INTRO
Michigan's Department of Corrections (MDOC) manages one of the largest state prison systems in the Midwest - approximately 33,000 people across 28 facilities, including some of the most remote prisons in the Upper Peninsula. The MDOC's statewide visitation standards were updated May 5, 2025 and published in a formal memorandum from the CFA Deputy Director that supersedes all prior standards.
Two features set Michigan apart from most states. First, no-show visits count. If you schedule a visit and don't show up - for any reason - that visit counts against the prisoner's monthly allowable visit quota. Missing a visit has the same impact on the count as completing one. Second, the visit duration differs by day: weekday visits run up to 3 hours; weekend visits run up to 2 hours. For families who can visit any day, Tuesday through Thursday visits offer an extra hour.
Michigan uses commercial bail bonds - bail_banned = false.
VISITOR APPLICATION - CAJ-103 AND CAJ-334
Michigan uses two forms:
CAJ-334 (Visitor List): completed by the prisoner. The prisoner identifies immediate family members and up to 10 other proposed visitors. The prisoner submits the form to housing unit staff. Immediate family members may be added or deleted at any time. Non-family visitors may only be added or deleted once every six months.
Immediate family in Michigan includes: grandparent, parent, stepparent, spouse, mother/father-in-law, child, stepchild, grandchild, sibling, stepbrother/stepsister, half-brother/half-sister. Aunts and uncles may be included if they served as a surrogate parent (requires Verification of Guardianship documentation).
CAJ-103 (MDOC Visiting Application): completed by each proposed visitor. Every person on the prisoner's CAJ-334 list must complete and submit this form. Available at michigan.gov/corrections or at any MDOC facility. The MDOC will not mail a blank application to a proposed visitor - the prisoner must send it, or the visitor obtains it from the website or facility in person.
Submission options:
- Electronic: through the MDOC's approved electronic visiting application process (notification of approval/denial goes to the email address provided)
- Mail: send completed, signed form to the facility where the prisoner is housed
SASE TIP: when submitting by mail, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE). Without it, MDOC only notifies the visitor if the application is denied or incomplete. If approved, no notification is sent without the SASE. The prisoner is notified of approvals. This is published guidance on every Michigan facility page in the directory.
Processing: applications are verified, including follow-through with law enforcement agencies. Relationship documentation may be requested. Attorney applications (CAJ-1069) are processed within 2 business days.
Re-incarceration: if the prisoner is released and later re-incarcerated, ALL visitors are deactivated. Every visitor must go through the full approval process again and submit new applications. This is one of the more disruptive provisions in the directory for families of people who cycle in and out of incarceration.
If denied: both the prisoner and the proposed visitor receive written notification of denial.
FELONY PROBATION/PAROLE - RESTRICTED WITH EXCEPTION
Michigan's policy on visitors who are on felony probation or parole is more nuanced than most states:
General rule under PD 05.03.140: a proposed visitor who is on probation or parole as a result of a felony conviction is NOT eligible for placement on the prisoner's approved Visitor List.
Exception for immediate family members: if the proposed visitor is an immediate family member of the prisoner AND is on felony probation or parole, they may apply - but must include a letter from their parole/probation officer granting permission to visit, submitted with the CAJ-103 application.
Former MDOC prisoners: not eligible for placement on the visitor list. Exception: a former MDOC prisoner who is an immediate family member may be placed on the list with prior approval of the Warden of the facility where the initial visit will occur.
In practice: immediate family members who are on supervision are not automatically blocked - they need PO permission in writing. Non-family members who are on felony supervision are blocked regardless of PO permission.
SCHEDULING - VIAPATH
All visits are appointment-only. No walk-in visits.
Platform: ViaPath Technologies at midoc.gtlvisitme.com
Scheduling window:
- Minimum: 48 hours before the visit
- Maximum: no more than 7 days before the visit
Important: visits scheduled in ViaPath by persons who have not yet received MDOC approval will not be honored. Approval must come first; scheduling second.
