What to Bring (and What to Leave Behind) When Visiting Joseph Harp Correctional Center
A smooth visit starts before you leave the house. This guide covers the right photo ID, the paperwork you'll need, and what to leave behind—so you don't get turned away at the door.
If you're 18 or older, you'll need a photo ID to visit Joseph Harp Correctional Center. Acceptable options include a state driver's license, state ID, federal ID, military ID, or school ID.
Beyond your actual ID, there's paperwork to think about. The Visitor Request Form requires a photocopy of the front and back of your driver's license or state-issued ID. Make those copies before you submit your request, and keep your original ID handy for check-in.
Tip: Make a clear front-and-back copy of your ID before you go, and keep your original ID somewhere easy to grab at the front desk.
Don't have a driver's license? No problem. State IDs, federal IDs, military IDs, and school IDs all work for visitors 18 and older - as long as they include your photo.
If you don't have a government photo ID yet, consider getting a state ID card before your visit. According to ODOC's visitor form, you can get one at any Oklahoma Department of Motor Vehicles office for a nominal fee.
Be extremely careful about what you bring onto prison property. Under Oklahoma law, possessing contraband in a jail or state penal institution is a felony. This includes guns, knives, bombs, other dangerous instruments, controlled substances, alcohol or low-point beer, and money or financial documents intended for someone other than the inmate (or the inmate's spouse). Penalties range from 1 to 5 years in ODOC custody, a fine between $100 and $1,000, or both.
Leave your phone behind. Bringing a cell phone - or any device capable of sending or receiving electronic communication - into a secure area is a felony. The penalty: up to two years in ODOC custody, a fine up to $2,500, or both.
Tobacco is also off-limits. Cigarettes, cigars, snuff, chewing tobacco - any tobacco product can be charged as a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine up to $500, or both.
Expect security screening when you arrive. Everyone entering the facility perimeter gets at least a pat search. Any bags, purses, or boxes you bring can be searched too.
Refuse a search - of yourself, your belongings, or your vehicle - and you won't get in. You could also lose access to the facility entirely. Decide ahead of time whether you're comfortable with the process.
Practical tip: Bring as little as possible. Fewer personal items means fewer delays at the search point - and less risk of having something that gets your visit denied.
Printable Checklist
- ✓ Original photo ID if you’re 18+ (state driver’s license, or state/federal/military/school ID)
- ✓ Visitor Request Form: front-and-back copy of your driver’s license or state-issued ID included with the request
- ✓ Leave behind: weapons (guns/knives), bombs, controlled substances, intoxicating beverages/low-point beer, money or financial documents for someone other than the inmate (or the inmate’s spouse)
- ✓ Leave behind: cell phones and any electronic device capable of sending/receiving electronic communication
- ✓ Leave behind: cigarettes, cigars, snuff, chewing tobacco, and all other tobacco products
Questions about acceptable ID or what to include with the Visitor Request Form? Contact Joseph Harp Correctional Center before you travel. Mailing address: Joseph Harp C.C., P.O. Box 548, Lexington, OK 73051.
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