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WCF Visitation Center

State Prison

Last Updated: February 15,2024


Visitation Hours

General Visitation Information

Visitation information effective 01/02/2024

Driving Directions

Visiting Days: Weekends and Holidays

Visiting Hours: 7:30AM to 2:00PM (Latest arrival time 1:00PM)

Special Housing Unit Visiting Days & Hours: Incarcerated individuals in SHU custody are allowed one non-legal visit within a seven (7) day period during regular visitation hours and days. Each week begins on a Sunday and ends on a Saturday.

Visitation Schedule: Weekend visits will be divided into specific segments of the population by the first letter of the last name of the incarcerated individual. Holidays will be open to all incarcerated individuals. See attached schedule.

2024 Visitation Schedule

Maximum Number of Visits per Day: One (1)

Maximum Number of Visitors per Visit: Three (3) visitors and one (1) child under the age of five (5) will be allowed to visit. The child must sit on an adult’s lap.

Visiting Room Overcrowding Policy: If space considerations require termination of visits, the following procedure will be followed:

1) Request voluntary termination from any visitor first.

2) If no volunteers, those visitors who arrived first will be asked to leave.

For additional visitation information, please visit the DOCCS Visitors Page

VISITING GUIDELINES

The Superintendent may deny, limit, suspend, or revoke the visitation privileges of any offender or visitor if the Superintendent has reasonable cause to believe that such action is necessary to maintain the safety, security, and good order of the facility.

Identification:

Visitors are required to furnish proof of identification, which includes the following: All adult visitors will be required to present photo identification when being processed to visit an offender in DOCCS. Acceptable forms of photo identification must be valid, and current (not expired) and may include:

  • A driver’s license with photo;
  • A Department of Motor Vehicles non-driver photo identification;
  • Government issued photo identification;
  • Armed Services I.D. with photo;
  • Employment identification with a photo.

To ensure faster processing, it is recommended that you use the same identification at every visit, regardless of who you are visiting and where. Your photograph will also be taken for the visitor identification system. For minor children only, birth or baptismal certificates may be used for identification purposes. Lawyers and other persons entering for official visits can use:

  • Government issued employee photo identification.
  • A court issued employee picture identification or a Unified Court System attorney secure pass identification card.

Visitors Under 18 Years of Age:

  • All minors must be escorted by an adult who is approved to visit or an adult in an official capacity with proper identification and the approval of the Superintendent or his/her designee. The adult escort will be responsible for the behavior and conduct of the minor while on facility property, as well as identification of the minor.
  • Children of offenders will be allowed to visit without written permission. The offender’s name should appear on the child’s birth certificate as verification of relationship. No visit will be permitted if a court order prohibiting such visit is on file with the facility.
  • Children of offenders who are 16 years of age and older will be admitted without adult escort.
  • Unmarried minors under 18 years of age must have written permission from their parent or guardian to visit an offender, if they are not accompanied by their parent or guardian. Written permission may be mailed to the facility in advance or presented by the accompanying adult at the time of the visit.
  • Married persons under 18 years of age who are related to an offender do not need the permission of a parent, guardian, or an adult escort in order to visit an offender. However, proof of age and marriage will be required.

Small Children:

If you arrive with a small child, you will be allowed to take a diaper bag, three (3) diapers, and plastic baby bottles into the visiting room. (Milk is not always available at the facility. It is a good idea to bring your own). All articles must be searched beforehand. A suitable area within the perimeter of the visiting room is provided for the changing of diapers.

Contraband:

The introduction of contraband to the facility is ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED. Contraband is defined as:

  • Anything in possession that would constitute an offense under the law applicable to the public.
  • Anything which could be used to cause death or serious physical injury, including, but not limited to, a hand gun, shoulder gun, cartridge, knife, explosive, or dangerous drug (including marijuana).
  • Anything that is introduced into a correctional facility with the intent to transfer to an Offender without the permission of the Superintendent or designee.
  • Anything that is not specifically authorized to be possessed by an Offender in a state correctional facility according to the rules of the Department or local rules of the facility. (cell phones, alcohol and money are among the items offenders are not permitted to possess).

