How to Get on Someone's Visitor List at Centralia Correctional Center & Complete the PVI
Before you make the trip to Centralia Correctional Center, make sure you're actually eligible to visit. For most people, that means two things: being on the incarcerated person's approved visitor list, and completing the Prospective Visitor's Interview (DOC 0148) if you're 18 or older.
At Centralia Correctional Center, you generally need to be on the incarcerated person's approved visitation list before you'll be granted a visit. Legal visitors and government officials are the exception. Here's the key thing: the incarcerated person is responsible for arranging visits and letting you know your status. So your first step is always to communicate with them directly, not try to sort it out at the front desk.
Note: IDOC staff won't verify whether you're on someone's visitor list by phone. Confirm your status with the incarcerated person directly.
Reach out to the incarcerated person in writing and ask them to add you to their approved list. They're responsible for arranging visits and letting you know whether you've been approved. IDOC staff won't confirm your visitor-list status over the phone. If you haven't heard back yet, hold off on traveling until you do.
- ✓ Ask the incarcerated person to confirm you have been added to their approved visitor list before you travel.
If you're 18 or older, you'll need to complete a Prospective Visitor's Interview (PVI) form (DOC 0148) on your first visit, unless you've already received prior approval through the electronic PVI process. This requirement doesn't apply to legal visitors or government officials. You can save yourself time by filling it out before you go. IDOC makes the DOC 0148 available online in both English and Spanish, so you can complete it at home instead of scrambling to do it at the facility.
- Get the DOC 0148 in the right language. Use the version provided online in English or Spanish.
- Fill it out before your first visit. Completing it in advance helps you avoid rushing through it on-site.
- Bring it with you for your first visit. If you already have prior approval through the electronic PVI process, you may not need to complete it on your first visit.
Tip: Complete the DOC 0148 before you travel. Filling it out at the facility slows down check-in.
If you have a criminal record or pending charges, plan for your first visit to take longer. You'll still need to complete the Prospective Visitor's Interview (DOC 0148) if you're 18 or older, unless you already have prior electronic approval (legal visitors and government officials are excluded). Take your time with the form and make sure everything is filled out completely.
Reminder: Fill out the DOC 0148 carefully and completely. Missing information can cause delays during your first visit.
Once you've asked to be added and have your PVI ready, the next step is simple: verify everything with the incarcerated person. IDOC staff can't confirm visitor-list status by phone, so the most reliable confirmation comes directly from the person you're visiting.
Practical Tips
- ✓ Download the DOC 0148 ahead of time (English or Spanish) and complete it before your first visit.
- ✓ Write to the incarcerated person to confirm you are on their approved visitation list.
- ✓ Wait to travel until the incarcerated person notifies you that your visiting status is approved (staff will not verify this by phone).
Final check: If you're not on the approved visitor list, you will be denied a visit. If you're 18 or older, expect to complete the DOC 0148 on your first visit unless you already have electronic PVI approval.
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