What to Do Before Your First Visit to Rensselaer County Jail (Checklist)
Your first visit runs smoother when you plan for check-in, screening, and the dress code ahead of time. This checklist covers the most common reasons people get turned away—and how to avoid them.
At Rensselaer County Jail, you must be fully checked in 60 minutes before your scheduled visit time. Show up "on time" but not processed by that mark? You can be denied entry. Give yourself extra buffer for the basics - getting situated, storing belongings, moving through the entry process. Don't race the clock at the front door.
You'll be screened by electronic devices before your visit and again afterward. This is standard here. Keep it simple: arrive calm, follow directions the first time, and leave anything you don't absolutely need in the car. Less to manage means fewer delays.
Note: Staff may ask you to consent to a pat-down frisk if they develop legitimate suspicion during processing. Comply with their requests to continue with your visit.
Sign in Log
- ✓ Your name
- ✓ Your address
- ✓ The date
- ✓ Your time of entry
- ✓ The name of the inmate you’re visiting
- ✓ Your time of exit
Dress Code
- ✓ Short shorts
- ✓ Mini-skirts
- ✓ Tube tops
- ✓ Tank tops
- ✓ Low-cut tops
- ✓ See-through fabrics
- ✓ Hats or headgear
- ✓ Hooded clothing
- ✓ Coats and jackets
- ✓ Swimwear (including bikinis, etc.)
Store your personal property before entering the visitation area. Rensselaer County Jail requires visitors to place money, wallets, and purses in the public lockers in the Visitation Lobby. Travel light - if your pockets are full, you'll just end up emptying them anyway.
- ✓ Radios
- ✓ Tape recorders
- ✓ Electronic devices
During the visit, both you and the incarcerated person must remain seated. Small children need to stay seated and supervised too. If you're deciding whether to bring a little one, consider whether they can realistically sit still for the full visit. Staying seated is a rule, not a suggestion.
Physical contact is limited. You can hug at the beginning and end of the visit - that's it. Hand-holding is allowed during visitation, but petting and other personal contact are not. Keep this boundary in mind from the start to avoid corrections that cut into your time together.
Important: If staff suspect you're under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you won't be admitted.
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