How long can your visit last at Charles Egeler — and what happens if you arrive late?

Under MDOC's visiting standards, weekday visits can last up to three hours. Weekend visits max out at two hours. The clock starts when everyone has access to the visiting room - not when you park or get in line. This weekday vs. weekend difference matters. Know which day your appointment falls on before you travel. A Saturday or Sunday slot gives you less time than a Tuesday one.

Here's where it gets confusing: the ViaPath/GTL scheduling site states, "The duration of a visit shall not exceed two hours." That matches MDOC's weekend limit but contradicts the three-hour weekday allowance. You might see "two hours" on the scheduler even when booking a weekday visit. Treat your appointment confirmation as the final word, and verify the expected duration with the facility or scheduler before making the trip.

Show up late? MDOC subtracts that time from your visit. If your appointment starts at 1:00 p.m. and you don't get access until 1:15 p.m., expect 15 fewer minutes with your person.

Visits must be scheduled through the MDOC/ViaPath system at least 48 hours ahead but no more than 7 days out. Try to book last-minute or too far in advance, and the system won't let you grab that slot.

Verify and Troubleshoot

• ✓ Open your ViaPath/GTL appointment details and note the posted visit-length language (including any “shall not exceed two hours” wording).
• ✓ Confirm your appointment was scheduled within the required window: at least 48 hours ahead, and no more than 7 days ahead.
• ✓ Save a copy of your confirmation details (date, start time, and any duration/rules shown) so you can reference exactly what was scheduled.
• ✓ If the scheduler shows a two-hour limit but you were told to expect a longer weekday visit, plan for the shorter time unless you can get confirmation otherwise before you leave.

If something doesn't add up - say, the scheduler shows two hours when you're expecting a longer weekday visit - get clarification before you drive out. Use the contact info in your scheduling confirmation or the facility's official MDOC page. Ask specifically what maximum visit duration applies to your scheduled day and time.