Visitation Questions — Ask The Inmate

Being on probation disqualifies you from the standard visitor approval process, regardless of whether you are family or not. The background check that every visitor goes through flags active probation, parole, and felony convictions, and the result is an automatic denial through normal channels. The rule applies equally to family members and friends. A mother on probation faces the same barrier as a friend on probation. The relationship to the inmate does not change the underlying disqualification. That does not mean the...

Yes, visitor approvals do not transfer between state prison systems. Each state runs its own independent approval process, and being approved in California has no bearing on your eligibility to visit in Arizona. You start the application process from scratch when an inmate moves to a different state's correctional system. Arizona's visitation application process differs from California's in one notable way. The Arizona Department of Corrections charges a fee for the visitor application, which covers the cost of the background check...

Whether you need to reapply depends on where your inmate is moving from and to, and the distinction matters practically. If your inmate moves within the same state correctional system, your visitor approval generally stays valid across facilities in that system. In Mississippi specifically, if your paperwork is on file with the Mississippi Department of Corrections and your inmate transfers from one MDOC facility to another, that approval travels with them. You do not need to start the process over every...

The physical contact rules in a prison visiting room apply equally to all approved visitors regardless of their relationship to the inmate. The standard policy at most correctional facilities permits one brief hug and kiss at the start of the visit and one at the end. That rule does not distinguish between a spouse, a family member, a friend, or any other approved visitor on the list. Correctional facilities are not in the business of policing the personal relationships or moral...

Yes, and this is standard policy at most correctional facilities across the country. A brief hug and a light kiss are permitted when your inmate enters the visiting room at the start of the visit and again when the visit ends. That physical greeting and goodbye is considered a normal part of the visitation experience and corrections staff expect it. The key word is brief. A light kiss and a gentle hug that lasts a few seconds falls well within what...

The Bland Correctional Center is a male reception and classification facility. Its role is to intake offenders from the local jails and process them into the Department. It houses inmates classified to multiple levels of security. This is a state prison in the Virginia Department of Corrections, their statement on mail and visitation are as follows: The Department of Corrections encourages inmate correspondence that is directed to socially useful goals. Inmates shall be allowed to correspond with families, friends, attorneys, courts and...

A felony conviction does not automatically end the conversation, but it does mean the standard approval process will not work for you. The background check that every visitor goes through flags felony records, and a standard application will come back denied. The path that exists for your situation runs through the warden's office. A special visitation waiver can be requested, and wardens do grant them in circumstances where the applicant makes a compelling case. A 2014 conviction with completed probation and...