Before Your First In-Person Visit to a Virginia Prison: What to Bring and What to Leave Behind
Your first in-person prison visit goes a lot smoother when you show up early, bring the right ID, and keep your pockets as empty as possible. This checklist covers the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) basics that most often lead to delays or denied entry.
This is for you if you're visiting someone at a Virginia state prison for the first time, or if it's been a while and you want a quick refresher. One small mistake at the front desk can get you turned away. Plan for screening, bring the right identification, and leave anything questionable at home or in your vehicle.
Plan to arrive one hour before your scheduled visit. That buffer gives staff time to run security screening and check-in, and it keeps you from getting squeezed out by long lines or processing delays.
Most VADOC institutions allow in-person visiting on Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays. Procedures vary by institution and can change, so confirm the current schedule before you build your day around a visit.
Bring at least one valid government-issued photo ID that matches the information on your visitor application. A driver's license, military ID, or another official picture ID from a federal or state agency all work. If you don't reside in the United States, a passport is listed as an acceptable form of ID.
Tip: Have your ID out and ready before you reach the check-in point. If the name or details on your ID don't match your application, you can lose your visit.
Bringing a child or dealing with a special situation like a guardianship? Plan ahead for extra paperwork so you're not scrambling in the parking lot. The next section covers how to think through those situations before you leave home.
Do not mail money orders, cash, or checks to a Virginia state prison. If you need to send money to an inmate, use JPay instead of putting anything of monetary value in the mail.
- ✓ Do not send postage stamps through inmate mail.
- ✓ Do not send prepaid postage envelopes or postcards through inmate mail.
- ✓ Do not send nude or semi-nude images in mail to an inmate.
Warning: Visitation procedures vary by institution and can change. If you're unsure about an item, confirm the rules with the facility before your visit.
If a minor will be visiting, expect the facility to require the child to be connected to an approved adult visitor and to follow the same check-in process as everyone else. The safest approach: treat a child's visit like any other. Have the necessary documentation ready and make sure the accompanying adult is approved to visit.
Note: Check-in is tied to the visitor application. Make sure the ID you bring lines up with the information submitted for the visit, especially when a minor is visiting with an adult.
- Arrive about an hour early - VADOC recommends getting there one hour before your scheduled visit so there is time for security screening.
- Head to the visitor entry and check in - Follow posted instructions and staff directions from the moment you enter the visiting area.
- Have your ID ready - Bring at least one valid government-issued photo ID that matches your visitor application.
- Complete screening - Expect a security process before you are allowed into the visiting area. Cooperating quickly helps keep the line moving.
- ✓ Do not mail money orders, cash, or checks. Use JPay to send money instead.
- ✓ Do not send postage stamps, prepaid postage envelopes, or postcards through inmate mail.
- ✓ Do not send nude or semi-nude images in mail to an inmate.
Tip: Running late or second-guessing whether an item is allowed? Call the facility before you leave. Procedures vary by institution and can change.
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