How to Get Approved to Visit Someone at Old Colony Correctional Center (Step‑by‑Step)

You can't just show up at Old Colony Correctional Center and expect to visit. Every visitor needs pre-approval, and that process starts with the inmate. The inmate controls their visiting list. They're responsible for submitting your name to the institution. Once they've added you, your job is to complete the Visitor Application Form and mail it directly to Old Colony so staff can process it.

Visitor lists have size limits based on security level: maximum security allows 8 visitors, medium security allows 8 visitors, and minimum security/pre-release allows 10 visitors. If the list is already full, the inmate will need to revise it before you can be added. Keep in mind that inmates can only revise their visitor list up to three times per year - so planning ahead matters.

Before You Start

• ✓ Confirm the inmate has added you (or will add you) to their pre‑approved visiting list.
• ✓ Make sure you have a valid photo ID for check‑in (state driver’s license, passport, military ID, or an official photo ID card from a state or federal agency).

Before mailing anything, think about whether your background might slow down approval. If you were recently released from incarceration, waiting periods apply: immediate family members typically can't be considered until six months after release, while non-immediate family former inmates generally must wait one year. A felony conviction doesn't automatically disqualify you, but the Superintendent (or a designee) can reject applications if they believe approval would jeopardize institutional or individual security. Expect extra scrutiny if this applies to you.

Fill out the Visitor Application Form completely and double-check it before sending. The facility uses this information to decide whether to approve you, so accuracy matters. Treat the form itself as your checklist. Don't leave blanks unless a field is clearly marked optional. Once everything's filled in, mail it to the institution for processing.

Mail your completed application directly to Old Colony Correctional Center. Don't guess at the address - use the mailing address printed on the application (usually on the third page) or check the Department's prison locations information to make sure it reaches the right place.

Once the institution receives your application, it goes through a review process. Both you and the inmate will be notified whether you're approved or denied. If your visiting privileges are suspended or removed later - say, for violating visitor rules - you'll receive written notice explaining the reason, how long the suspension lasts, and how to appeal.

If your loved one was just committed to a Department institution, there's a short-term exception while pre-approval is pending. They can have two visitors (plus a reasonable number of visiting children) before the formal process wraps up. This window is limited. The inmate must submit an Inmate Visitor Listing within 30 days of admission. Those two temporary visitors become inactive after 40 business days if they haven't been properly approved. If you're one of them, mail your application right away so you don't lose that access.

Your release date matters if you were recently incarcerated. Immediate family members who were recently released may not be considered for visitation approval until six months after release. Non-immediate family members with prior incarceration face a longer wait: generally one year after release from confinement before you can apply.

If you're denied - or lose visiting privileges later - start with the reason you were given. Notifications for rule-based suspensions should include the reason, the length of the suspension, and how to appeal. Use that as your roadmap. Denials can also stem from eligibility issues. Recently released immediate family members may not be considered for six months; non-immediate family former inmates generally must wait one year. The Superintendent (or designee) can also reject applications from people with felony convictions if they believe security could be compromised. If you think the decision was based on incorrect or outdated information, gather any clarifying documentation and follow the appeal instructions in your notice.

Quick Checklist Mail

• ✓ Completed Visitor Application Form (filled out fully and accurately)
• ✓ A copy of a valid photo ID you can present at check‑in (state driver’s license, passport, military ID, or official state/federal photo ID)
• ✓ If you need life‑saving medication or a medical device: written documentation signed by a health care professional, submitted for prior Superintendent approval