What to Bring (and What to Leave Behind) for Your First Visit to Hartford Correctional Center
Your first in-person visit goes a lot smoother when you show up with the right stuff and leave everything else behind. This guide covers the common reasons people get delayed or turned away at the door, so you can avoid them.
Bring a valid photo ID. Staff will check it during entry, and there's no getting around this one. Have your ID out and ready when you reach the front desk. It keeps the line moving. If you show up without valid photo ID, expect to be turned away for that visit.
Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled visit time. Even when the line looks short, check-in takes longer than you'd expect. Once inside, follow staff directions for screening and where to wait. If you cut it too close and show up late, your visit could be shortened or canceled entirely because of the schedule.
Required: Before you can visit, you must be placed on the inmate’s approved visiting list.
Leave your phone in the car. Cell phones and other electronics are not allowed inside the facility, period. Don't bring them to the door expecting to carry them in. If you're not sure whether something counts as an electronic device, play it safe and leave it behind. Showing up with prohibited items is an easy way to slow down check-in or get turned away.
Not every visit works the same way, so it helps to know what to expect before you walk in. All non-contact visits are recorded. If you're approved for an authorized contact visit, a brief embrace and brief kiss are allowed at the beginning and end of the visit. Keep it brief and follow staff direction so your visit doesn't get interrupted.
Quick Checklist
- ✓ Bring a valid photo ID.
- ✓ Arrive at least 15 minutes early to check in.
- ✓ Confirm you are on the inmate’s approved visiting list before you make the trip.
- ✓ Leave your cell phone and all other electronic devices at home or locked in your car.
- ✓ Keep what you carry in as minimal as possible so check-in is simpler.
- ✓ Follow facility staff directions during screening and while you wait.
Visit type reminder: Non-contact visits are recorded. If you're approved for an authorized contact visit, a brief embrace and brief kiss are allowed at the start and end.
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