What to expect at Clara Waters' visiting area: pat searches, capacity rules, and disciplinary restrictions

Visiting someone at Clara Waters goes smoother when you know what to expect once you arrive. Three things commonly affect visits: pat searches before you enter, capacity limits in the visiting area, and disciplinary status ("DU time") that can temporarily block regular visits.

Expect a pat search before entering visitation. Staff search all inmates and visitors to keep contraband out of the visiting area. Even if you've visited other facilities before, plan for this brief screening step during check-in.

Capacity rules can shorten a visit even when you've done everything right. No more than five approved visitors may visit an inmate at the same time. If the visiting area fills up, the visitation officer may ask visitors to end their visit early to free up space - starting with whoever arrived first.

1. Keep your group within the five-visitor limit - If more than five people show up to visit the same inmate at the same time, you’ll need to adjust the group before visitation can proceed.
2. Understand how “maximum capacity” is handled - When the visiting room is full, staff may begin asking visitors to end visits on a voluntary basis.
3. Know who is asked first - The policy approach is to start with the earliest visitors processed and work forward until seating/space requirements are met.
4. Plan for the visit to end earlier than you expected - Capacity-based terminations are part of how the room is managed; policy language also describes a two-hour visitation period prior to termination due to capacity issues, but crowding can still affect how long you’re able to stay.

• ✓ Keep your visiting group to five approved visitors or fewer at the same time
• ✓ Be ready to end a visit if the visitation area reaches maximum capacity
• ✓ If your group is large, consider staggering arrivals so you’re less likely to be among the first processed if staff need to clear space

Disciplinary status can override the normal visiting routine. If the inmate is serving "DU time," regular visitation isn't allowed - attorney and clergy visits are the only exception. Show up expecting a regular visit while your loved one is on DU time, and you'll be turned away even if you're otherwise approved.

Practical Advice

• ✓ Arrive with extra time for the pat search and screening before visitation
• ✓ Keep your group to no more than five approved visitors at the same time
• ✓ Have a back-up plan in case staff ask visitors (starting with the earliest processed) to end visits due to maximum capacity
• ✓ If your loved one may be on DU time, confirm their status before you go (attorney/clergy visits are the exception)

Knowing about searches, capacity cutoffs, and DU-time restrictions ahead of time takes the stress out of your visit. Review the facility's current visitor instructions before you head out so nothing catches you off guard.