How Many People Can Be on Your Loved One's Visitor List at MCI Norfolk
Visitor-list limits at MCI Norfolk boil down to two things: everyone needs pre-approval (with a special rule for kids), and the maximum number of approved visitors depends on your loved one's security level.
At MCI Norfolk, visitors must be pre-approved before they can visit. Don't assume you can show up and get added at the door - being on the approved visitor list is the starting point before you can schedule or complete a visit.
Minors visiting: Children under 18 don’t need to be pre-approved, but they must be with a parent or legal guardian who has physical custody and is already on the inmate’s pre-approved visiting list.
How many people can be on your loved one's approved visitor list? It depends on the security level of the institution where they're housed. Here are the standard DOC caps for pre-approved visitor lists.
- ✓ Maximum security: up to 8 pre-approved visitors.
- ✓ Medium security: up to 8 pre-approved visitors.
- ✓ Minimum security / pre-release: up to 10 pre-approved visitors.
Since these limits are tied to security level, double-check which classification applies to your loved one before deciding who to include. And remember: even if there's room on the list, visitors still need pre-approval before they can visit.
If the standard cap is too tight for your family situation, there's a way to ask for more. Exceptions to exceed the maximum number of pre-approved visitors can be granted - but the request must come from the inmate and requires the Superintendent's written approval.
- Talk with your loved one about the need for an exception - the request has to come from the inmate, so make sure they understand who you’re trying to add and why.
- Have the inmate submit an exception request - the DOC allows exceptions to exceed the maximum when requested by the inmate.
- Wait for written approval from the Superintendent - the exception isn’t granted unless the Superintendent approves it in writing.
Once the list is set up, it's not locked forever - but changes are limited. An inmate's visitor list may be revised three times per year.
That revision limit can sneak up on you, especially if you're rotating family members on and off the list. Plan ahead. Coordinate with your loved one and try to consolidate updates so you don't burn through revisions one name at a time.
Before you go: Review MCI Norfolk’s visiting hours ahead of time. Hours can change, and you can call the institution to verify the schedule.
Not sure which security level applies? Ask your loved one directly - the visitor-list maximum depends on where they're housed. You can also contact MCI Norfolk to confirm. Knowing the level up front helps you plan the visitor list realistically, especially if you're close to the cap and deciding who to add.
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