If you falsify a visitation application — and what 'trafficking' can mean for visitors at Indiana Women's Prison

The Indiana Department of Correction runs criminal background and warrant checks on every visitation applicant age 16 and older. If an active warrant turns up, your application doesn't just get rubber-stamped or quietly ignored - facility Investigations and Intelligence staff and/or a Correctional Police Officer will review it. The agency that issued the warrant can be contacted, and local law enforcement may be notified.

Before you can schedule an in-person or online visit, you need to register for a ViaPath account and get approved. Your Department visiting application also has to be on file. Start the application early - well before the day you're hoping to visit.

Falsifying a visitation application has serious consequences: a one-year ban from visiting all correctional facilities. Once a decision is made to approve or deny your application, the incarcerated person is notified - and they're responsible for letting you know the outcome.

Even if you're not trying to mislead anyone, leaving information out can still cause problems. Incomplete applications or untruthful answers can delay processing or lead to denial. And remember - the decision goes to the incarcerated person first, so they're the one who gets official notice and passes it along to you.

IDOC defines "trafficking" broadly. The Department prohibits trafficking with an offender and possessing controlled substances, tobacco, electronic devices, or weapons on Department property. Get caught trafficking, and the consequence is permanent - you can be banned from visiting any offender at any IDOC facility, not just Indiana Women's Prison.

Expect to be searched. All offenders and visitors are subject to search, and refusing means your visit will be denied. If you're unsure about something you're carrying, leave it behind before you arrive.

Trafficking isn't treated as just a visitation issue. When a visitor or offender is found trafficking, the evidence goes to Indiana State Police with a recommendation for prosecution.

1. Review what you submitted - Check your application for missing details or answers that don’t match your records; incomplete or inaccurate information can slow approval or lead to a denial.
2. Confirm you’re actually eligible to schedule - Make sure you’ve registered for a ViaPath account and that an approved Department visiting application is on file before you try to set an in-person or online visit.
3. Ask the right person about the decision - Because the offender is notified of approvals/denials, start by confirming with your loved one what they were told; if there’s a specific issue flagged (like a warrant or an investigation concern), you may need to speak with facility staff who handle visitation approvals.

• ✓ Ask the offender whether they received a notice approving or denying your application, and what the stated decision was.
• ✓ If you suspect a warrant may have come up, be prepared for the application to be reviewed by facility investigations staff and for the issuing agency to be contacted; local law enforcement may also be notified.