What to Bring (and What to Leave Home) When Visiting Multnomah County Jails
A little prep before you leave the house can save you a wasted trip. This guide covers exactly what ID to bring, what to wear, and what to leave behind so you don't get turned away at the door.
Every adult visitor needs a current, valid, government-issued photo ID to get into social visitation at Multnomah County jails. Bring the actual ID - not a photo of it on your phone. You'll hand it over during sign-in.
- ✓ State driver’s license
- ✓ State ID card
- ✓ Military ID card
- ✓ Passport
Items Prohibited
- ✓ Pens
- ✓ Matches
- ✓ Lighters
- ✓ Tobacco
- ✓ Sharp objects
- ✓ Pocketknives
- ✓ Containers (including purses and diaper bags)
Dress conservatively and think about coverage from every angle. The jail requires your chest to be covered from the bottom of your armpits down to your navel. Your groin and buttocks must stay covered too - and not just when you're standing at check-in. Your clothing needs to keep those areas covered when you're seated.
You'll go through a metal detector before entering the visiting area. If it goes off, you won't get in. Have a medical condition that makes the detector unsafe? Tell an officer at the desk - they can arrange an alternative search.
Don't show up under the influence. Visitors who appear intoxicated won't be allowed in. Break the rules and your visit gets denied or cut short. Repeat violations stack up fast: a 2nd violation means a one-week ban, a 3rd gets you two weeks, a 4th three weeks, and a 5th gets referred to the Facility Security Unit Manager.
Quick Checklist
- ✓ Bring a current, valid, government-issued photo ID (required for all adult social visitors at check-in)
- ✓ Use one of these accepted IDs: state driver’s license, state ID card, military ID card, or passport
- ✓ Leave at home/in your vehicle: pens, matches, lighters, tobacco, sharp objects, pocketknives, and any containers (including purses and diaper bags)
- ✓ Dress for the coverage rules: chest covered from bottom of armpits to navel; groin and buttocks covered (and still covered when seated)
Turn-away risks: You must clear the metal detector without setting it off (ask an officer about an alternative search if you have a medical condition), and you won’t be allowed to visit if you show signs of intoxication.
Give yourself extra time. Arrive 30 to 60 minutes before the session you want, and sign up at least 30 minutes before it starts.
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