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What to Bring (and What to Leave Home) for Your First Cedar Creek Visit

Your first visit to Cedar Creek will go smoother if you keep things simple: bring the right ID, expect a search, and don't count on walking in at the last minute.

• 2 min read • doc.wa.gov
What to Bring (and What to Leave Home) for Your First Cedar Creek Visit

If you're 18 or older, bring a valid, government-issued photo ID. Staff check it when you arrive - no photos, copies, or expired cards. It has to be the real, current thing.

International visitors need a passport. Make sure you have it before making the trip - without it, you'll be turned away at the door.

Expect to be searched. Under DOC 420.340, searches can include you, your belongings, and your vehicle - anything on institution grounds. "I left it in the car" won't get you out of it.

Warning: Refusing a search has real consequences: a first refusal leads to a 90-day suspension of visit privileges, and a second refusal can terminate your visit privileges entirely.

Visits at Cedar Creek are first-come, first-served. If the visiting room fills up, you'll be turned away - even if you did everything else right. Arriving early is your best protection.

At check-in, staff will verify your ID and may search you, your belongings, or your vehicle. Space fills up fast, so build in extra time. Don't assume there will be room if you show up late.

What to Bring (and What to Leave Home) for Your First Cedar Creek Visit

Items to Bring Avoid

Since anything on institution grounds can be searched, bring only what you need to get in. Not sure about a specific item? Check Cedar Creek's visitor guidelines before you go - better than having to run it back to your car or getting turned away.

  1. Ask what caused the turn-away - If the visit room is full, that alone can be enough to end the attempt that day, since visits are first-come, first-served.
  2. Follow staff instructions for next steps - If they direct you to leave a message, include the incarcerated individual’s name and DOC number, along with your name and contact information.
  3. Use the Statewide Visit Unit for document-based updates - For certain updates (like changing your relationship status that requires paperwork), copies can be mailed to: Department of Corrections, Attn: Statewide Visit Unit, PO Box 41118, Olympia, WA 98504-1118.

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