How Many People Can Visit at Once? Understanding Oklahoma's Visitor Limits and Facility Capacity

Oklahoma lets an inmate have up to 20 people on their approved visitors list. But approved doesn't mean everyone visits together - only five approved visitors can be with an inmate at the same time. That "at the same time" rule is what trips up most families. Even if your entire extended family is approved, you'll need to pick which five people will make up your group for each visit.

Good news for bigger families: children under 18 don't count toward the 20-person approved list. That makes it easier to keep your kids approved without bumping other relatives off the list.

The rule is straightforward: no more than five approved visitors can visit an inmate at the same time. Show up with more, and you'll need to split up - some people wait for a later slot (if the facility allows it that day), or you plan separate visits entirely. Count heads before you go. Five people fills the visit completely. Adding "just one more" puts you over.

The approved visitors list determines who can visit at all. Oklahoma caps it at 20 people, and children under 18 don't count toward that number. The concurrent limit is separate: only five approved visitors at the same time. So even though your kids don't take up spots on the 20-person list, you still can't bring more than five people total to a single visit.

Even when your group stays within five people, the visiting room itself can fill up. If it hits capacity, the visitation officer will ask visitors to end their visit early - starting with whoever checked in first - until there's space for incoming visitors. This is voluntary, but it happens. Visitation hours vary by facility. If you want to avoid a crowded room, call ahead and ask about the busiest times.

Each Oklahoma facility sets its own visiting days and hours, but the inmate's security level determines how many hours of visitation they're allowed per week. Two inmates at the same facility can have different weekly limits if they're at different security levels. At community correction centers, inmates may be authorized up to ten hours of visitation per week (excluding holidays). You'll still need to work within the facility's posted schedule, so confirm hours before you make the trip.

Practical Coordination

• ✓ Bring photo ID if you’re 18 or older; visitors 18+ must present identification that includes a photograph.
• ✓ When completing a visitor request form, include a copy of the front and back of the visitor’s driver’s license or state-issued ID.
• ✓ If the visitor is under 18, make sure the request form includes a parent’s or legal guardian’s signature, or the request will be denied.

1. Confirm who’s coming this trip - pick a group that stays within the five-person limit for the entire visit.
2. Coordinate around the approved list - if your family is larger than five, talk with the inmate ahead of time about which approved visitors will attend on which day.
3. Arrive with flexibility - if the visiting room hits capacity, staff may ask visitors (starting with the first processed) to end visits voluntarily to make room for others.