What to Bring (and What to Leave in Your Car) for Visitation at Okaloosa County Corrections Institution
Visiting Okaloosa County Corrections Institution goes much smoother when you show up with only what's allowed. Here's what you can bring inside—and what needs to stay in your car.
The allowed list is short: money for the vending machines and one book per visitor. Visiting with an infant? You can bring a diaper bag, but only if the baby is actually with you and the bag contains only infant care essentials. Several everyday items are banned from the facility entirely - even the lobby. That includes cell phones, cameras, tablets and other electronics, and purses or handbags.
Allowed Items
- ✓ Money (for drink/snack machines) - this is one of the only items you’re permitted to bring into visitation.
- ✓ 1 book per visitor - keep it to one.
- ✓ Diaper bag (only if you’re accompanied by an infant) - and it must contain only items necessary for infant care.
Prohibited Items
- ✓ Cellular telephones - not allowed in visitation, including in the lobby area.
- ✓ Cameras - prohibited, including in the lobby area.
- ✓ Computer tablets - prohibited, including in the lobby area.
- ✓ Any other electronic devices - prohibited, including in the lobby area.
- ✓ Purses/handbags - prohibited, including in the lobby area.
- Do a last pocket-check before you walk in - make sure you’re not carrying a phone, camera, tablet, or any other electronics.
- Leave your purse/handbag behind - plan to carry only what’s permitted instead of trying to bring a bag into the lobby.
- Lock prohibited items in your car (or leave them at home) - anything you bring with you can be subject to search, so don’t create a problem you can avoid.
- If you’re bringing a diaper bag, keep it “infant-care only” - the diaper-bag exception applies only when you’re accompanied by an infant, and the contents should be limited to what’s necessary for the baby.
- Assume your property can be checked - all property (including suspicious apparel) may be searched at the discretion of the visitation officer or higher authority, so pack light and keep things simple.
Heads up: Staff can search any visitor property - including clothing that looks suspicious - at their discretion. If you don't want it searched, leave it behind.
Bringing an infant? You can carry a diaper bag, but only if the baby is with you and the bag holds infant care items only. Don't use it as a catch-all for your personal stuff. You're still allowed to bring one book even if you have a diaper bag.
Staff can search your belongings at any time. All property - including clothing that raises suspicion - is subject to inspection at the visitation officer's discretion. Expect to show what you're carrying, including the contents of an approved diaper bag, and cooperate with any checks before entering or continuing your visit.
- ✓ Your visit can be terminated immediately if you violate visitation rules.
- ✓ Rule violations can also lead to temporary or permanent barment from visitation.
- ✓ If you’re unsure whether something is allowed, get clarification before you go so you don’t risk losing your visit.
Need something answered in writing? Contact the Okaloosa Department of Corrections at OkaloosaDOC@myokaloosa.com or by mail at 1200 E James Lee Blvd, Crestview, FL 32539.
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