What you can't bring to visitation at Eastern Regional Jail (and what to do with your phone and keys)
Your visit goes much smoother when you show up without anything that could get you turned away. Here's what to leave in the car—and what to ask about when you schedule.
Weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited. Even items you normally carry for personal protection will stop your visit before it starts.
Tobacco products aren’t allowed in the visitation area. Leave anything tobacco-related behind before you go inside.
Cellphones aren't allowed in the visitation area. Plan ahead - you don't want to be stuck at the entrance figuring out where to put it.
Keys can trip you up here. The only key allowed during visitation is a facility-issued locker key. Your car keys, house keys, keychains - all of those need to stay outside. More on lockers below.
Handheld items, anything in your pockets, and purses aren't allowed in the visitation area. The simplest approach: arrive with as little as possible and keep personal belongings out of the building entirely.
Don’t bring food or drinks into the visitation area. Eat and hydrate before you arrive, or plan to handle it after your visit.
Warning: Strong cologne, perfume, or any smell of alcohol or contraband will get you denied - and you won't be allowed back that day.
Eastern Regional Jail is strict about keys: the only one allowed during visitation is a facility-issued locker key. Car keys, house keys, keychains - leave them all outside the visitation area. If the facility gives you a locker key to secure your belongings, that's the one exception.
- Call to schedule your visit at least one day ahead - Visits must be scheduled at least a day in advance.
- Ask your locker/key question while you’re on the phone - Call 304-267-0045 or 304-267-0048 and confirm what you should do with your phone and keys so you arrive prepared.
Practical Options
- ✓ Leave your cellphone in your vehicle before you enter.
- ✓ Leave your purse in your vehicle before you enter.
- ✓ Don’t bring food or drinks into the visitation area - finish them before you go inside.
Since handheld and pocketed items aren't permitted, aim for the bare minimum when you walk in. If you don't need it for check-in, don't carry it. Store everything else before you enter so you're not sorting it out at the door.
- Schedule at least a day in advance - Eastern Regional Jail requires you to call at least one day before the visit.
- Confirm how keys are handled - Keys are prohibited except for a facility-issued locker key, so ask what you should do with your car keys when you arrive.
- Use the visitation lines - Call 304-267-0045 or 304-267-0048 to get the current instructions before you make the trip.
Show up wearing heavy cologne or perfume, or smelling like alcohol or contraband, and you'll be turned away - no second chance that day. If you're unsure whether something could be a problem, deal with it before you arrive.
- ✓ Don’t bring weapons of any kind.
- ✓ Don’t bring tobacco products.
- ✓ Don’t bring a cellphone into the visitation area.
- ✓ Don’t bring keys unless it’s a facility-issued locker key.
- ✓ Don’t bring handheld or pocketed personal items.
- ✓ Don’t bring a purse.
- ✓ Don’t bring food or drinks.
- ✓ Avoid excessive cologne/perfume, and don’t arrive smelling of alcohol or contraband (you can be denied and not allowed back).
Denied a visit? Call the visitation line to find out what went wrong before you try again. The numbers are 304-267-0045 and 304-267-0048. Remember, you'll still need to schedule at least one day in advance for your next attempt.
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