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Visitation

How Many People Can Visit at Once at John Lilley Center

Planning a visit at John H. Lilley Correctional Center? Two limits matter: how many people can be on the approved list total, and how many can actually be in the visiting room at once.

• 2 min read • oklahoma.gov
How Many People Can Visit at Once at John Lilley Center

Each inmate at John H. Lilley Correctional Center can have up to 20 people on their approved visitors list. This limit becomes important when you're adding new adults or when a large family wants to rotate visits over time.

Note: Children under 18 don’t count toward the 20-person approved visitors list limit.

Getting on that approved list takes time. Adults 18 and older must submit a Visitor Application Form and pass a background check - a process that can take up to eight weeks. If you're hoping to visit for a birthday or holiday, start early.

Even with several people approved, only five visitors can be with an inmate at the same time. Larger groups will need to split up and schedule separate visits.

Note: Staff conduct pat searches on both visitors and inmates before visitation. Processing times and room capacity can affect how visits run on any given day.

Here's one thing that makes planning easier: children under 18 don't count toward the 20-person limit. Families can bring kids without using up a valuable adult slot on the list.

  • ✓ Birth certificate(s)
  • ✓ Court papers showing guardianship (if applicable)
  • ✓ Adoption papers (if applicable)

Once a child turns 18, they're subject to adult rules. They'll need to complete a Visitor Application and pass a background check - which can take up to eight weeks. If someone's birthday is coming up and you want to avoid a gap in visits, start the application process early.

How Many People Can Visit at Once at John Lilley Center
  1. Coordinate with the inmate about the approved list - The approved visitors list is capped at 20, so if you’re at the limit, the inmate will need to manage who is on the list before another adult can be added.
  2. Start applications early (or check where they are) - Adults must submit a Visitor Application and pass a background check, and approval can take up to eight weeks.
  1. Plan around the “five at a time” rule - No more than five approved visitors can visit at the same time, so larger families should expect to split into separate visits.
  2. Build in extra time for processing - Pat searches are done before visitation, and that can slow check-in and affect how smoothly groups are brought in.

Note: Being approved doesn't guarantee a smooth visit every time. Security procedures and how busy visitation is that day can still affect what's possible, even within the five-person maximum.

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