What Happens During Your Loved One’s First 30 Days at Mabel Basset: Temporary Visits Explained

If your loved one just arrived from assessment/reception and doesn't have an approved visiting list yet, Oklahoma DOC policy may allow a one-time temporary visit. Family members listed in the inmate's field file can sometimes get one visit within 30 days while visitor applications are being processed. Think of it as a bridge - a single visit that can happen before the normal approval paperwork goes through.

Even for a temporary visit, expect normal security procedures. Staff conduct pat searches on all inmates and visitors before visitation begins. And the schedule isn't universal: visiting hours and visit length vary by facility and by your loved one's security level. When you can come - and how long you can stay - depends on where they're housed.

Temporary visits aren't automatically available to everyone. Only family members listed in the inmate's field file may qualify for that one visit. This is separate from the regular visiting list that gets built after visitor applications are submitted and processed. Even if you qualify for a temporary visit, you'll still need to complete the standard visitor application to keep visiting after that first 30-day window.

For ongoing visits, you'll need to go through the standard Oklahoma DOC process. All visitors must submit a Visitor Application Form. If you're using a paper form, mail it to: Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Attn: Visitation Unit, P.O. Box 11400, Oklahoma City, OK 73136-0400. Background checks are required for visitors 18 and older, and approval can take up to eight weeks. Once complete, the inmate is notified - and your loved one will let you know the scheduled date and time of your visit.

1. Submit the Visitor Application Form - Every visitor needs an application on file; paper forms can be mailed to the ODOC Visitation Unit at P.O. Box 11400, Oklahoma City, OK 73136-0400.
2. Wait for the background check (18+) - Background checks are required for visitors 18 and older, and approval can take up to eight weeks.
3. Watch for confirmation through your loved one - The inmate will be notified when the process is complete and will also notify you of the scheduled visit date and time; a temporary visit may be possible while this is still in progress.

Minors Docs

• ✓ Birth certificate (to verify the child’s identity/relationship)
• ✓ Adoption papers (if applicable)
• ✓ Court papers (if applicable)

Bringing a child? Plan for extra time and keep documents within easy reach. Staff conduct pat searches on all inmates and visitors before visitation - even during temporary visits.

Practical Tips

• ✓ Confirm the visit details before you travel, since all visitors must submit a Visitor Application Form and the process can still be underway.
• ✓ Bring documentation for any minors you’re bringing (birth certificate, adoption papers, or court papers) to verify guardianship.
• ✓ Arrive early and be ready for a pat search before visitation.
• ✓ Plan around facility rules: visiting hours and visit length vary by facility and by an inmate’s security level.

Need help figuring out where to send paperwork? Oklahoma DOC's central office can be reached at 405-425-2500. Their physical address is 3400 Martin Luther King Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73111-4298.