How Green Haven Ends Visits When the Room Gets Crowded

When the visiting room gets crowded, staff don't immediately start cutting visits short. First, they'll ask if anyone is willing to end their visit early so others can get in.

If no one volunteers - or the room still needs space - Green Haven moves to time limits. For local visits (visitors within 100 miles), visits can be cut off after three hours using a first-in, first-out approach. The people who've been there longest get asked to wrap up first.

Still crowded after that? The same three-hour, first-in/first-out rule can apply to long-distance visits - those where family or friends traveled over 100 miles. These aren't cut first; they only enter the process if earlier steps haven't solved the crowding problem.

• ✓ Expect that visit length may be capped on busy days due to visitor volume.
• ✓ If the room gets crowded, staff will ask for volunteers to end visits before using time-based cutoffs.
• ✓ If time-based termination is needed, visits may be ended after three hours using a first-in, first-out approach.

Some visits get extra protection. If your visit was approved with special permission, or if the incarcerated person hasn't had a visit in six months, the Superintendent or Officer of the Day is supposed to review the situation before ending your visit due to overcrowding.

1. Arrive as early as you can - when visits may be capped due to expected volume, getting in earlier can help you make the most of the time available.
2. Plan around a three-hour ceiling - if the room needs space, visits can be ended after three hours using a first-in/first-out approach, so don’t assume you’ll have unlimited time.
3. Have a “priority list” for your visit - if your time is cut short, you’ll be glad you covered the most important topics first.

1. Tell staff right away if your visit has special permission - those visits can receive special consideration before termination.
2. Mention long gaps between visits - if your loved one hasn’t received a visit in six months, that’s another situation that can receive special consideration.
3. If asked to end your visit, ask about your options calmly - staff may start by requesting voluntary termination when space is needed, so it helps to understand whether your visit qualifies for consideration before you agree to leave.

Crowded visiting rooms are frustrating, especially when you've built your whole day around a visit. The best approach at Green Haven? Assume your visit could be capped on busy days and plan accordingly.

Before you travel, check the DOCCS Visitors Page and Green Haven's facility page for current visitation details - including any temporary changes that might affect visit length.