I was thinking, I know there are a lot of people on here that want to make vist, and a lot that probably already have.

Why not start a thread that tells how different states and prisons are to visit.

I can start with the two I've visited, I think this can be helpful, and we don't need to give names of the inmates, just the prison names.

1st One:

Mark Stiles Unit (Texas Department of Corr.)
Beaumont, Texas

Once you get on the inmates visitor list, it's really a easy thing to get in.
Visiting hours start at 8:00 AM and till 5:00

I've been 7 or 8 times, and the longest wait I've had getting in has been 20 minutes. It usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes for the inmate to be brought to the visitor area, once your inside.

The visits are 2 hours, unless you get a special 2 day visit, then you can have 4 hours each of the 2 days.

Each person entering is allowed to bring 10.00 dollars in change for the vending machines.

The first weekend of each month is Picture day, you can bring $3.00 extra for each photo you want taken, but it has to be change also.

The visitor area is clean, and the guards are very helpful too.

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2cd

Wabash Valley Correctional Facility (Indiana Department of Corrections)
Carlisle, Indiana

Once your approved for a visit, you get 1 visit every 14 days, and it's a 2 hour visit.

Upon entering the prison, you go thru the guard shack, and they check your ID, get your tag #, and pre-call the prison to notify the inmate.

Once you enter the prison visitor entrance they direct you to the next area, where your given a token for a locker so you can put up not needed items.

Then your searched, and their search is fairly intense, your patted down, and ran thru a metal detector, and your shoes are removed and scanned, before being given back to you.

From there you follow the outside path to the visitor area. Once you enter there are another set of guards that direct you to the seating area, and by that time the inmate is already waiting outside the door.

The visitor area is clean, and has a little area with toys for small kids to play.

Each visitor can only bring 8.00 dollars in change for snacks.

Pictures are taken I think at any visit, but the inmate must buy them in advance.

Good Idea.

G.A. Diagnostic Prison...Jackson, Georgia.

Permanent..DR Prisoners...and somewhat of a clearing house, while they decide what prisons to put some guys in.

A clipboard outside the building...fill in name, address, etc. Fill in Prisoners name and number.

Someone comes to the door and lets you in.
Your pockets are turned out..You're allowed to have ONE key, for the car, 20.00 in coin for the vending machines, plus picture ID...nothing else. Then you go through the metal detector, plus a gal has a wand detector. (have no idea what that is for.

After clearing...you go through bars that open, give them your ID and key, they give you a disc, to retrieve the stuff. More doors open. A long hallway, two flights of stairs... Another area of check and search... more bars opening and closing, and you arrive in a very nice, clean visiting room...vending machines include hamburgers, chicken wings, plus the usual.

DR.....well you don't remain in this room (grin).... Once your pal has been locked down, in a specified visiting room (4...and each unit has one)...A guard unlocks the first door, then another door you go through, where a guard talks to you..another gate opens and closes, and you're now in a hall, with gates south and north of you. Another guard appears and a gate opens and closes, he opens a door, and locks it and THERE IS YOUR PAL......Hugs, kisses and then you sit down as everything is video taped and THERE IS NO TOUCHING OF ANY SORT, until the end of the visit.

Anytime you want in or out of the room...sigh....you just reverse the process, until you get to the regular visitation area.

Nade

Florida
Been several times. Visits are on weekends only unless special visits are granted. Visit hours are 8:30 to 4:30. You are allowed 6 hours per visit and can visit both days if you wish. You must be on approved visitors list. Entry to the prisons are by ID only and you are padded down and have to remove shoes for inspection. A metal detector is the entry way to visitors room. Once in the visitors area you are instructed on where to sit and the inmate has a specified seat. You get a 5 second personal contact at the beginning and end of the visit. You are allowed $25.00 in quarters and $1.00 bills. The visits are punctuated by inmate "COUNTS" at random times in which the inmate has to immediately go to a specified area for a very short time and then returns. All inmates are stipped search before entering the visitors area so it takes a few minutes to go through that process. They do allow contact at the tables but only hand holding on top of the table.

