Getting Approved to Visit Someone at Colorado State Penitentiary: Complete Checklist

Getting approved to visit someone at Colorado State Penitentiary (CSP) is mostly about paperwork. Here's what you need to submit, how minors are handled, what triggers a denial, and what happens if your approval lapses.

Here's the rule that trips people up: only one (1) adult name is allowed per visiting application. Every adult who wants to visit needs their own separate application. Don't try to combine spouses, grandparents, or friends on a single form.

With your visiting application, you must submit a copy of a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. The address on that ID also has to match the address you write on the application - if it doesn’t, your application may be denied. Before you send anything in, take a minute to double-check the expiration date and make sure the copy is clear enough to read.

• ✓ Include a copy of a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID
• ✓ Make sure the ID copy is clear and readable
• ✓ Confirm the address on your ID matches the address on your visiting application

Children under 18 must be named on the Visitor Application, but they don't count toward the twelve (12) approved visitor limit. If someone other than the parent or legal guardian is bringing the child, you'll need authorization paperwork. If the parent or guardian is bringing them, the facility may still require documentation like a birth certificate or adoption/guardianship order.

• ✓ List each minor child by name on the Visitor Application
• ✓ Remember: minors do not count toward the twelve (12) approved visitors
• ✓ If someone other than a parent/legal guardian will bring the child, include the authorization paperwork required by the facility’s instructions

Approval isn't permanent. CSP runs a background check on all active visitors every year, looking for active warrants, detainers, or unresolved criminal cases.

If you have a felony or misdemeanor warrant, you won't be placed on the visiting list - period. That means no in-person visits, no non-contact visits, and no video visits. An outstanding warrant is one of the fastest ways to get blocked, even if everything else on your application is perfect.

1. Plan for ongoing screening - once you’re an active visitor, a background check is run yearly.
2. Know what the check is looking for - active warrants, detainers, or unresolved criminal cases can affect your eligibility.
3. Take denials seriously and act quickly - if you’re denied due to a warrant, you won’t be allowed any visitation type until it’s addressed.

Your approval can also lapse from inactivity. If you haven't visited in a one-year period, you'll be automatically deactivated and must reapply. If it's been a while since your last visit, assume you may need to restart the process before making plans.

1. Check how long it’s been since your last visit - a full year without a visit can put you into inactive status.
2. Reapply to reactivate - if you’ve been deactivated after a year of no visits, you must submit a new application to be placed back on the visiting list.

Common Denials

• ✓ Your ID copy is missing, unreadable, expired, or not government-issued
• ✓ The address on your photo ID does not match the address on your visiting application
• ✓ You have a felony or misdemeanor warrant (this blocks in-person, non-contact, and video visits)

Got denied? Start with the easy fixes: make sure your ID is valid and unexpired, and confirm the address on your ID matches what you wrote on the application. If the denial is warrant-related, you won't be approved for any visitation type until that warrant is cleared. Once you've fixed the issue, follow the facility's instructions on whether to resubmit a new application or just provide updated documents.

Closing

• ✓ Submit a clear copy of a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID
• ✓ Make sure the address on your ID matches the address on your application
• ✓ Submit one (1) adult name per visiting application (each adult needs their own)
• ✓ Name any minor children on the Visitor Application (minors don’t count toward the 12 approved visitors)
• ✓ Expect a yearly automatic background check for active warrants, detainers, or unresolved criminal cases
• ✓ If you go one year without a visit, you’ll be deactivated and must reapply
• ✓ If you have a felony or misdemeanor warrant, you’ll be denied in-person, non-contact, and video visitation

If something doesn’t line up - like an address mismatch, a question about minors, or a denial you don’t understand - contact the facility for the next step before you submit again. Clearing up one small detail ahead of time can save you weeks of waiting.