Key scheduling rules:
- Visitors may schedule up to 2 separate in-person visits on the same day
- Maximum 5 visitors per visit (children under 2 not counted)
- Arrive 30 minutes early (MDOC's recommendation)
- If more than 60 minutes late: visit may be cancelled unless the visitor called ahead due to circumstances outside their control (traffic, road construction, weather)
- If late but within 60 minutes: time late is subtracted from the visit duration
- All visits must be processed no later than 60 minutes prior to the end of visiting hours
Amish faith exception: Amish visitors must schedule by contacting the Warden/designee via telephone or U.S. Mail - not through ViaPath. They also present two pieces of non-photographic ID (Social Security Card, birth certificate) in lieu of a photo ID.
Quarantine check: MDOC recommends visitors check the quarantine tables on michigan.gov/corrections before traveling to confirm the facility or housing unit is not under outbreak/quarantine status. Previously scheduled visits will be cancelled if a facility or housing unit goes into quarantine.
NO-SHOW VISITS COUNT AGAINST THE MONTHLY QUOTA
This is published explicitly in the May 5, 2025 Visiting Standards: all "no show" visits will be counted towards the prisoner's allowable number of visits.
If you schedule a visit and do not appear - regardless of reason - that scheduled visit reduces the prisoner's monthly visit allotment by one. The impact is the same as if you had come and visited.
For prisoners at lower security levels with limited monthly visits (STG I gets 3/month, STG II gets 2 non-contact), missing a scheduled visit represents a significant portion of the monthly allotment.
If you need to cancel: return to the ViaPath scheduler and cancel the appointment. A properly cancelled visit does not count as a no-show.
VISIT DURATION BY DAY TYPE
Weekday visits (Monday-Friday): up to 3 hours
Weekend visits (Saturday-Sunday): up to 2 hours
STG II prisoners: 1 hour regardless of day
Hold-over visits: if visiting space is available and the Warden/designee approves, visitors may be permitted a back-to-back (hold-over) visit. Hold-over visitors must remain in the visiting room. Total time for two visits:
- Weekday: not to exceed 6 hours total
- Weekend: not to exceed 4 hours total
MONTHLY VISIT QUOTAS BY SECURITY LEVEL
Michigan publishes security-level-specific visit caps - visits not used during a month do not carry over:
Level I: 8 visits per month
Level II: 7 visits per month
Level IV (GP and Protection): 5 visits per month
Level V (GP and Protection): 4 visits per month
Segregation (Administrative, Punitive, Temporary): 4 visits per month
STG I: 3 visits per month
STG II: 2 non-contact visits per month
RSAT Parolees: 7 visits per month
Visits with clergy, outreach volunteers, attorneys, MDHHS child welfare representatives, and Friend of the Court employees do NOT count against the monthly quota.
MINOR VISITOR RULES
A person under 18 may be on the approved visitor list only if they are:
1. An emancipated minor; or
2. The prisoner's child, stepchild, or grandchild; or
3. The prisoner's sibling, half-sibling, or step-sibling
Minor identification required every visit: birth certificate (original or certified copy), certificate of adoption, court order establishing paternity, or a photo ID if they have one.
Female prisoners who gave birth during incarceration may visit with their newborn before the birth certificate arrives - with Warden approval.
DRESS CODE - VISITING STANDARDS SECTION I (MAY 5, 2025)
Michigan's dress code is enforced uniformly across all CFA facilities.
Required:
- Fully dressed in clean clothes in good repair (holes not acceptable; worn/frayed without holes may be acceptable)
- Undergarments required: underpants/panties; adult females must wear a brassiere
- Clean condition throughout
Prohibited:
- Hooded garments of any kind
- Clothing exposing excessive skin: see-through clothing, tube tops, halter tops
- Shorts or skirts/dresses more than 3 inches above the knee
- Spandex and form-fitting clothing (general standard)
Permissible:
- Blazers, suit coats, and sweaters are explicitly permissible
- Hooded garments are specifically NOT permissible
Smocking provision: if a visitor arrives with clothing deemed inappropriate at a first visit to any MDOC facility, the facility may provide a smock and permit the visit. On second and subsequent visits, if the visitor arrives in inappropriate attire that would require a smock, the visit is denied. A visitor denied for attire may return the same day appropriately dressed. The Shift Commander makes the final call on attire disputes.
