Who Can Visit an Offender in the Missouri DOC (Relationships, Limits, and One‑Offender Rule)
Before you can visit someone in Missouri DOC custody, you need to know two things: are you eligible to apply, and can you visit more than one person? Here's how the DOC defines eligible relationships, explains the one-offender rule, and sets visit-size limits.
Missouri DOC allows several categories of people to apply for visiting privileges: immediate family, extended family, a significant other, friends, and clergy. The DOC's definition of
Note: If you’re applying for clergy status, don’t use the online visiting application for that request.
Once you're approved, Missouri DOC limits who you can visit. Under the one-offender rule, visitors may only visit one offender. The exception? If you're immediate family to more than one offender, you can visit both. This typically applies to parents, spouses, or legal guardians with multiple close family members in custody.
Even when you qualify, there's a limit on how many people can visit at once. Missouri DOC commonly caps visits at three visitors, plus up to three children under age 5. These limits can tighten depending on timing and location. Some institutions restrict weekend visits, and offenders in reception or orientation may face different rules. Check the specific institution's visiting guidelines before making plans.
You can't just show up at a Missouri DOC facility and expect to get in. You must be pre-approved, and that starts with completing a visiting application - thoroughly and honestly. This is where eligibility really matters. The application is how the DOC decides whether to grant you visiting privileges.
The DOC runs a criminal history check as part of the application process. Be honest and thorough - missing or misleading information can get your application denied.
- Enter the offender’s ID number - this is the first step in the online visiting application.
Note: Don’t use the online visiting application if you’re a minor visitor applying for an offender who is restricted to adult-only visits.
If Unsure Contact Instructions
- ✓ Review the institution’s visiting rules before you apply or travel (policies and limits can vary by institution and by an offender’s status).
- ✓ If you’re unsure whether a special situation applies to you (like clergy status or a minor visitor issue), contact the Institutional Case Manager for guidance.
- ✓ If you’re planning around visitor-count limits or weekend restrictions, confirm the current rules with the institution before you go.
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