How to Get Approved for Visitation at an MDOC Facility: Step-by-step

At MDOC, the incarcerated person has to start the visitation application process. They do this by sending the Application for Visiting Privileges to the people they want on their visitor list. This is a critical detail: you can't move forward until they send you the form.

1. Get the application from the inmate. This is the only way to receive the Application for Visiting Privileges.
2. Review the entire packet before you write anything. Make sure you understand what information is being asked for, since you are expected to complete all parts.
3. Fill out every required section completely and accurately. Leaving blanks or giving incorrect information can slow things down.
4. Mail the completed application to the MDOC address listed in the visitor application package. Use the address provided in the packet you received.

• ✓ If the prospective visitor is a minor, their parent or legal guardian must complete the application.
• ✓ If you are bringing children 15 and under, bring a legible birth certificate for each child.
• ✓ If a child 15 and under does not have a birth certificate, a photo ID is acceptable if it shows their date of birth.
• ✓ If you are 16 or older, bring a picture ID that displays your date of birth.
• ✓ If you are 16 or older, you must be on the offender’s approved list for each visit.

After you submit the application, don't sit around waiting for a call or letter. MDOC does not automatically notify applicants when they're approved. To find out your status, you'll need to call the facility yourself.

Reasons Delay Reject

• ✓ You do not have sufficient identification, or you fail to produce it when asked.
• ✓ Your ID does not meet requirements (for visitors 16+, a picture ID that shows your date of birth).
• ✓ You provide falsified identifying information.
• ✓ A child 15 and under does not have a legible birth certificate, and you cannot provide a photo ID showing the child’s date of birth.

MDOC can exclude people from visitation if an investigation determines they pose a threat to an inmate or the institution. Some categories require extra approval: visits between an offender and the offender's victim are not permitted unless the superintendent approves the visit in advance and in writing. Convicted felons are prohibited from visiting offenders unless an immediate family relationship can be established and the superintendent grants written permission. Even after you're approved, a visit can be denied or ended, and your privileges can be suspended based on what happens at the facility. Arriving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, possessing contraband, refusing a search, or violating visitation rules can all result in losing your visit or your visiting privileges.

If you haven't received confirmation or you're unsure whether you're approved, call the facility where the inmate is housed and ask about your visitation application status. While you're on the phone, check whether anything could interrupt visits that day (schedule changes, restrictions tied to the inmate, etc.).