What You Can and Cannot Bring Into the Visiting Room at PNM

Visiting rules at the Penitentiary of New Mexico (PNM) follow New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD) policy, but the exact list of allowed items can vary based on security needs, available space, and staffing. Use the checklists below for a quick pre-trip scan, then confirm anything you're unsure about with PNM's written visitation procedures.

• ✓ Wedding band
• ✓ Comb
• ✓ Religious necklace

• ✓ A valid photo ID that matches the facility’s identification requirements
• ✓ Any paperwork the facility requires for visitation
• ✓ Any items specifically authorized in the facility’s written visitation procedures (including any special rules for infants/children, if that applies to your visit)

• ✓ Deadly or explosive materials
• ✓ Weapons
• ✓ Ammunition
• ✓ Alcohol
• ✓ Controlled substances (drugs)
• ✓ Currency (can be treated as contraband under New Mexico law and facility rules)

• ✓ Leave unnecessary personal items secured outside the facility so you’re not carrying loose property onto institutional grounds
• ✓ Be ready to answer questions at the point of entry about whether you have contraband

The default rule inside the visiting room is straightforward: no passing items back and forth during a visit. That includes things people commonly try to hand over - paper, food, personal property. NMCD requires each facility to run a visiting program that fits its security needs, so assume transfers aren't allowed unless staff tell you otherwise.

Photographs and letters are a narrow exception - but only after the Visiting Room Officer inspects and approves them. If you bring photos or a letter hoping to leave it with your loved one, expect staff to review it first. Follow their instructions on whether it can be given.

• ✓ Wedding band
• ✓ Comb
• ✓ Religious necklace

PNM can tailor its visiting procedures within NMCD rules, so don't guess at the list - especially if you're traveling a long distance. Check the posted facility rules when you arrive. The written visitation procedures your loved one receives will have the most accurate, current details.

New Mexico law makes it a violation to introduce - or even attempt to introduce - contraband into a correctional facility. Contraband includes deadly or explosive materials, currency, weapons, ammunition, alcohol, and controlled substances. Even without harmful intent, bringing prohibited items onto institutional grounds puts your visit (and you) at risk.

Expect screening when you arrive. Staff may ask questions to determine whether you have contraband, and the facility can use detection devices - including trained canine units and mechanical drug detection equipment.

Search rules apply while you're on institutional grounds, and you may need to submit to searches as a condition of visiting. Refuse a strip search, and your visit will be canceled or suspended. Strip searches aren't routine - they require the Warden to determine probable cause that a specific visitor has contraband. When they do occur, an employee of the same sex must conduct them in a private area.

1. Start with the written visitation procedures - NMCD requires the facility to provide inmates written visitation procedures within 24 hours of arrival, including ID requirements and items authorized in the visiting room.
2. Contact the facility before you travel - visiting rules can vary by facility, so confirm ahead of time if you’re unsure.
3. Ask about the exact item and how it’s handled - if something might be allowed only after inspection/approval, get clarity on that process.
4. When in doubt, leave it behind - it’s the easiest way to avoid delays, a canceled visit, or bigger problems.

This extra check is worth the effort. NMCD policy sets the baseline, but each facility builds its visiting program around its own security needs. The written procedures your loved one receives spell out the practical details - days, hours, dress code, ID rules, allowed items, and any infant or child rules - so you're not guessing at the door.