Bringing Children to Visit at Pocahontas: How to Apply and What to Bring

Call Pocahontas Correctional Center before you plan the trip. Visitation procedures change, and a quick call can save you from showing up with the wrong paperwork or on the wrong day. One important note: the visitor application covers Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) facilities only. If your loved one is in a local or regional jail (or a Detention and Diversion Center), you'll need to go through that jail's process instead. When you're ready to apply, block out 20–30 focused minutes. The online application can't be saved as a draft - you have to finish it in one sitting.

At Pocahontas and other VADOC facilities, children can't be approved as visitors on their own. Every minor's application has to be attached to an adult's application, and each child still needs individual approval before visiting. In practice, you'll complete your adult application first, then follow the prompts to add each child. Since the online form takes 20–30 minutes and must be finished in one sitting, gather everything you need - for yourself and the kids - before you start.

• ✓ Submit an adult visitation application first, and attach each minor’s application to that adult application (minors can’t be submitted alone).
• ✓ Make sure every child is approved and registered for visitation before you try to schedule or show up for a visit.
• ✓ Track your approval date: visitor applications expire three years after approval. Renew early to avoid a gap - at least 45 days before expiration for in-state visitors, and at least 90 days before expiration for out-of-state visitors.

Children can't visit alone or with an unapproved adult. Every minor must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or another adult who's already an approved visitor. That last part is key: whoever brings the child needs their own approval first. If you're coordinating with another family member to bring the kids, confirm they're already approved before you finalize plans.

VADOC limits contact visits for minors to "immediate family." Under Operating Procedure 851.1, immediate family includes parents, stepparents, legally adoptive parents, grandparents, step-grandparents, a lawful spouse, biological/step/legally adopted children and grandchildren, and biological/half/step/legally adopted siblings.

Not sure if someone qualifies as immediate family? That decision can be appealed. The Corrections Operations Administrator handles those appeals.

What to Bring Reminders

• ✓ A valid photo ID for the accompanying adult.
• ✓ Any documentation that supports your role as the child’s parent or legal guardian, if that applies to your situation.
• ✓ Any notarized statement or court order if the facility tells you it’s required for your child to visit.