If you are caught with weapons, drugs, passing drugs, or if there is reasonable suspicion that you are involved with drugs, your visits can be suspended forever, and criminal charges can be filed against you. If this happens, your loved one may have outside criminal charges pressed against them which could lead to a new sentence and more prison time. In a correctional facility, promoting prison contraband is a felony offense. Such a situation could result in your being arrested in a town far from home, your children (if they are with you) being taken by Child Protective Services, prison time, and other serious disruptions to your life.

Searches:

Normal Search Procedures: Except at correctional camps, every person entering a facility shall pass through a metal detector and all items (handbags, briefcases, etc.) shall be searched. A hand frisker may be used if there is difficulty clearing a visitor using the walk-through metal detector.

Substance Detection/Ion Scan

Visitors may be subject to ion scanning or other non-intrusive test for detection of drugs and explosives. A substance detection/ion scanner test is a search using a handheld collection unit to take surface samples from the person’s hands, clothing, personal items, purses/handbags, packages or any other articles. A positive test result may occur when a person has come into contact with drugs or explosives (knowingly or unknowingly), whether the person has used that substance or not. If the test is positive, a second test of the same area is done. A confirmed positive test or test refusal will result in the denial of entry into any correctional facility for 2 consecutive days.

Metal Detector

You will have to pass through a metal detector. Clothing containing metal (e.g. decorative buckles, buttons or studs) or wire, including, but not limited to underwire bras, may cause the metal detector to alert and require further processing. If you wear clothing containing metal, you may have to go through a limited visual search, personal item search, or strip search before entry into the facility will be permitted. If you choose not to go through the additional search, your visit will be denied. Your decision to decline to be searched will not affect future visits. Special processing arrangements can be made for visitors who are the recipient of a pacemaker or defibrillator and wish not to pass through the walk through metal detector.

Limited Visual/Personal Item>

If a metal detector alerts and the visitor cannot reveal or remove the detected object due to its personal nature, staff may pursue several search options. If you do not want to be searched, you will be allowed to leave. Deciding to leave instead of being searched will not hurt your ability to visit in the future.

Limited Visual Search

A limited visual search is a search done in a private area where an officer or staff member of the same sex will visually inspect the area in question. The visitor will lift any clothing or under garments necessary, to show the staff that no contraband is hidden on the visitor’s person in the area in question. If a staff member of the same sex is not available, a personal item search is used instead.

Personal Item Search

A search of personal items may be conducted as an alternative to a limited visual search or when a staff member of the same sex is not available. The visitor is allowed to enter a private area or room to remove items of a personal nature including braces, underwire bras, etc., and given a paper bag in which to place the personal items. The visitor is also allowed to wear a large white shirt as an outer covering during reprocessing procedures. The visitor will be reprocessed via a hand scanner or walk-through metal detector. The bag and its contents shall be discreetly inspected for contraband.

Strip Search

If a visitor to a correctional facility has complied with all of the search processes and a supervisor determines that further processing is warranted, the superintendent or the officer of the day may authorize a consensual strip search after reviewing the matter.

  • The superintendent must have reasonable cause to believe that contraband is concealed upon the person, based upon specific and explainable facts and inferences reasonably drawn from those facts.
  • The visitor has the option to submit to the requested search procedure or to refuse.
  • If a visitor refuses to submit to a strip search the visit will be denied.
  • Refusing to submit to a strip search is not proof of guilt and future visits cannot be denied because you refused a strip search.

Religious Apparel

A visitor is not routinely required to remove religious headwear during search procedures. However, if staff determines, following the use of the hand scanner, that removal of the headwear or any other item of religious apparel is necessary, the item shall be removed in a private area in the presence of a security or civilian staff member of the same sex. If there is no staff member of the same sex on duty, and the visitor still refuses or cannot remove the item due to its religious significance in the visitor processing area, the visit will be denied

If you submit to a strip search, a security supervisor must obtain your written consent on Form #2061 - Notice of Consent to Search. In the case of a minor child, the consent must be given by a parent, guardian, or a person in an official capacity regarding the minor.

Strip searches shall be conducted in locations heated to a level of human comfort for disrobed persons.

Strip searches shall be conducted by an officer of the same sex as you. In unusual circumstances, you may be told that your child has to be strip-searched. In this case, the parent, guardian, or person in an official capacity who has escorted the minor to the facility shall be requested to be present, and, at the discretion of the officer, may participate in the strip search. If at any time during the procedure the minor objects to the strip search, the procedure shall be terminated immediately.

