How to Contact an Inmate at Richland Correctional Institution (OH)

Expect a security screening when you arrive at Richland Correctional Institution. All visitors are subject to search upon entry. This affects your timing and what you wear or carry, so arrive prepared and keep your belongings to a minimum.

Leave your electronics behind. Cell phones, smart watches, and pagers are all prohibited during visits. Cash is also not allowed on the grounds. Before you head out, check your pockets, wallet, and car console so you don't accidentally bring prohibited items onto facility property.

If you're applying to visit, you'll need identification paperwork upfront. Richland Correctional Institution requires all visitors to provide a legible copy of their photo ID with the visitor application. Make sure the copy is easy to read: clear photo, no glare, nothing cut off. A hard-to-read copy can slow down your approval.

Steps to Follow

• ✓ Bring (or submit) a legible copy of your photo ID with your visitor application.
• ✓ Expect to be searched when you enter the facility.

• ✓ Leave electronic devices at home or secured in your vehicle (smart watches, cell phones, pagers, etc.).
• ✓ Do not bring cash onto facility grounds.

• ✓ If the visitor is listed as an “approved minor” in DOTS Portal, do not plan for that minor to deposit money into the incarcerated person’s account.
• ✓ If the visitor is an “approved minor,” plan for a parent or legal guardian to be present for any video visit.

Before you submit your application or make the trip, confirm what forms of photo ID are accepted and what "legible copy" means for the application packet. It's also worth asking how the entry search process works so you can plan your arrival and avoid delays. Details and procedures can change even when the core rules stay the same. A quick call ahead of time can save you a wasted trip.

Double-check what counts as an electronic device for visit-day purposes, especially if you normally wear a smart watch or similar item. Also verify the cash restriction so you know what to do with any cash you'd typically carry. If you need a personal item for medical reasons, get clarity before you arrive. You don't want to be turned away at the entrance.

If a child is visiting or using video visitation, make sure you understand how "approved minor" status is set up in DOTS Portal and what it allows. Approved minors cannot deposit money into an incarcerated person's account, and they cannot conduct video visits unless a parent or legal guardian is present. Requirements can be updated, so verify the current process before you schedule anything. This is especially true if you're planning around school, work, or travel.