Can You Bring Money or Packages During Your Visit to Ohio Reformatory? What's Actually Allowed

Visitors cannot deliver packages, letters, money, or printed materials directly to incarcerated people during a visit. Cash is specifically prohibited on the grounds - don't plan on carrying it in and figuring things out at the front desk. If something needs to reach your loved one, it has to go through proper channels. Nothing gets handed over in the visiting room.

Want to help with commissary or other account needs? Only approved visitors can deposit funds to an incarcerated person's account, and you have to use the approved ODRC process. Still waiting for approval? You won't be able to add money yet - even if you're trying to do the right thing. Once you're approved to visit, you'll also need to register with GTL to schedule visits. This matters because ODRC ties visiting activity to your approved-visitor status, including who can make deposits through the official process.

1. Make sure you’re an approved visitor - deposits to an incarcerated person’s account are limited to approved visitors.
2. Use the approved ODRC process (not the visiting room) - don’t bring money to hand over during a visit.
3. Follow the current ODRC instructions exactly - use the process ODRC has set up for deposits rather than trying to create a workaround.

Tablet payments work differently than everyday money transfers. For tablet repairs or related fees, payments are only accepted as Money Orders or Cashier's Checks made payable to "ViaPath Technologies." The vendor's payment form specifies a full payment of $250 for the tablet fee it references. This is where trying to bring cash or pass something along during a visit can backfire. Even if you just want to help with a device issue, the payment still has to follow the vendor's instructions.

If Someone Offers Contraband

• ✓ Refuse to take or carry anything for someone else into the facility.
• ✓ Don’t attempt to deliver money, packages, correspondence, or printed materials directly to an incarcerated person.
• ✓ If you’re pressured or someone tries to involve you, step away and report the situation to facility staff as soon as you can.

ODRC takes conveyance seriously. The Declaration of Understanding lists cash as prohibited, and ODRC has zero tolerance for attempts to bring drugs, alcohol, weapons, cash, cell phones, or other electronic communication devices into its facilities. The smartest move? Keep your visit clean. Don't bring items for delivery, don't accept "just hold this for me," and don't let a request turn into criminal trouble under ORC 2921.36.