It may take time for the person to come to where you are to do the search. If you pass the search, you will be allowed to visit. If you do not pass the search, your visit will be denied, future visits can be denied, and the State Police may be called to arrest you if illegal contraband is found. There may be other negative consequences.

Cellular phones, pagers, personal digital assistants, cameras, recording devices, two way radios, laptop computers, or other similar electronic devices are prohibited from entering correctional facilities.

Smoking

Due to the fact that smoking is not allowed inside our correctional facilities, tobacco products (including matches) for personal use are not allowed inside a facility.

Prescribed Routine Medications

All medications must be declared and given to the processing officer. They shall be identified and stored in a secure area. If the visitor needs the medication during the visiting period, it may be obtained as directed by security staff.

Clothing/Hair/Jewelry

Visitors should wear clothing that enhances a family atmosphere. Please wear: complete attire with appropriate undergarments; comfortable footwear (bare feet are not allowed) and weather appropriate attire when necessary. Inappropriate clothing will result in you being denied entry into the facility. Make sure you understand the dress code for visitors. It helps to have a change of clothes with you if you are not sure.

Prohibited Dress

  • See-through (sheer) clothing, bare midriffs or backs.
  • Plunging necklines, short shorts or athletic shorts, low tops or backless tops or dresses.
  • Shorts or skirts shorter than mid-thigh length are not allowed.
  • Bathing suits.
  • Attire displaying obscene/offensive, derogatory language or drawings; or promoting illegal activity.

If in doubt, you should not wear a questionable item of clothing. Under no circumstances will a visitor be allowed into the facility dressed inappropriately.

  • Please be advised, if your bra makes the metal detector go off, you will have to take it off and/or be searched by an officer. (See policy regarding searches).
  • If you wear many hair pins and the metal detector goes off because of them, you will be told that you have to take them out of your hair in order to visit. It is easier to do your hair another way.
  • Be aware that some head wraps may have to come off in order for you to pass through the metal detector successfully.
  • Many kinds of jewelry make the detector go off. It is easier to remove anything questionable and carry it with you in the processing area. Put it back on later.
  • Zippers, metal studs, and decorations can make the detector go off. If this happens, you may be asked to go into the bathroom, take off the clothing, put on an alternative article of clothing provided by the Department and kept there for those purposes, and go through the detector again until you make it through successfully. It is best to wear simple clothing so that you can become accustomed to the procedures at the correctional facility.

Sobriety

Visitors who appear to be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs will not be admitted inside a correctional facility.

Monies

Funds for deposit to an offender’s account may be left before a visit, or they may be sent through the mail by check or money order. Money left at the visiting desk is limited to $50.00 per offender per day. Checks or money orders must be made payable to the name under which the offender is committed. It is also recommended that the offender’s department identification number (DIN) be included on the check / money order. It is best to keep your receipts for your records.

Cross-Visiting

Cross visiting is the participation of two offenders in a visit with one or more visitors. Cross visiting is permitted with the approval of the Superintendent, and, in the cases of immediate family members, is to be encouraged. Offenders wishing to cross visit must submit requests to their respective Offender Rehabilitation Coordinator at least one month prior to the proposed visit.

  • Only persons who are on both offender’s visiting records may participate in cross visits.
  • Cross visiting may be limited when necessary in order to accommodate all visitors.
  • When a cross visit is taking place the two offenders may participate in a common photograph.

Objectionable Behavior

Objectionable behavior may result in termination of a visit. Such behavior may include, but is not limited to: loud, abusive, or boisterous actions, disruptive or argumentative behavior, unacceptable physical contact or conduct. While visiting, use good judgment and discretion in dress and behavior so as not to offend others in the visiting room. You may be tempted to try to have more physical contact than what is allowed. This is upsetting to other visitors who have children with them, and can cause your relative or friend to be issued a misbehavior report, as well as your visiting privileges suspended.

Families with Special Needs

  • Accommodations: Procedures for acquiring reasonable accommodations are available at each general confinement facility.
  • Wheelchairs: For those visitors who require the use of a wheelchair, facilities have made provisions which allow reasonable accessibility.

