How to Schedule a Visit at Northwest State Correctional Facility (NWSCF): Understand the Last-Name System
NWSCF uses a last-name system to determine which weekend visiting block applies to your loved one. Match their last name to the right group, and you'll know exactly when to show up—no appointment needed.
Weekend visiting at NWSCF is organized by the inmate's last name. The facility splits last names into four blocks - A–D, E–L, M–R, and S–Z - each assigned a specific visiting window. To plan your visit, check which range your loved one falls under, then show up during that block's published hours.
- ✓ E–L: Saturday - 13:00pm–15:00pm
- ✓ M–R: Sunday - 08:30am–10:30am
- ✓ S–Z: Sunday - 13:00pm–15:00pm
NWSCF also offers evening visiting tied to housing unit - separate from the daytime last-name blocks. Unit #1 has evening hours on Saturday from 19:00 to 20:30. This window runs on its own schedule, so don't assume it follows the same last-name timing as daytime visits.
Unit #2 evening visiting is Sunday from 19:00 to 20:30. Like Unit #1, this is separate from the daytime last-name schedule - make sure you're checking the right one.
Vermont DOC limits matter here. Unless an inmate has been restricted through due process or placed on special status, they're allowed one social visit per week - plus legal and religious visits. These limits are baked into how scheduling works, so plan accordingly.
Each visit maxes out at two hours, even if the visiting block runs longer. If you're traveling far, plan around that cap.
NWSCF allows up to three visitors at a time. If more people want to come, you'll need to coordinate who attends.
- Report to the visiting reception desk - Go to the facility’s visiting reception desk on the scheduled visiting day to start the check-in process.
- Show your ID and sign in - Present proper government-issued photo identification to the correctional officer on duty and sign the Visitor Registration Log.
Heads up: If you arrive 30 minutes or less before the end of the visiting period, you will not be processed for approval to visit. Plan to get there earlier so check-in doesn’t cost you the visit.
Need a special visit or exception to the normal schedule? You'll need official approval. NWSCF posts facility contacts on its page, and special arrangements go through the Superintendent under DOC policy.
This isn't red tape for its own sake. Vermont DOC's visitation rules aim to support family contact while maintaining security. Staff are working within that balance when they review exception requests.
Quick Checklist
- ✓ Match your loved one’s last name to the correct NWSCF block (A–D, E–L, M–R, or S–Z) before you plan your trip.
- ✓ Plan to arrive early enough to check in at the visiting reception desk.
- ✓ Bring proper government-issued photo ID and be ready to sign the Visitor Registration Log.
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