Visiting Hours, Length, and Rules at RIDOC: What to Expect and How to Prepare

RIDOC's visitation policy balances two priorities: keeping families connected and maintaining security. The department encourages regular social visits with relatives and other supportive people to help maintain close family ties. That said, visits - whether in person or video - are considered a privilege. RIDOC administration can approve, deny, suspend, or revoke visiting access at any time.

The specifics - visiting days, times, locations, session length, weekly visit limits, and how many visitors can come at once - are set at the facility level. Each warden determines the schedule and key parameters, so the answer depends on where your loved one is housed.

RIDOC policy sets a floor for how often visits must be offered. Every facility must provide each inmate at least three visiting periods per week - unless they're on Administrative Restricted Status.

There's also a minimum visit length. Each visiting period must be at least one and one-half (1½) hours, though the warden still controls the overall schedule and how visits are run.

Wondering what's allowed during a contact visit? Expect very limited physical contact. RIDOC rules allow kissing and brief embracing only at the start and end of the visit - no ongoing hugging or contact throughout.

RIDOC has a specific rule for "long distance" visits, measured from Cranston. Any distance over seventy-five (75) miles counts as long distance, and an inmate can receive only up to four (4) long-distance visits per calendar year. If you're traveling from far away, treat those visits as a limited resource - you don't want to use them up earlier than planned.

Visitor approval often depends on background checks. RIDOC requires visitors to clear both BCI and NCIC checks before visiting - unless the Assistant Director of Institutions and Operations (ADIO) or a designee grants specific approval. If your clearance is pending or there's an issue, find out what you need to do before making the trip.

Pending charges can limit your visits too. Under RIDOC restrictions, anyone with pending charges is limited to one visit per month - even if the facility normally offers more visiting periods that week.

Practical Checklist Verify Before You Go

• ✓ Confirm the specific facility’s visiting schedule and rules (the warden sets the day/time, location, visit length, number of weekly visits per inmate, and how many visitors can come at once).
• ✓ Plan around RIDOC’s minimums: at least three visiting periods per week for inmates not on Administrative Restricted Status.
• ✓ Expect each visiting period to be at least 1½ hours, but confirm how your facility runs start/end times.
• ✓ Make sure you’ve cleared both BCI and NCIC background checks (or have ADIO/designee approval) before you travel.
• ✓ If you have pending charges, plan for the once-per-month visit limit.
• ✓ Treat visiting as a privilege: breaking laws, DOC policy, or facility rules - or creating a security issue - can get visits suspended or revoked.

1. Go in ready to follow conduct rules - keep physical contact to a brief kiss or embrace at the beginning and end of the visit.
2. Stick to facility rules the whole time - violations of state law, DOC policy, or facility-specific rules (or anything seen as a security threat) can lead to visiting privileges being suspended or revoked.