Special Events Visits

Each general confinement facility schedules "Special Events Programs" designed to celebrate cultural, religious, and ethnic affiliations. They also recognize individual and group achievements, and strengthen community and family ties. Under most circumstances, an offender’s guest will only be allowed to participate if he or she has visited the offender at least twice in a New York State Department of Correction and Community Supervision facility during the current incarceration. An exception may be made for an offender’s legal child, less than 18 years of age, who has not previously visited, provided that the child is accompanied by an adult visitor who has met the previous visiting requirement.

Other Visits

  • Legal Visits: For offenders and their legal representatives.
  • Outside Hospital Visits: For offenders in outside community hospitals.
  • Facility Hospital Visits: For offenders

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VISITING MISCONDUCT/VIOLATIONS

Visitor Suspensions

Visitor sanctions apply at all DOCCS correctional facilities and for all incarcerated offenders visited. If a visit is terminated, visiting privileges may be suspended for up to one week until the superintendent makes a decision reinstating, limiting, suspending, or indefinitely suspending the visitor’s visiting privileges.

Many categories of serious visitor misconduct now include as the maximum penalty imposition of an "Indefinite Suspension" of visiting privileges. An indefinite suspension of visiting privileges has no predetermined end date, but instead the visitor may request that the superintendent of the facility housing the offender to be visited review the matter on an annual basis for possible restoration of visiting privileges.

Offender Suspensions

An offender found guilty of misconduct before, during or after the visitation process, may have his or her visiting privileges suspended. Certain types of misconduct, such as smuggling contraband, or sexual misconduct when other visitors are in the area, can result in a loss of visits with all visitors.

An offender found guilty of drug related charges under any circumstances, can lose visiting privileges with all visitors for 6 months for a first offense or 1 year for a second or subsequent offense.

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RULES SPECIFIC TO THE VISITING ROOM

  • Posted Rules: All offenders and visitors shall follow posted rules and directions of the visiting room officers. Allowable items may vary according to facility policy. No large bags or packages will be allowed in the visiting room. Lockers are available in the front gate area for such items.
  • Exchange: Visitors will not give anything to offenders, nor will offenders give anything to visitors, unless it is examined and approved by the officer
  • Kissing: A visitor and offender may embrace and kiss at the beginning and end of any contact visit. Brief kisses and embraces are also permitted during the course of the contact visit. However, prolonged kissing and what is commonly considered "necking" or "petting" is not permitted.
  • Hand Holding: A visitor and an offender may hold hands as long as the hands are in plain view of others.
  • Seating: The officer in charge of the visiting room will make the seating arrangements. Seating arrangements will not be changed by the offenders or visitors.
  • Food: Only food and beverages purchased in the vending machines will be allowed in the visiting room, and only visitors are allowed to use the machines.
  • Pictures: Pictures of you and your loved one may be made available according to facility policy.
  • Visitor’s Complaint: Visitors who wish to express a complaint against a staff member should request to see a security supervisor. Visitors who wish to lodge a complaint of unlawful discriminatory treatment shall send a written description outlining the particulars of the incident, including date, time, place, name(s) of person(s) involved, if known, and/or other documentation in support of the claim to:

Director, Office of Diversity Management
New York State Department of Correction and Community Supervision
The Harriman State Campus - Building #2
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12226-2050

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VISITOR CHECKLIST

  • Confirm that the offender has not been transferred and has visitation privileges.
  • Bring valid photo Identification (ID).
  • If you have made special arrangements with the facility, call before leaving to be sure that plans for your visit have been made and are in place.
  • Check clothing and jewelry for compliance with visiting regulations.
  • If you are bringing a child and you are not the legal guardian or parent, you must have the notarized statement from the child’s parent or legal guardian with you.
  • Before leaving home, check your vehicle for contraband and/or hazardous items. This includes, but is not limited to, implements of escape, drug paraphernalia, intoxicants, poisons, any items that pose a danger to others, weapons, such as knives, scissors, or firearms, and any item used to show a gang affiliation. Remove these items before entering the correctional facility grounds.
  • Arrive on the designated day during proper visiting hours.
  • Leave purses, wallets, and electronic devices in your car - either in the glove compartment, or in the trunk. Be sure to lock your car!
  • Do not leave any minor children waiting in the car or your visit will be ended.
  • Remember to treat correctional staff with respect.
  • Do not have any contraband on you when you enter the facility.
  • Do not bring anything into the visiting room to give to the offender. Offenders are not permitted to take anything from the visiting area.