How to Visit Facility

All visits at Allen-Oakwood require a reservation, so you'll need to schedule yours in advance. Call the institution before you leave home to confirm visiting hours. Hours can change without notice, and a quick call can save you a wasted trip.

Even with a reservation, stay flexible. The managing officer has discretion over several aspects of visitation: how many visitors are allowed, visit frequency and length, priority scheduling, and the visiting hours themselves.

Allen-Oakwood may have local visiting guidelines, but these cannot override the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction General Visiting Instructions (DRC2274). If a local rule seems to conflict with statewide policy, ask how it fits under DRC2274.

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• ✓ Make a reservation before you go. Visitation at Allen-Oakwood is reservation-only.
• ✓ Call the institution to confirm visiting hours right before your trip, since hours can change without notice.
• ✓ Plan for discretion at the facility. The managing officer can set limits on the number of visitors, visit length, visit frequency, priority, and hours.

Before you travel, confirm two things directly with Allen-Oakwood: current visiting hours and how to make a reservation. Since visits are reservation-only and hours can shift without notice, your best bet is to verify details close to the day you plan to visit.

Getting conflicting information? Ask whether it's coming from local visiting guidelines or statewide rules. The managing officer has discretion over key aspects of visitation, but local policies still cannot override the General Visiting Instructions (DRC2274). You can also check for posted notices at the institution. Significant guideline changes must be displayed 30 days in advance at the front entrance, visiting areas, and unit living areas.