How Many People Can Visit? Visitor Limits, Children, and Reception‑Status Rules in Missouri
Missouri DOC visitation rules seem straightforward until you're trying to bring kids, coordinate a group, or visit someone still in reception. Here's how visitor limits typically work, plus what to double-check before you make the drive.
The baseline headcount rule across Missouri DOC is simple: 3 visitors per offender. That's your starting point for planning rides, childcare, and deciding who gets to go. Individual facilities can tighten things further when needed, but the statewide default is three.
- Get approved before you try to visit. Complete the visiting application and wait for final approval. Do not show up expecting to be added at the door.
- Plan for a criminal history check. Missouri DOC runs a criminal history check as part of the visitor approval process, so apply early if timing matters.
- Know the one-offender rule. You can generally visit only one offender, unless you are an immediate family member of more than one offender.
Children are where the headcount rules get confusing. The baseline is still 3 visitors per offender, but Missouri DOC materials don't always describe "extra" young-child allowances the same way. One DOC guidance page says a visit is limited to 3 visitors per offender and may include up to 3 additional visitors who are age 5 and under. That reads like a possible total of 6 people, as long as the extras are very young children. On a separate set of institution visiting-hours listings, some facility-specific rules use a different cutoff: up to 3 additional visitors who are age 10 and under (again described as a total of 6 visitors). The safest read? The 3-visitor limit is the statewide baseline, and the "extra kids" allowance can vary by facility or by the specific rule set being applied.
Verify before you bring a larger group: Missouri DOC sources cite different child age cutoffs for "additional" visitors (5-and-under vs. 10-and-under). Confirm the current rule with the institution before you travel, especially if you're counting on more than 3 people being allowed in.
If the person you want to visit is on reception and orientation status (still awaiting assignment to a permanent institution or treatment center), visits are more restricted. During that period, offenders may receive only one visit per month.
Plan around the limit: Make sure you're fully approved before attempting a visit, and confirm scheduling with the facility or the person's case contact so you don't waste that one monthly visit opportunity.
Visiting hours aren't the same everywhere in Missouri. Many adult institutions run weekend-focused sessions, often Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with two time blocks (9:30am to 1:30pm and 2:30pm to 6:30pm). That said, schedules vary by facility, and official times are listed by location. Always confirm the specific institution's sessions before you leave home.
- ✓ Submit the visiting application and wait for final approval before attempting a visit
- ✓ Allow time for the criminal history check during the approval process
- ✓ Confirm the facility’s current visiting days and session times before you travel
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