London Ohio Correctional Institute
London, Ohio

When you get there you are not allowed in the doors until the appropriate time. My visits to my cousin are always in the afternoon as he's not a morning person. When ya go in you sign in on a clip board outside the window. When they call the inmate's last name you go in and show id's, get your hand stamped with a stamp that shows under black light, so be careful when you go to the restroom that you dont wash your stamp off. You are allowed to take in 25 dollars in change or bills but nothing over a 5. It has to be in a clear bag. Then you put your things in the bins and go through the metal detectors, once your cleared you pick up your stuff and proceed to a door that the guards unlock.....Through this door you must show your id and hand stamp to another guard who opens another door that leads into the visiting area. Once inside there you give them your pass and show them your id and hand stamp and he then places you where he wants you to sit. We request a seat next to the play area and usually they are nice about it and get us as close as they can. The play room is run by an inmate, of who i've become great friends with and he's one of my pals now. They take photos also but you have to purchase tokens outta the vending machines. These photos are taken by an inmate also. The visiting area is nice and clean and the people that are there are wonderful. We usually see the same people every time we go and that's kinda nice.

I have never been to visit any prison before. But I am hoping to visit my pp this summer. He is in Telford Unit, Texas. If anyone has information about visits there I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

This thread is a great idea! I've not yet visited any prison yet but am working on getting some approvals.

I'm a bit confused about what to wear! Some of the lists I've seen say no floor-length skirts, no mini skirts, no slits in skirts, no jeans, no underwire bras, no racerback bras, but you can't go braless, no sleeveless tops, etc. etc. etc. I'm wondering if any ladies on this Board have any ideas about a nice "acceptable" outfit to wear? I'm at a loss! I appreciate any advice!! Thanks!! :-)

I visited a friend of mine a few years ago here in Australia and even though he was at a Med security prison, it was quite strict. You arrive at reception and fill out a form and hand over some ID. You are given a locker to store personal items as nothing can be taken to the visiting room. I was able to take my asthma spray and a tissue. No cigarettes or money is allowed, there are no vending machines. Each visitor is scanned by electronic systems and mothers with small children are particularly scanned as are the children. You wait in a visiting room and wait for the inmates name to be called and then move to a type of glassed in elevator before being admitted to the visiting room.
Contact is allowed but not encouraged. There are cameras everywhere but guards do not stand around gaping at the visitors. The subject of photos never came up and I never saw anyone having their photo taken.

I have visit one prison, its the Ray Brook FCI, its inbetween Saranc Lake and Lake Placid.
Visits are Friday 11-8, Saturday and Sunday 8:30-6.
You wait outside until they let you in at 8:30, its first come first serve and the first 5 adults go in. You sign a book, fill out a form ( I started taking forms home and have them ready for when I go visit) and you hand in one picture ID. You can leave your car key at the desk or you can get a locker. You are allowed only money in a see through case. I have not been told there is a max, because I have seen people take in a lot. It is wise to just take $5 and $1 bills and quarters. There is a change machine but it won't accept naything higher than $5 bills. If you have a jacket you give it to the officer to get searched, then you have to go through a metal detector. Women shoes always go off, so it is advised you take them off. Then you get stamped and you are walked through another set of door with an officer who checks your stamp under the black light. You walk outside towards the visiting area, and you walk through another set of locked doors and show your stamp again to another officer. Finally you walk in to the visitng area. Sometimes depending on who is there, they have already preassigned seating for you, and sometimes they tell you to just find one. I made a mistake of taking $10 bills before, but luckily the guy that refills the vending machines gave out change. There is a play area, and the visiting area as a whole is clean. Pictures are at every visit taken by an inmate, your pp has to buy the tickets in advance. The officers are all very nice and helpful, I have only met 2 women officers and they both were intimidating, but nothing too big of a deal. The dress code is really just noting sheer too short or too revealing, I have seen above the knee skirts, low cut shirts, thongs...you name it. My last visit, one woman was asked to put her jean jacket back on because her shirt was really revealing. No specifics about shoes, and certainly no underwire bras because they will go off with the metal detector.
If you show up at 9 at the prison, they won't let you in until 10. I think its because they do the count at 9 and again at 4. As far as contact, you are allowed to kiss and hug when in the begining and at the end, and holding hands is ok. I have sneaked a couple of kisses, and he did too. You just have to be extra careful. They walk around a little, but mostly they are sitting in their corner, of course there are cameras though.
ANd when you ar brought into the visitng area the inmate is not there yet. Sometimes they come pretty fast, and sometimes they make you wait..but I am not complaining.
If anyone is going to visit or have questions you are more than welcome to email me. Oh and sorry for such a long post.

HEY LIVING... read Tex's first post. All Texas prisons use the same rules and regulations concerning visits.