What to Bring (and What to Leave in Your Car) on Visitation Day at MDOC Facilities
Visitation goes smoother when you show up with almost nothing. MDOC expects most personal items to stay locked in your vehicle, and you'll be screened before entering the visitation center.
Leave your everyday carry in the car. At MDOC facilities, visitors must keep cell phones, wallets, purses, handbags, change purses, and similar personal items locked in their vehicles. Tobacco products can come onto prison grounds, but they also need to stay locked in your vehicle. Visitation centers are non-smoking.
- ✓ Lock your cell phone in your vehicle
- ✓ Lock your wallet in your vehicle
- ✓ Lock purses, handbags, and change purses in your vehicle
- ✓ Leave tobacco products locked in your vehicle (visitation centers are non-smoking)
- ✓ Leave excessive clothing locked in your vehicle
- ✓ Keep what you carry inside to the absolute minimum
- ✓ Visitor ID card, driver’s license, military ID, or state ID (photo ID required at check-in)
At check-in, you'll need to show a valid photo ID (visitor ID card, driver's license, military ID, or state ID). You'll also sign the visitor log and be registered before entering for visitation.
Before entering the visitation center, staff will stamp the top of your right hand. This is standard, so don't be caught off guard.
Be ready for screening. You'll go through a frisk search, an electronic scanner, or both. Your vehicle and personal property are also subject to search while you're on MDOC grounds, so packing light and leaving non-essential items locked away helps prevent delays.
Infant Supplies
- ✓ One diaper bag
- ✓ Up to four diapers
- ✓ Up to two bottles
- ✓ One change of baby clothes
- ✓ One pacifier
- ✓ Diaper wipes in a zip-top bag
- ✓ Any necessary medication for the infant
Note: Infant medication is allowed when necessary. For adults, MDOC only permits prescribed medication in the necessary dosage. No over-the-counter medication of any kind is allowed.
If you take medication, plan ahead. MDOC allows visitors to bring prescribed medication into the institution only in the necessary dosage. No over-the-counter medication of any kind is permitted.
- Bring only what you need - If you must take prescribed medication during your visit, bring only the necessary dosage.
- Tell staff at check-in - Let the Visitor Center Officer know you have prescribed medication you may need to take.
- Leave it with the officer - Medication is left with the Visitor Center Officer while you are visiting.
- Give a specific time - Notify the officer of the time the medication needs to be taken.
- Take the dose when permitted - At the appropriate time, you will be permitted to recover the necessary dosage from the officer.
- Expect screening - MDOC requires a search of your person by frisk search and/or electronic scanner as part of entry procedures.
Treat your car like it could be searched, because it can be. MDOC forbids contraband including guns, knives, ammunition, alcohol, drugs, weapons, and any instrument or tool that could be used as a weapon. Contraband will be confiscated, and violations may be prosecuted.
While you're on MDOC grounds, vehicles and personal property are subject to search. That's another good reason to leave cell phones, wallets, purses, handbags, change purses, and similar items locked in your vehicle rather than carrying them to the door.
- ✓ Bring an acceptable photo ID (visitor ID card, driver’s license, military ID, or state ID)
- ✓ If you are visiting with an infant, keep baby supplies within MDOC’s limits (one diaper bag, up to four diapers, two bottles, one change of clothes, one pacifier, wipes in a zip-top bag, and necessary infant medication)
- ✓ Call the facility before you travel to confirm your visitation status, since applicants are not automatically notified of approval
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