Penmate Inmate Support Guides
Visitation

Before Your First Visit to Northern CI: What to Bring and What to Leave Behind

Your first visit to Northern Correctional Institution (Northern CI) goes a lot smoother when you plan for the basics: ID at the door, no electronics inside, strict visitor limits, and a short visit window. Here's what to bring, what to leave behind, and how to time your arrival so you don't get turned away.

• 2 min read Verified from official sources

Bring a valid photo ID. You'll be asked for it during check-in, and you won't get in without one. If you're bringing a minor, sort out their identification requirements ahead of time so you're not scrambling at the entrance.

Warning: Cell phones and other electronic devices are not allowed inside. Leave them at home or locked in your car. Bringing one in will stop your visit before it starts.

Plan your group size carefully. Northern CI allows no more than two visitors per in-person visit, and children count toward that limit. If you're coming as a family, decide in advance who's going in so no one gets turned away at check-in.

  1. Arrive at least 15 minutes early - Visitors are required to arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled visit to complete check-in.
  2. Have your photo ID ready - You will need valid photo identification to enter.
  3. Complete check-in promptly - If you show up late, your visit may be shortened or canceled due to scheduling restraints.

Expect a shorter visit. Sessions are limited to 30 minutes (until further notice) so staff can disinfect before and after each one. That makes timing matter. Arrive early and get through check-in quickly so you can keep as much of that half-hour as possible.

  • ✓ New Year’s Day
  • ✓ Martin Luther King Day
  • ✓ Lincoln’s Birthday
  • ✓ Washington’s Birthday
  • ✓ Good Friday
  • ✓ Memorial Day
  • ✓ Juneteenth
  • ✓ Independence Day
  • ✓ Labor Day
  • ✓ Columbus Day
  • ✓ Veteran’s Day
  • ✓ Thanksgiving Day
  • ✓ Christmas Day

Find an Inmate at Northern Correctional Institution

Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.

Exact spelling helps find results faster

Free to search · Used by families nationwide
Woman using phone to connect with loved one

More from Northern Correctional Institution

Can I Hug My Loved One at Northern CI? Rules on Physical Contact and Recorded Visits

Heading to a visit at Northern Correctional Institution? It helps to know exactly what physical contact is allowed and what gets recorded. Here are the rules that matter most for planning your visit and protecting your privacy.

First-Time Visitor Checklist: What to Bring (and Leave Behind) for Connecticut DOC Facilities — including Northern CI

Your first visit to a Connecticut DOC facility goes smoother when you bring the right items - and leave behind the ones that'll get you turned away. Here's your checklist for Northern Correctional Institution (Northern CI) and other CT DOC facilities.

Getting on the Visiting List at Northern CI: What You Need to Know

If you show up to Northern Correctional Institution without being approved first, you'll be turned away at the door. Here's how the approved visiting list works, what can affect it, and who to contact when you need help.