Visiting With Children: What Parents Need to Know Before Bringing Kids to Northwest Correctional Complex
Bringing kids to visit at Northwest Correctional Complex takes extra paperwork. Handle the approval form, photos, and (when needed) notarized consent ahead of time, and the visit itself will go much smoother.
Children under 18 can only visit Northwest Correctional Complex when accompanied by their parent or legal guardian - and that adult must also be on the incarcerated person's approved visiting list. The child being approved isn't enough. Whoever brings them needs to be cleared too. Before you plan a trip with a child, make sure the adult escort is already listed and approved.
Note: Some TDOC guidance mentions possible exceptions for certain minors (for example, if a minor is married). Confirm how that applies to your situation before you travel.
When the custodial parent or legal guardian can't - or won't - come to the visit, TDOC requires a notarized consent form before someone else can bring the child. This is the Parental Consent/Release for Minor's Visitation section on page 2 of the visitation application (CR-2152). The custodial parent or legal guardian fills it out, gets it notarized, and names the specific adult authorized to escort the child.
Reminder: TDOC requires visitation applications (CR-2152) to be updated every 24 months, so keep an eye on renewal timing for any paperwork tied to a child’s approval.
Photos trip up a lot of applications. If your child is six or older, TDOC requires an actual photograph attached to their visitation application - not a photocopy. Use a recent picture so staff can match the child to what's on file when you arrive.
- ✓ Update the child’s photo at age 10
- ✓ Update the child’s photo at age 12
- ✓ Update the child’s photo at age 14
- ✓ Update the child’s photo at age 16
- ✓ Update the child’s photo at age 18
Photo updates tie into the regular paperwork cycle. TDOC requires the visitation application (CR-2152) to be renewed every 24 months, even if nothing has changed. If your child is approaching a photo-update age around the same time your application is due, handle both together to keep their file current.
Kids under 16 don't need to show ID at the door. But TDOC still requires documentation in the child's file: a copy of the birth certificate and a completed CR-2152 with a recent picture. If you're getting a first visit approved or updating an older application, focus on what's on file - not just what you bring the day of the visit.
For most families, the "on file" requirements boil down to two things: the right photo and the right adult escort. If the child is six or older, the application needs an actual photograph attached - not a photocopy. And if the custodial parent or legal guardian isn't bringing the child, you'll need the notarized Parental Consent/Release (CR-2152 page 2) naming the authorized escort. Getting these pieces lined up ahead of time prevents a child from being turned away after you've already made the trip.
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