Visiting someone on death row, in segregation, or control status at Central Prison
Your loved one's custody status at Central Prison determines what kind of visit you can have — contact or non-contact. Understanding their housing category helps you schedule the right appointment and avoid surprises when you arrive.
Central Prison houses death row offenders and other special populations. For families, custody status matters: it determines whether you'll have a contact visit or be separated by glass.
All visits at Central Prison are by appointment only. Schedule directly with the prison before you travel, and ask upfront what visit type is allowed for your loved one's current status.
If your loved one is on administrative or disciplinary segregation, expect a non-contact visit by appointment. The same applies to people in control status - except those in protective control. You won't be able to sit together during these visits. Confirm the specific rules when you schedule.
- ✓ Ask what your loved one’s current status is (administrative segregation, disciplinary segregation, or control status)
- ✓ Confirm whether protective control applies (it changes the control-status rule)
- ✓ Schedule the visit as a non-contact appointment if they’re in administrative segregation, disciplinary segregation, or control status (except protective control)
- ✓ Confirm your appointment details with the prison before you travel
Security Threat Group (STG) validation also affects visit type. STG Level 2 may allow contact visits - but only with approved immediate family members. STG Level 3 is limited to non-contact visits with approved immediate family. Either way, "approved immediate family" is key. Confirm your approval status when you schedule.
Tip: Ask about STG level when scheduling. The difference between Level 2 and Level 3 can mean contact versus non-contact visitation.
- Schedule with the prison - Visits are by appointment only, so start by contacting Central Prison to set one up.
- Ask for the current custody category - Confirm whether the person is on administrative segregation, disciplinary segregation, or in control status, and whether protective control applies.
- Confirm contact vs. non-contact - Administrative segregation, disciplinary segregation, and control status (except protective control) are restricted to non-contact visits by appointment.
- If STG applies, verify the level and who is approved - STG Level 2 may allow contact visits with approved immediate family; STG Level 3 is non-contact with approved immediate family.
- Reconfirm before you travel - If anything is unclear or changes, ask what visit type you’re approved for and what needs to happen to get the correct approval in place.
Warning: Custody status changes can change your visit type. Always reconfirm your appointment - and whether it's contact or non-contact - before making the trip.
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