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Bland Correctional Visitation Center

State Prison

Last Updated: February 07,2024


Visitation Hours

All institutions allow visiting on Saturday, Sunday and State holidays. To reduce crowding in the visiting room, many institutions alternate days inmates may visit based on the alphabet or inmate I.D. number. Be sure to check with the institution or with the offender you plan to visit to determine which day he/she may visit.

Inmates are permitted a minimum of one hour per visiting day with visitors, although the length of visits may be determined by activity in the visiting area such as the number of visitors on a given day; available space; or institutional staff resources.

Most institutions use an on-site visitor registration process. All visitors, including minors, are required to complete the Visitor Application and Background Investigation Authorization Form before visiting (please see the forms page). Children under the age of 18 may visit inmates only with the permission of their parent or guardian, or pursuant to a valid court order. All such children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who is on the inmate's approved visiting list. Emancipated minors, including spouses, will be approved for visitation in the same manner as adult visitors. Please contact a specific facility to obtain further information on their visiting program.

Visitation procedures at individual institutions may vary and can be changed at any time without prior notice. Please contact the correctional center or unit before planning a visit.

General Visitation Information

VA DOC - Bland Correctional Center - Visitation

Apply for Visitation - Submit a visitation application online if you are a new visitor or renewing your visitation privileges.

Schedule a Visit - Once you receive approval to visit an inmate in a VADOC facility, you must schedule your visit online using the Visitation Scheduler. If you are a new user, you must first register using the “Register Today” option.

Prepare for Your Scheduled Visit - Once you have both applied for visitation and scheduled your visit, please review the following information to help you prepare for your in-person visit.

Plan Ahead - Please arrive at the facility one hour before your visit for security screening. No food or drinks will be allowed in the facility, and there will be no access to vending machines.

Visiting with Minor Children - The VADOC has developed a child-friendly short video to help prepare families for a productive visit. If you are visiting with a minor child, the following video will help prepare your child for what to expect during the visit – VADOC Visitation Reminders.

Visitor Registration

Virginia Department of Corrections
P. O. Box 26963
Richmond, VA 23261-6963
Telephone: (804) 887-8341
VisitationInquiries@vadoc.virginia.gov

Visitation Applications

All new applicants and any visitor renewing their application must submit a visitation application online. Paper applications for visitation will not be accepted. Visitors will only be approved to visit multiple offenders if the offenders are immediate family members. Visitors are limited to visiting only one offender that is not an immediate family member. Members who are not immediate family include, but are not limited to:

  • Fiancees/fiances
  • Girlfriends
  • Boyfriends
  • Neighbours
  • Cousins
  • Friends

All visitor applications (new or previously approved) expire 36 months (three years) after the date of approval. A new, updated visitor application must be submitted online at least 30 days before expiration to continue uninterrupted visitation. The Virginia Department of Corrections may conduct an annual record check on each visitor. Prior visitation approval does not guarantee approval continuation. Applicants should allow 30 days for online applications to be processed. Out-of-state applicants should allow up to 90 days for processing. To avoid delays in processing, all information requested on the application must be accurate and complete. A response will be sent to the email address provided by the applicant. Approved visitors must still bring valid picture identification that matches the information provided on the application.

Friends and family members who have a visual impairment or are 65 years of age or older may contact Assisting Families of Inmates for assistance with completing an application. AFOI is an independent organization that offers services for families of offenders. AFOI does not have access to application status information. For that information, please contact the VADOC Visitor Registration at (804) 887-8341.

Procedures

All institutions allow visiting on Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays, but visitors should verify with the institution to find out which day(s) the offender can have visitors. To reduce crowding in the visiting room, many institutions alternate days that offenders can be visited based on the alphabet or offender ID number. Offenders are allowed a minimum of one hour per visiting day with visitors. It is possible that the length of a visit may be determined by activity in the visiting area, the number of visitors on a given day, available space, or institutional staff resources.
Visitation procedures at individual institutions may vary and can be changed at any time without prior notice. Please contact the facility before planning a visit to obtain further information on their visiting program.

Dress Regulations

All visitors, including children, must dress appropriately for visitation. Visitor clothing must cover from the neck to the kneecaps, and all visitors must wear appropriate underwear. Footwear must be worn at all times; no bare feet are allowed. Watches and all wearable technology devices (i.e. Google Glasses) are prohibited.
The following types of clothing are not allowed to be worn:

  • Tube tops, tank tops, or halter tops.
  • Clothes that expose a person’s midriff, side, or back
  • Mini-skirts, mini-dresses, shorts, skorts, or culottes (at or above the kneecap)
  • Form-fitting clothes such as leotards, spandex, and leggings
  • See-through clothing
  • Tops or dresses that have revealing necklines and/or excessive splits
  • Clothing that contains symbols or signs with inappropriate language or graphics, including gang symbols, racist comments, inflammatory communications, etc.
  • Clothing resembling offender clothing

Any visitor whose dress is considered inappropriate will be referred to the Administrative Duty Officer, who will then make the final decision on admittance to the visiting room.

The Virginia Department of Corrections offers the opportunity for family or friends of offenders to meet remotely through a

Video Visitation Program.

Video Visitation makes it easier for some visitors to meet with their incarcerated family or friends without having to invest the time and money in travelling long distances.
How to Use Video Visitation
First, an offender must be eligible for video visitation by meeting the following corresponding standard based upon their assignment security level.

  • Security Levels 1, 2, or 3: no restrictions
  • Security Levels 4 and 5: offender must be 6 months infraction free
  • Red Onion
  • Progressive housing: offender must 6 months infraction free
  • Segregation: offender must be 12 months infraction free

If the offender is eligible, the following steps must then be followed:

  1. The offender has to initiate the visitation process established by the prison. The offender fills out an application packet and mails it to his family or friend.
  2. The family or friend has to mail the application with the fee to the appropriate Visitor Center on the list below.
  3. The Visitor Center sends the name of the visitor back to the facility to insure accurate information and to schedule the video visitation's date and time.
  4. The prison confirms the information.
  5. The Visitor Center contacts the family or friend and confirms date and time of the visit.