How to visit, scheduling, dress code, and visitor requirements
Before visiting Michigan Reformatory, you need approval. Complete the MDOC CAJ-103 visiting application—submit it electronically or by mail—and wait for approval before booking anything in ViaPath/GTL. Online applications through MiLogin can take up to four weeks to process; you'll get an email when it's done. Once approved, schedule through the MDOC/GTL portal. Visits must be booked at least 48 hours ahead, and the portal enforces a 48-hour/7-day scheduling window. Video visits run 20 minutes and cost $3.20, paid in advance. They're monitored and recorded with no expectation of privacy, and dress rules still apply. Plan to arrive early, sign in, and show an approved photo ID. Visitor limits can vary between five (policy) and four (portal), so confirm at booking.
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Your first Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) visit hinges on one thing: getting approved on the prisoner's visiting list. This checklist walks you through submitting the right application the right way—so you're not waiting any longer than necessary.
Planning a Michigan (MDOC) video visit with multiple family members? You might hit a frustrating snag: the official rules say one thing, but the scheduling portal shows something else. Here's how the limits actually work, how kids factor in, and what to do so you don't lose your visit time at check-in.
Fill out the MDOC CAJ-103 visiting application and submit it electronically or by U.S. mail as instructed. If you apply online through MiLogin, processing can take up to four weeks and you’ll be notified by email when it’s processed.
You can’t schedule until your visiting application is approved and you’re on the visiting list. Visits must be booked at least 48 hours in advance through ViaPath/GTL, and the portal reinforces a 48-hour/7-day scheduling window.
Video visits run 20 minutes and cost $3.20 per visit, paid in advance. They're monitored and recorded with no expectation of privacy. Follow the facility dress rules and log in 10 to 15 minutes before your appointment for verification.
OTIS—Michigan's Offender Tracking Information System—is the fastest way to look up basic public details about someone under Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) jurisdiction. If the person you're searching for is housed in a Michigan prison like Michigan Reformatory, or is being supervised by MDOC, OTIS should show a matching record.
If your loved one is at Michigan Reformatory, understanding the available programs helps you have better conversations about education, reentry planning, and everyday support.
Trying to schedule a last-minute visit with someone in Michigan Department of Corrections? The system won't let you. MDOC requires visits booked far enough ahead to get approved—but not so far out that you're reserving dates weeks in advance.
