What if an Inmate Over Their Visitation Time for the Week?

If you arrive at a facility and your family member has already used their maximum visitation allowance for the week, you will most likely be turned away without a visit. Facilities track visitation credits and enforce the limits strictly in most cases.

Getting a message to an inmate through staff is possible but not reliable. Guards and correctional officers are generally not in the business of passing along informal messages from visitors who were not able to get in. Some facilities may accommodate a simple notification, particularly if staff are feeling cooperative that day, but there is no obligation on their part to do so and you should not count on it.

The best way to avoid this situation is to check visitation status before making the trip. Call the facility ahead of time and ask whether your family member has visitation credits remaining for the week. Most facilities can confirm this information over the phone. If you are traveling any significant distance, a quick call before you leave is always worth it.

If you do get turned away, a letter is the fastest way to communicate what happened and coordinate the next visit. InmateAid can get a letter there within a few business days.