Visitation — Ask the Inmate
A visit is one of the most powerful experiences available to both an incarcerated person and their family. The physical presence of someone who loves you, even across a table or through glass, communicates something that letters and phone calls cannot fully replicate. But the visitation process involves rules, approvals, background checks, and scheduling requirements that can be confusing and discouraging for first-time visitors. This section covers how to apply to be on an inmate's visitor list, what the background check process looks like and what disqualifies a visitor, what to expect on your first visit including what to wear, what you can bring, and how the visit itself is conducted, how contact visits differ from non-contact visits, what children need to know before visiting an incarcerated parent, and how to make the most of limited visitation time. The guidance here is practical and comes from people who have been on both sides of the visitation table. See also our sections on Family Services, Relationship Issues, and Inmate Phone Calls.
Related InmateAid Services
Yes, a government passport should be a sufficient form of proper identification. Please call their visiting officer first before going, but we think you'll be fine. 281-454-5036
Read moreVideo visitation has become increasingly common in correctional facilities over the past decade, driven largely by private companies that secure exclusive contracts with individual jails and prisons to provide the service. Whether it is available to your inmate depends entirely on whether the specific facility has signed one of those contracts. County jails have been among the earliest and most aggressive adopters of video visitation, in part because the technology allows facilities to reduce the staffing and security costs
Read moreCMCF is located on 171 acres and includes thirteen housing units with a capacity of 3,557 beds. Offenders sentenced to the Mississippi Department of Corrections are brought to CMCF where they are processed through the Receiving and Classification unit. Every level of custody is represented and depending on where your inmate is designated (and a year sentence is usually minimum or low unless the inmate has violence in their history), you will relaxed visitation, not through a glass divider.
Read moreVisitation, Phone Calls and Mail - Please call social work at (315) 435-1421 to schedule a visit. Official Visitor - (anyone officially involved in the resident’s case—law guardian, Probation Officer, Case worker, OCFS worker, etc.) Any scheduled time approved by facility social worker or Senior Counselor Parent/Guardian Sunday: 9:30 AM — 12:30 PM 1:30 PM — 4:30 PM Wednesday: 6:00 PM — 8:30 PM Phone Calls Parents and guardians are encouraged to contact the Social Work department
Read morelimited contact
Read moreSince the time frame is so long, we would advise you to contact the "unit team secretary" and ask what, if anything you need to do prior to visiting so that there are no issues when you arrive.
Read moreDepends on where and what custody level the inmate is in. The higher the custody level the most strict the visitation
Read moreI was actually there for three months, the visitation is in a room with tables and chairs, a platform for a single guard and some vending machines. We were able to hug and kiss upon arrival and departure. We held hands under the table the entire visit. The visitors go through a very vigorous and intrusive "pat down". They are carefully looking for people trying to smuggle in contraband. They allowed two hours, more if it's not too busy. Inmates
Read moreYes
Read more