Your Visitor Application Was Denied—Now What? (Morgan County)

Two denial triggers come up often under TDOC policy. The first is falsification on the visitation application (CR-2152). Even small "clean-ups" that change the facts - leaving out information or writing something that isn't accurate - can get your application denied. Worse, it can lock you out from reapplying for a set period. The second involves visiting list eligibility. If you were removed from a non-immediate-family inmate's visiting list (whether at the inmate's request or yours), TDOC requires a waiting period before you can be placed on another non-immediate-family inmate's list. If your denial seems confusing, it may be tied to one of these list rules rather than something you did wrong on the form.

If your denial was for falsification on the CR-2152, the rule is straightforward: you're barred from resubmitting for a minimum of six months. No exceptions. The best use of that time? Gather the correct information and prepare a fully accurate application so you're ready the moment you're eligible again.

If you were removed from a non-immediate-family inmate's visiting list - either because the inmate requested it or you did - TDOC requires a one-year wait before you can be placed on another non-immediate-family inmate's list. This catches people off guard, especially if they're trying to visit someone new after a change in relationships. But the rule is about list eligibility, not whether you're "allowed to visit" in general.

Normally, you can't visit until your application is approved. There's one exception: immediate family of newly committed inmates. The facility can allow immediate family visitors during the early intake period - up to 60 days from the inmate's intake date - while the application is being processed. This exception is narrow. It doesn't turn into ongoing approval, and it doesn't extend past that 60-day window. If you're outside that timeframe or you're not immediate family, you'll need to wait for approval before visiting.

Next Steps After Denial

• ✓ If the denial involved falsification, wait at least six months before you try to resubmit a visitor application.
• ✓ If you were removed from a non-immediate-family inmate’s list at the inmate’s request or your request, wait one year before you can be placed on another non-immediate-family inmate’s visiting list.
• ✓ When you reapply, fill out the CR-2152 completely and truthfully - don’t guess, don’t “round,” and don’t leave out details you think might hurt your chances.
• ✓ Include a current photograph and make sure the completed application is returned within 30 days.

When you're ready to try again, two timing rules matter. First, prospective visitors are expected to return the completed CR-2152 with a current photograph within 30 days. Second, once the facility receives it, they should approve or deny applications within 30 days. Those two "30-day" windows help you stay organized: submit a complete packet quickly, then mark your calendar for when a decision should come through. That way you'll know when it's reasonable to follow up.

1. Ask for the specific reason for the denial - TDOC expects a decision within 30 days of receipt, so if you’re past that window or the reason is unclear, request clarification so you don’t repeat the same issue.
2. Check whether the immediate-family intake exception matters - If your loved one is newly committed and you’re immediate family, ask whether the up-to-60-days-from-intake allowance applies while the application is pending.
3. Keep a simple paper trail - Write down dates (when you submitted, when it was received, when you were notified) and what you were told. It helps you time a clean reapplication and avoid preventable delays.