How many people can visit at once at North Fork? Understanding the 5-visitor and 20-person rules

Two limits apply at North Fork, and they're easy to confuse. First, an inmate can have up to 20 approved visitors on their list. Think of this as the overall roster of people cleared to visit. Second, there's a per-visit cap: only five approved visitors can come at the same time. So even if 20 people are on the list, the facility still limits how many can show up together. The 20 rule is about who's approved. The 5 rule is about who can walk in the door on any given day.

Children under 18 don't count toward the 20-person limit. That's helpful when you need to save spots on the list for adults - parents, siblings, other relatives - while still bringing kids along.

• ✓ Birth certificate
• ✓ Adoption papers
• ✓ Other documentation that reflects parentage or guardianship

1. Fill out the Visitor Request Form (DOC 030118B) - this is the required application to become an approved visitor.
2. Expect a background check if you’re 18 or older - background checks are part of the approval process for adult applicants.

Give yourself plenty of lead time. Visitor approval can take up to eight weeks, and the inmate will let you know once it's complete. Paper applications are still accepted at ODOC headquarters in Oklahoma City. Make sure you address the form to the Visitation Unit - not the inmate.

Practical Tips

• ✓ If more than five people want to visit, plan to split the group across different visits so you stay within the five-visitors-at-a-time limit.
• ✓ Decide ahead of time who will go in the first group (for example: a parent and kids first, then siblings or extended family on another day).
• ✓ Remember the “20” limit is the approved list total, not the number of people who can visit together.
• ✓ Don’t stress about minors “taking up spots” on the approved list - children under 18 don’t count toward the 20-person limit, but you may still need to bring documentation for them.

Planning to have several family members visit over time? Start applications early. With approval taking up to eight weeks, it's much easier to schedule visits once everyone's already cleared.