How Formby’s One-Visit-Per-Week Rule Actually Works (cycles, timing, and visit length)

At Formby, visitation runs on a weekly cycle that starts on Monday and ends the following Sunday. Most people experience visits on the weekend because unit visiting hours normally fall on Saturday and Sunday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Keep in mind, though, that visits are treated as a privilege - meaning they can be limited or paused if there are rule violations or bigger safety and security issues that affect the unit.

“One visit per week” at Formby means one visit per visiting cycle. That cycle runs Monday through Sunday, and normally eligible inmates are allowed one visit during that window. So if you visit on a Saturday, you can’t come back the next day (Sunday) and count it as a second visit - because it’s still the same Monday–Sunday cycle. Your next eligible visit would be in the next cycle, after Sunday ends and Monday begins.

1. Visit on Saturday - That visit uses up the one visit allowed for the Monday–Sunday cycle you’re currently in.
2. Try to visit again on Sunday - It’s still the same cycle, so it would normally count as a second visit in the same cycle (not allowed).
3. Visit again the following Saturday - That’s a new Monday–Sunday cycle, so it’s normally allowed as the next visit.

This rule also affects how you coordinate with family and friends. Since each inmate can have up to 10 names on their Visitors List, you may need to plan ahead and decide who will use that single weekly visit slot - especially if several people want to come the same weekend.

A regular visit at Formby is two hours long. That two-hour period starts when both the inmate and the visitor(s) are present - so the clock doesn’t truly start just because you arrived at the unit; it starts when the visit actually begins with everyone there.

• ✓ Arrive early so you’re ready when the inmate is brought out.
• ✓ Expect the two-hour visit to start only once both you and the inmate are present.
• ✓ If either side is delayed, your visit time can effectively be reduced because the visit period is still two hours from the actual start point.

Custody level matters for the type of visit. At Formby, inmates in custody levels G1, J1, and J2 are eligible for one contact visit per week. Other custody levels may receive different visit types or frequencies, so it’s worth confirming what your loved one is eligible for before you make plans.

Even if you’ve planned around the Monday–Sunday cycle perfectly, visits can still be interrupted. Visitation is a privilege, and it may be temporarily restricted for an inmate or visitor if rule violations occur or if there are security concerns. It can also be temporarily discontinued during unit lockdowns or serious incidents like escapes or disturbances, or during a health or safety emergency.

Practical Tips

• ✓ Plan around the Monday–Sunday visiting cycle so you don’t accidentally try to visit twice in the same cycle.
• ✓ Aim for weekend hours (normally Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) and give yourself plenty of buffer time.
• ✓ Coordinate with family and friends - each inmate can have up to 10 people on their Visitors List, and the unit normally allows only one visit per cycle.
• ✓ If you’re traveling more than 250 miles one way, ask about an extended visit; it may be permitted at the warden’s discretion (if time and space allow) and can be up to four hours.
• ✓ Use remote video visitation as a backup option when you can’t make the trip; it’s available in addition to contact or general visits and may occur once per month for up to 60 minutes.
• ✓ If you’re trying to maximize time together, focus on getting checked in and ready so the two-hour visit can start as soon as the inmate and visitors are present.

Last thing: conditions at the unit can change fast. Since visitation can be restricted or stopped for security issues, lockdowns, or health and safety emergencies, a quick verification before you leave can save you a wasted trip.