What to Bring (and What to Leave Behind) for Your First Visit to Holmes County Jail

For your first visit to Holmes County Jail, keep it simple: bring a photo I.D., plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled visitation end time, and leave your phone and bags behind. No one under 18 is allowed to visit, so arrange childcare ahead of time or be prepared for children to wait in the lobby with a supervising adult.

Bring a photo I.D. Holmes County Jail requires one for visitation, and you will be turned away without it. If your name has changed (after a marriage, for example), make sure the I.D. you bring matches your current legal name.

Give yourself more time than you think you need. Holmes County Jail requires visitors to arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled visitation end time to receive their full visit. Cut it close and you could lose time you were counting on.

Set your expectations about visit length, too. Minimum standards allow inmates 30 minutes of visitation per week total, and that time can cover up to four visitors during the scheduled period (not 30 minutes per person). Visitation can also be suspended for disciplinary reasons, so if a visit doesn't happen as planned, that may be why.

Prohibited Items and Attire

• ✓ Cell phones
• ✓ Cameras
• ✓ Electronic devices
• ✓ Purses
• ✓ Bags

Holmes County Jail does not allow anyone under 18 to visit. If you arrive with children, they can wait in the lobby, but an adult must stay with them in the lobby waiting area. Planning to juggle childcare and a visit? Call ahead so you don't make a long trip only to be turned away.

1. Call ahead with your question - If you are unsure whether an item is allowed (or where you can put it if it is not), get clarification before you leave home. This is especially worth doing if you are traveling any distance.
2. Skip the website tip form for urgent situations - The Sheriff’s Office says not to use the website contact or tip form to notify them of a current crime. Call 911 or (330) 674-1936 instead.
3. If you get turned away, reset and try again - If staff deny entry due to dress, behavior, language, or suspected alcohol or drug use, your fastest path back is to correct the issue and return another day with a photo I.D. and no prohibited items.

If an in-person visit isn't workable, video visits are also an option through InmateSales. You'll create an account (or log in), select the facility, and choose between a remote visit or an onsite video visit.