How to complete and submit the CR-2152 visitor application (Tennessee): what to include, where to send it, and what to expect

An inmate's approved visiting list can include all immediate family members who apply, plus up to eight additional adults. That limit matters. You may need to coordinate with the person you're visiting about who is applying and when, especially if several relatives and friends plan to visit.

The CR-2152 is not the place to leave blanks or guess. Tennessee requires every section to be completed, and you must submit it with a recent photograph attached. One thing to take seriously: if any information on the application is falsified, you won't be allowed to resubmit for a minimum of six months. Slow down, double-check what you write, and make sure everything is accurate before sending it in.

Fill Photo

• ✓ Fill out every question on the CR-2152 (don’t leave blanks).
• ✓ Use your full legal name and answer each item exactly as asked.
• ✓ Provide your date of birth.
• ✓ Provide your address (use a physical street address, not a P.O. Box).
• ✓ List your relationship to the inmate.
• ✓ Sign the form where required.
• ✓ Attach a recent photograph in the lower left-hand corner of the application, or it will not be processed.

Use a physical street address on the CR-2152. Tennessee does not allow a P.O. Box as your visitor address on the form, and every section still needs to be completed for the application to move forward. If you're between addresses, use the place where you can reliably receive mail and make sure it's written clearly.

• ✓ If you want a visitor handbook mailed to you, include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your application.

Once the CR-2152 is complete and the photo is attached, return it as instructed to the Deputy Superintendent or Associate Warden in charge of visitation. The form itself directs you to return it to the warden of the institution listed on the application. Follow whichever instructions appear on your copy of the form.

After the facility receives your application, you should get a decision within 30 days. The inmate is also supposed to be notified within 30 days of receipt, letting them know whether you were approved.

Most people can't visit until their CR-2152 is approved. There is one exception: for immediate family of newly committed inmates, the warden can temporarily add immediate family members to the approved visitor list while the application is being processed. That temporary window is limited to no more than 60 days from the inmate's intake date.

If the visitor is a minor (under 18) and will visit without the custodial parent, the custodial parent or legal guardian must complete and notarize the Parental Consent/Release for Minor's Visitation form (CR-2152, page 2). This paperwork names the authorized guardian(s) who can bring the child to visit. It also gives consent for the child to be searched during the visit process.

A visiting list can include all immediate family members who apply, plus up to eight additional adults. Until you're approved, expect to be turned away at the door. The one exception is the temporary immediate-family option for newly committed inmates, which lasts up to 60 days from intake.

Checklist Send

• ✓ Completed CR-2152 (every question answered)
• ✓ Recent photograph attached in the lower left-hand corner
• ✓ A physical street address on the form (no P.O. Box)
• ✓ If the visitor is a minor visiting without the custodial parent: CR-2152 page 2 completed and notarized
• ✓ Optional: a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want a visitor handbook mailed to you
• ✓ Application returned as directed to the Deputy Superintendent/Associate Warden in charge of visitation, or to the warden of the institution listed on the form