How Many Times Can You Visit an Inmate at Rhode Island DOC (and the Long-Distance Visit Rule)?

Visiting schedules at Rhode Island DOC aren't one-size-fits-all. Each facility warden sets the days and hours when visits happen, so the times you can visit depend on where your loved one is housed.

Visit length is also set by the warden. Two people at different RIDOC facilities can have very different experiences - even if both are allowed visits, one facility might offer longer sessions than another.

How many visits per week? That's up to the warden too. The weekly count comes from facility rules, not a universal number that applies statewide.

The warden also decides how many people can visit at the same time. If you're planning to bring multiple family members, check this limit first - you may need to rotate rather than all going together.

Facility rules vary, but RIDOC sets a baseline. For inmates not on Administrative Restricted Status, every facility must offer at least three visiting periods per week.

Those visiting periods must be at least 1½ hours long. In practice, visits might feel shorter, but that's the minimum the schedule has to provide.

RIDOC defines a "long-distance" visit as anything more than 75 miles from Cranston. If you're traveling from farther away, this threshold affects your planning.

There's also an annual cap: inmates can receive four long-distance visits per calendar year. Plan ahead and decide which trips you want to count toward that limit.

Planning Tips and Verify Schedule

• ✓ Verify the visit requirements and the schedule before each visit, since each facility’s schedule is different.
• ✓ Look up the current visitation schedule through RIDOC’s Facebook page or on the RIDOC website by selecting the appropriate facility.
• ✓ Confirm how many people can visit at the same time at your loved one’s facility before you travel.

1. Treat long-distance visits like limited “coupons” - an inmate may receive four long-distance visits per calendar year, so plan your longest trips around that limit.
2. Check that the minimum visiting baseline applies - the “at least three visiting periods per week” standard is for inmates who are not on Administrative Restricted Status.
3. Plan with flexibility - even with minimum standards, visits are a privilege that can be approved, denied, suspended, or revoked by RIDOC administration, so avoid building a trip around assumptions you haven’t confirmed.