing you can do is:

• Make sure he has your full name exactly as it appears on your ID
• Wait for him to notify you once he is allowed to add visitors
• Follow any instructions the facility provides for visitor approval

The first couple of weeks can feel slow with limited communication, but once he clears intake and gets his list approved, visits usually become part of a regular routine.