Who Can Visit Your Child at Duval Regional Juvenile Detention Center — and How to Get Approved
Trying to visit a child at Duval Regional Juvenile Detention Center? First, you need to know if you're already on the approved list—or if you need formal approval before showing up. Here's how visitor categories work, how to request an exception, and what to expect when you arrive.
Parents, grandparents, and legal guardians are automatically approved visitors at Duval Regional Juvenile Detention Center. If that's you, you're starting on the approved side - no need to prove your eligibility from scratch. That said, if custody or guardianship has changed recently, confirm your status with the youth's assigned Juvenile Probation Officer before making the trip. Better to check than get turned away at the door.
Not a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian? You'll need explicit approval to visit. People outside those categories can only visit if a court orders it or if the Superintendent (or their designee) gives the green light. Get this sorted out ahead of time - the front desk will turn you away if you're not already cleared.
Want to add someone to the visitation list? Contact the youth's assigned Juvenile Probation Officer (JPO). Whether it's another relative, a family friend, or someone who supports your child, the JPO handles these requests. Be clear about who you're asking for and why. The JPO is also your go-to for any exceptions or non-standard arrangements.
Some visitors fall outside the "family visitor" category entirely. Legal counsel, probation staff, law enforcement, clergy, and other professionals can visit youth outside regular visitation hours when necessary. This flexibility ensures legal, supervision, and support needs aren't held hostage to the normal schedule.
Professional visitors still follow the same security rules. Everyone signs in, everyone goes through electronic search. Personal items - keys, purses, packages - can't come into the secure area. And bringing unauthorized items into a detention facility is a third-degree felony.
When you arrive, you'll sign in and out on the youth's Visitor's Log. This is standard security procedure, and it applies to everyone. Give yourself extra time for check-in - staff track every entry, exit, and who's visiting which youth.
Bring proper photo ID: If you fail to present proper photo identification, you can be denied entrance.
Expect to be searched. All visitors go through electronic screening, and refusing a search - or ignoring officer instructions - will get you denied entry. Travel light: leave keys, purses, and packages outside the secure area. The facility takes contraband seriously. Introducing unauthorized items into a detention facility is a third-degree felony.
You can be turned away (or have your visit cut short): Disruptive behavior, appearing under the influence, attempting to bring in contraband, or wearing inappropriate attire (check the posted rules at the entrance) are all grounds for denial. If problems arise during your visit, staff can end it early - and the Superintendent may suspend your future visitation privileges.
Visit denied or delayed? Need to get someone approved? Start with the youth's assigned JPO - they handle visitation-list additions, special arrangements, and case-related questions. For on-site issues (like a check-in question), ask to speak with the on-duty JJDO Supervisor.
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