Visiting with Children at PNM: ID Requirements, Contact Rules, and a Pre‑Visit Checklist

Minors can't enter PNM without proper identification and a supervising adult - specifically a parent, legal guardian, or adult relative. There's one exception: if the minor is legally married to the incarcerated person, documented proof of that marriage can substitute for adult supervision.

Child ID Docs

• ✓ A document that identifies the child (for example, a birth certificate)
• ✓ Paperwork that supports your relationship to the child (parent/guardian documentation)
• ✓ If the visitor is a minor who is legally married to the incarcerated person: documented proof of that legal marriage

Document requirements are enforced strictly at the door. Verify ahead of time which IDs and relationship paperwork will work for your child and for you as the supervising adult. When in doubt, bring extra documentation - better to have too much than get turned away.

PNM has different visit formats, and contact rules vary by type. During contact visits, physical touch is limited: a brief hug and/or kiss at the start and end, and incarcerated parents may hold their own children. Barrier visits are non-contact by default - expect a separation barrier unless you qualify for an exception.

One thing that catches families off guard: PNM uses mechanical drug detection devices, including ION scanning. These devices pick up minute traces of drug residue from everyday life - a positive result doesn't mean someone uses drugs. Still, screening results can affect entry, so keep your child's hands and belongings as clean and simple as possible on visit day.

Dress Behavior

• ✓ Choose clothing that does not expose cleavage, the midriff, shoulders, or any part of the breast or upper thigh
• ✓ Avoid outfits that are likely to ride up or shift (especially for kids who move around a lot)
• ✓ Skip clothing with offensive wording or graphics so you don’t risk being turned away

Supervise closely from the moment you arrive until you leave. If your child is young or easily overwhelmed, plan ahead: snacks before you go, a bathroom stop, and a simple explanation of what to expect. This helps keep things calm during check-in and in the visiting area.

All visitors can be questioned at arrival. Screening may include drug detection methods - canine units, mechanical devices, or both. Pat searches can happen too, and that includes children. If alcohol, controlled substances, or any contraband is detected on any visitor - including an infant or child - the visit won't be allowed.

1. Stay calm and follow staff directions - visitors can be questioned and screened with detection devices; cooperation keeps the situation from escalating.
2. Prepare for the visit to be canceled or changed - if staff believe alcohol, controlled substances, or contraband is detected on any visitor (including a child), visiting will not be allowed.
3. Know what a scan result can mean - the ION drug scan can register minute traces of residue from everyday activities, and a positive result does not necessarily indicate drug use.
4. Ask what your next option is - depending on what staff determine, you may need to leave and try again another day; if you have proof of kinship for immediate-family contact rules, have it ready for future visits.