Michigan does not publish a specific color prohibition (no blue denim ban equivalent to California/Massachusetts).
ID REQUIREMENTS
Adult visitors: photo ID required at every visit - driver's license, state ID, military ID, passport, or other government-issued photo ID. Temporary IDs without a photo must be accompanied by additional photographic ID.
BLACK LIGHT WRIST MARKING SYSTEM
Michigan uses a black light wrist marking system for all visitors. Visitors receive a wrist mark upon entry; the black light is used to verify the marking upon exit from the visiting room. This is a statewide security protocol not documented in most other states' published visitor information.
VIDEO VISITATION
Michigan uses ViaPath for video visitation. Schedule at midoc.gtlvisitme.com. Video visits are also by appointment only and require the same MDOC approval as in-person visits.
FEDERAL BOP IN MICHIGAN
Federal inmates from Michigan fall under BOP Residential Reentry Management Chicago. Federal prisons in Michigan: FCI Milan (Milan, MI - minimum/camp). Pull additional details at bop.gov/locations/.
BOP RRM Chicago: 1901 Butterfield Road, Suite 130, Downers Grove, IL 60515
REENTRY CONNECTION
Michigan has an extensive network of community corrections programs across 83 counties. See our Michigan halfway houses page at inmateaid.com/halfway-houses/michigan/ for statewide reentry resources.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How do I apply to visit someone in a Michigan state prison?
A: The prisoner completes CAJ-334 (Visitor List) naming you. You then complete CAJ-103 (MDOC Visiting Application) and submit it to the facility by mail or electronically via michigan.gov/corrections. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your mail application - without it, MDOC only notifies you if denied; not if approved.
Q: Do no-show visits count against the prisoner's monthly limit in Michigan?
A: Yes - explicitly. If you schedule a visit and don't appear, that counts as one of the prisoner's allotted monthly visits. If you need to cancel, do so through the ViaPath scheduler before the visit occurs.
Q: How long is a Michigan prison visit?
A: Up to 3 hours on weekdays, up to 2 hours on weekends. STG II prisoners are limited to 1 hour. Hold-over visits (back-to-back same day with approval) can extend total time to 6 hours weekday or 4 hours weekend.
Q: Can someone on felony probation or parole visit a Michigan state prison?
A: Generally no. Exceptions exist for immediate family members: they may apply but must include a letter from their parole/probation officer granting permission. Non-family members on felony supervision are not eligible.
Q: What happens if all my visitors get deactivated?
A: This happens automatically if the prisoner is released and later re-incarcerated. All visitors must go through the full approval process again and submit new CAJ-103 applications.
Q: How far in advance do I schedule a Michigan prison visit?
A: Between 48 hours and 7 days before the visit. Schedule through ViaPath at midoc.gtlvisitme.com. Your MDOC approval must be in place before scheduling - visits scheduled by unapproved visitors will not be honored.
Q: What is the black light system at Michigan prisons?
A: All visitors receive a black light wrist mark on entry. The mark is checked under black light on exit from the visiting room as a security verification protocol. TruthFinder WIDGET Search Michigan inmate and arrest records COUNTY GRID All 83 Michigan counties - pills linking to county visitation pages DATA SOURCES MDOC Visiting Standards (May 5, 2025): michigan.gov/corrections/-/media/Project/Websites/corrections/Files/Visiting-a-Prisoner/Visiting-Standards---In-Person---Final-5-5-25.pdf PD 05.03.140 Prisoner Visiting: michigan.gov/corrections CAJ-103 MDOC Visiting Application (02/2025): michigan.gov/corrections/-/media/Project/Websites/corrections/Files/CAJ-103-Visiting-Application-02-2025.pdf MDOC Visiting a Prisoner: michigan.gov/en/corrections/For-Families/visiting-a-prisoner ViaPath Scheduler: midoc.gtlvisitme.com MDOC HQ: 206 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933 BOP RRM Chicago: 1901 Butterfield Road, Suite 130, Downers Grove, IL 60515 Federal facilities: FCI Milan (Milan, MI)
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