How to Get Approved to Visit Someone (steps based on Georgia DOC guidance)

Getting approved to visit comes down to one thing: the facility has to add you as an approved visitor before you can request or schedule anything. The steps below follow Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) visitation guidance, which provides a solid roadmap - but Chattooga County Jail is a county facility, so the exact form, submission method, and approval process may differ. Before you spend time filling anything out, confirm whether Chattooga County Jail uses the GDC Visitation Request Form or their own local form, and how they want it submitted (mail, fax, or another method). If you can't find the answer online, call the jail or check the county sheriff's website. A quick phone call beats a rejected or lost application.

Under GDC's process, requesting a visit starts with a visitation request form. Your first job is to become an approved visitor. Fill out the Visitation Request Form completely and submit it to the facility where your loved one is incarcerated. Take your time - missing fields or unclear information will slow things down. The facility can't approve what it can't verify.

Once you've filled out the form, submit it to the specific facility where the person is housed. Sending it to the wrong place will delay approval. Submission methods vary by facility, so confirm how they want to receive the form before you send it. Some accept mail, some use fax, and some have other intake rules. Getting the delivery method right keeps your request moving.

GDC separates visitors into two categories: immediate family and "significant relationship" visitors. Immediate family - parents, siblings, spouse, grandparents, grandchildren, and children - can be requested by the incarcerated person for visitation approval. If your relationship doesn't fit those categories (step-parents, in-laws, cousins, friends, employers, pastors, etc.), you're considered a significant relationship visitor. In that case, the incarcerated person has to initiate the request. They complete a "Significant Relationship Visitor Application for Visitation Privilege," which goes to the Warden/Superintendent for review. Supporting documentation to verify the relationship may be required.

1. Ask the offender to initiate the request - for significant relationship visits, the offender must start the process.
2. Have the offender complete the Significant Relationship Visitor Application - the application is sent to the Warden/Superintendent for review.
3. Wait for the decision and notification - once approved or disapproved, the offender is notified and then tells you whether you were approved to visit.

S5

• ✓ Have your ID information ready before you choose an ID type on the request form.
• ✓ If you’re selecting an ID option that requires it, be prepared to confirm you’re 18 or older.
• ✓ If the facility asks for proof of ID to be attached or provided, have a clear photocopy or a readable photo available.

After you submit your form, the facility reviews it and decides whether to approve you. Don't assume you're cleared just because you turned in the paperwork - wait until you've received confirmation before trying to schedule or show up. One more GDC-specific detail: if you already have a scheduled visit and need to add additional visitors, use the "Add Visitor" option on GDC's visitation page. That's separate from getting yourself approved initially, but it matters if plans change after a visit is already on the calendar.

S7

• ✓ Call Chattooga County Jail and ask whether they use the GDC Visitation Request Form or a county-specific visitor application.
• ✓ Check the Chattooga County sheriff/jail information page for visitation rules and any required forms.
• ✓ Ask your loved one whether the jail requires a local approval process, and whether a “significant relationship” request has to be initiated from inside.
• ✓ Confirm the jail’s preferred submission method for visitor forms (mail, fax, or another process).
• ✓ Verify local ID and age requirements before you submit anything, so the application isn’t rejected for a technicality.