Before Your First Visit to Northwestern Detention Center: ID, Dress Code, and What You Can't Bring
Your first visit to Northwestern Detention Center goes a lot smoother when you show up prepared. Use this quick guide to confirm you're eligible, bring the right ID, dress within the rules, and avoid items that can get you turned away (or worse).
Before you plan a trip, make sure you're on the inmate's approved visitor list. If your name isn't on it, you won't get in, even with valid ID and perfect timing.
Age matters, too. You must be 18 or older to visit on your own. Under 18? You can still visit, but only if you're accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years old.
Photo ID
- ✓ Bring a valid state driver’s license, or other current photo identification
- ✓ Have your photo ID ready to present during check-in
Dress conservatively so you don't lose your visit at the door. Northwestern Detention Center prohibits provocative or revealing clothing, including see-through garments, unfastened clothing, or anything considered obscene. If staff decide your outfit is inappropriate, you'll need to change or cover up before you're allowed in.
Prohibited Items
- ✓ Weapons
- ✓ Illegal substances
- ✓ Tobacco products
- ✓ Drugs
- ✓ Any other contraband or prohibited items (bringing these into the Detention Center violates the Code of Virginia and can lead to criminal prosecution)
Plan on keeping your belongings secured and staying put once your visit starts. Lockers are provided during visitation. Once you're seated in the visitation area, you can't give up your seat or swap with someone else. And if anyone in your visiting party leaves the visitation area, the visit ends immediately.
Recorded visits: All visits are recorded. Anything staff consider inappropriate can lead to suspension of your visitation privileges, from temporary to permanent.
At Northwestern Detention Center, family and friend visits happen through a video visitation system. You have two options: on-site video visitation at the facility, or off-site on-demand video visitation from another location. On-site visits can last up to 30 minutes. Off-site on-demand visits are shorter, capped at 15 minutes each.
- Pick the visit type before you go - Decide whether you are doing an on-site video visit at the facility (up to 30 minutes) or an off-site on-demand video visit (up to 15 minutes).
- Build your day around the time limit - Since visits are capped, plan ahead so check-in, parking, and any waiting time do not eat up the time you are trying to spend together.
- Confirm the day’s intake and admission timing - Before you travel, verify any same-day check-in requirements and any admission cutoff that could affect whether you are allowed to start a visit.
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