Arizona prison visitation rules, dress code, and the $25 background check fee

INTRO

Arizona is the only state in this directory where you have to pay to become an approved prison visitor. Every adult applying for in-person visitation, phone call access, or video visits at an Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) facility must pay a one-time, non-refundable $25.00 background check fee. This is not a deposit - it does not come back if you are denied. It is a processing fee, and it is mandatory for all adult applicants under Department Order 911, which governs every aspect of Arizona prison visitation.

Understanding that fee and the process that surrounds it is the most important thing a family can do before they start the application. Pay late and you are automatically denied and barred from reapplying for 180 days. Apply while the inmate is still in intake and your application goes nowhere. Know the rules before you submit.

THE $25 BACKGROUND CHECK FEE - HOW IT WORKS

The fee is one-time and non-refundable. It covers a criminal background check that ADCRR runs on every adult applicant for in-person visits, phone privileges, and video visits.

Who pays: All adult visitors applying for in-person or video visitation. Also required for those applying for phone call privileges with the inmate (though phone-only applicants use the regular application process without the in-person fee - verify with DO 911).

Who may be exempt: Department Order 911 lists specific categories of exemptions. Check the "Need Help" link on corrections.az.gov/visitation or read DO 911 directly for the current exemption list. Common exemptions in similar systems include attorneys of record, clergy, and in some cases immediate family members - but do not assume you qualify; verify from the current DO 911 text.

Payment deadline: Once you submit your application, you have 30 days to pay the $25 fee. If payment is not received within 30 days, your application is automatically denied. There is no grace period and no exception for payment delays.

Denial and re-application: If your application is denied for any reason - including non-payment - you must wait 180 days before submitting a new application. That is six months. This is one of the longest re-application lockout periods in the directory and it applies to payment failures as well as substantive denials.

Payment methods: ADCRR provides three vendors for electronic payment - by storefront, phone, mobile app, or internet. Payment options are listed on corrections.az.gov/visitation.

APPROVED VISITOR APPLICATION - ONLINE PROCESS

Arizona uses a fully online application process through corrections.az.gov/visitation. There is no paper form equivalent to Florida's DC6-111A or Alabama's Form 303-A - the application is electronic only.

Two critical timing rules before you apply:

Rule 1 - Intake blackout: Do NOT submit an application while the inmate is in the intake process at Alhambra Reception Center (Phoenix) or Perryville Reception Center (women's facility). Applications submitted during intake are not processed. Wait until the inmate has been assigned to their permanent facility and transferred out of reception. The inmate will tell you when that happens - do not guess.

Rule 2 - All fields required: Every information field on the application must be completed before submitting. ADCRR treats incomplete applications as if they were not submitted - they are not processed and the clock on your 30-day payment window does not start until a complete application is received.

Processing time: 60 days from receipt of the complete application and verified payment. The inmate is notified of the decision - not you. It is the inmate's responsibility to inform you of your visitation status. Do not contact the facility to check on your application status until at least 60 days have passed.

Background check: Criminal background checks are conducted on all persons applying, including those applying for phone privileges only.

THE PHASE SYSTEM - HOW MUCH VISITING YOU GET

Arizona ADCRR uses a phase system that determines how many hours of visitation an approved visitor can have based on the inmate's behavior and program compliance. This is one of the more complex visiting privilege systems in the directory and it directly affects how often and how long you can visit.

How it generally works at ADCRR facilities (using Lewis Complex as the example):

- Phase 1: 4 hours of visiting on Saturday or Sunday (not both)

- Phase 2: 12 hours total - 8 hours on Saturday/Sunday plus 4 hours on a second day

- Phase 3: Full-day visits on Saturday and/or Sunday

Phases vary by facility and unit. Check the specific facility page on InmateAid or contact the facility directly for that unit's current phase structure. The inmate earns phase advancement through program compliance and behavior.

Holiday visits: Holiday visits are in addition to the established phase schedule - they do not count against your phase allocation.

Non-contact hours: Many facilities offer non-contact visiting hours on weekdays (typically Friday) for visitors who cannot come on weekends. These require appointments - contact the specific facility.

General standard across ADCRR: Visiting is Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays in two 4-hour blocks (8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM). Individual facilities may run slightly different windows - always verify with the facility.

INTAKE AND NO-VISIT PERIODS

During the intake process at Alhambra or Perryville: no regular visits. Legal/attorney visits are permitted during intake with advance scheduling. Once transferred to a permanent facility, the application process can begin.

