How to Get Approved to Visit Someone at New Haven Correction Center

You must be on the incarcerated person's approved visiting list before you can visit New Haven Correction Center. Show up without being on that list, and you'll be turned away - no matter how far you've traveled. The list isn't unlimited. Connecticut DOC caps the number of approved visitors (including children), and the exact limit depends on the facility's security level. If the person you want to visit already has a full list, they'll need to remove someone before you can be added.

The process starts on the inside. The inmate gives their assigned counselor the name and address of each person they want on their visiting list. The counselor then provides a Visiting Application Form, which the inmate mails out to each prospective visitor. This means the form usually won't come from the facility - it comes through the mail from the person you're trying to visit. Once it arrives, fill it out and send it back.

1. Fill out the Visiting Application Form - Complete the form you receive in the mail from the inmate.
2. Sign the application - The form needs your signature before it can be processed.
3. Return it to New Haven Correction Center - You can return the completed application by mail or in person.
4. Have valid photo ID ready - You’ll need valid photo identification to enter the correctional facility (including when you come for your visit).

• ✓ Valid birth certificate
• ✓ One additional document with the child’s name (for example, a report card or Social Security card)

Expect the approval process to take two to three weeks after the facility receives your completed application. The wait can be frustrating, especially for a first visit, but the paperwork and verification steps take time. If you need to visit sooner, there's a limited option. Wardens can grant a courtesy visit before your application is fully approved. It's not guaranteed, but it may help when waiting several weeks isn't realistic.

Bringing a child under 16? Expect extra ID requirements. Connecticut DOC requires a valid birth certificate plus one additional document with the child's name - a report card or Social Security card works. Have these ready before you leave to avoid a wasted trip.

If you're stuck - maybe the Visiting Application Form never arrived, or you're unsure whether you're already approved - coordinate with the inmate first. They're the one who submits your name to their counselor and mails the form to you. For anything you can't resolve that way, check the Connecticut DOC's official Family & Friends visiting resources. That's where updates and process details are posted, and it's the right starting point when you need answers about visiting approval.