How Many People Can Visit at Once? Understanding ODRC Visiting Lists and Local Limits

Under Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) rules, an incarcerated person can have up to 15 approved adult visitors on their visiting list. But that doesn't mean all 15 can show up together. Each institution's managing officer sets the on-site rules: how many visitors per visit, how long visits last, how often they can happen, which visits get priority, and the visiting hours.

Start with the visiting list itself. ODRC policy allows up to 15 approved adult visitors on an incarcerated person's list. Think of this as the "approved pool" of adults who can be cleared to visit. It's not a guarantee that everyone on the list can be admitted together on any given day.

Here's where local control comes in. ODRC rules give each institution's managing officer discretion to set visiting operations based on that facility's space and programs. That discretion covers the number of visitors allowed, visit frequency, visit length, priority rules, and visiting hours.

This catches families off guard. Someone can be fully approved on the visiting list and still get turned away from a particular session. The institution might cap how many people can visit one person at a time, shorten visit length, or use priority rules when the visiting room is crowded. For group visits, plan around the institution's per-visit cap and schedule, not just the size of your approved list.

Local limits vary widely. At the Corrections Reception Center (CRC), for example, a maximum of five visitors can see an incarcerated person at one time, and that count includes children who are walking. Rules like this are set locally, so the number at one ODRC facility won't necessarily match another.

1. Confirm who is on the approved visiting list , the ODRC limit is up to 15 approved adult visitors, but only approved names can be admitted.
2. Sort out “family” vs. “friend” before you plan , the list is limited to no more than two friends (non-family), so make sure the right people are categorized correctly.
3. Call the institution where your person is housed , ask about the per-visit headcount limit, visiting hours, visit length, and any priority rules for busy days.
4. Split the group if needed , if the facility limits how many people can be there at one time, plan back-to-back sessions or stagger who goes in so nobody makes a wasted trip.