There is no standard statewide waiting period after transfer to the permanent facility before visits can begin - once your application is approved (60 days after submission), you can visit. However, if the inmate is in a restricted housing status, visits may be limited to non-contact or suspended entirely regardless of your approval status.

DRESS CODE - DEPARTMENT ORDER 911

Arizona's dress code under DO 911 is specific about colors and materials in ways that catch families off guard. The key prohibitions:

What you cannot wear:

- Orange in any form - orange is an inmate color at many ADCRR facilities

- Brown, tan, or khaki in any shade - these colors resemble ADCRR security staff uniforms. No solid light tan or light brown shirts. No dark brown pants or slacks. No khaki. This is the color prohibition most families do not know about until they are turned away

- Camouflage in any pattern or color

- Spandex or spandex-like material of any kind

- Sheer, see-through, or open-netted clothing

- Shorts shorter than knee-length when standing. Jogging shorts, cut-offs, and hip-huggers are prohibited

- Skirts and dresses shorter than knee-length when standing. Slits cannot extend above mid-thigh when seated

- Revealing, low-cut, or midriff-exposing tops

What the dress code requires:

- All clothing must be clean, worn in good repair, non-offensive, and within common decency standards

- Proper undergarments must be worn

- Closed-toe footwear

What to wear:

- Loose-fitting pants or jeans in a neutral color - avoid brown, tan, khaki, and orange entirely

- A collared shirt or T-shirt with sleeves in a non-prohibited color

- Closed-toe shoes

The brown/tan/khaki prohibition is Arizona's most distinctive dress code rule. Most families know to avoid orange - almost nobody knows that the entire tan-to-brown spectrum is off-limits because it resembles guard uniforms. Navy blue, black, gray, white, green, red, purple - all acceptable. Brown, tan, khaki - not acceptable.

ID REQUIREMENTS

A valid government-issued photo ID is required for every visit. Driver's license, state ID, military ID, or passport. The name on your ID must match exactly the name on your approved visitor application. Expired IDs are not accepted.

MINOR VISITOR RULES

Minors must be accompanied by an approved adult visitor who is on the inmate's approved visiting list. The accompanying adult is responsible for the minor's conduct during the visit. Check DO 911 and the specific facility page for age-specific requirements and any restrictions related to the inmate's offense history.

CONDUCT DURING THE VISIT

Brief embrace at the beginning and end of the visit is standard at contact facilities. During the visit, visitors and inmates must remain seated in assigned areas. Do not pass any items to the inmate - anything exchanged is treated as contraband.

Once a visitor leaves the visitation area, re-entry is not permitted. The visit is considered over when the visitor exits.

Visitors and their belongings are subject to search, including electronic screening and canine detection. Refusal to submit to a search ends the visit.

VIDEO VISITATION

Arizona ADCRR offers video visitation as an approved visit type - the $25 background check fee applies to video visit applications the same as in-person applications. Video visitation scheduling varies by facility. Contact the specific facility for video visitation availability and platform.

Arizona county jails (operated by county sheriffs, not ADCRR) use their own visitation systems. Maricopa County jail uses video visitation through ViaPath (Getting Out app). Pima County, Pinal County, and other county jails vary - see individual county pages on InmateAid or call the jail directly.

FEDERAL BOP FACILITIES IN ARIZONA

Federal inmates in Arizona fall under BOP Residential Reentry Management Phoenix (RRM Phoenix covers Arizona and southern Nevada). Federal prisons operate under BOP Program Statement 5267.09 with their own visitor approval process - no $25 background check fee is charged for federal facility visitor applications. The TRUINTEL background check system is used. Federal visitation rules and hours are published facility-by-facility at bop.gov/locations/.

Federal facilities in Arizona: FCI Phoenix, FCI Tucson, USP Tucson, FCI Safford.

SEX OFFENDER VISITOR RESTRICTIONS

Arizona does not publish an explicit blanket prohibition on registered sex offenders visiting ADCRR facilities in the publicly available DO 911 summary. Background checks are run on all applicants. Applications are evaluated individually and ADCRR may deny based on the nature of the applicant's criminal history and the inmate's offense. Contact ADCRR directly if this situation applies - do not assume approval or denial without applying.

REENTRY CONNECTION

See our Arizona halfway houses page at inmateaid.com/halfway-houses/arizona/ for federal RRC resources under RRM Phoenix and ADCRR community transition programs.