Getting Approved to Visit Someone at Riverbend Max: Timeline, Background Checks, and What Happens Next
Getting approved to visit at Riverbend Max starts with the TDOC visitation application (CR-2152) and ends with the facility adding you to the approved visitor list. Here's what the process looks like, where to send your paperwork, how long it takes, and what to do if things stall.
TDOC allows all immediate family members to apply for visits at Riverbend Max. Beyond family, up to eight additional adults can also be approved to visit the same inmate. Each person needs to submit a CR-2152 and clear the standard screening process.
Heads up: Riverbend Max won't admit you for visitation until your application is approved.
Once you've filled out the CR-2152, send the completed application to the warden at the inmate's institution. Since your person is housed at Riverbend Max, that means your form goes directly to Riverbend Max for review and processing.
TDOC policy requires the institution to provide blank CR-2152 forms to inmates, along with instructions for prospective visitors. Those instructions say to return the completed form with a current photograph to the Deputy Superintendent/Associate Warden in charge of visitation within 30 days.
Every visitor applicant gets screened. TDOC runs an NCIC background check, and Riverbend Max uses those results when deciding whether to approve or deny you.
Don’t let paperwork sink your application: The CR-2152 has to be fully completed, and you cannot use a P.O. Box as your address.
Once Riverbend Max receives your application, TDOC's guidance says it should be approved or denied within 30 days. Use that 30-day window as your baseline for tracking the process and deciding when to follow up.
Timing tip: TDOC also expects you to return the completed CR-2152 (with a current photo) to the Deputy Superintendent/Associate Warden within 30 days. Delays in submitting the form push your entire approval timeline back.
There's one narrow exception to the "no visits until approved" rule. For newly committed inmates, the warden can temporarily add immediate family members to the approved visitor list while the application is still pending. This temporary approval only lasts up to 60 days from the inmate's intake date.
Denial Next Steps
- ✓ Re-check every section of the CR-2152 to make sure it is fully completed.
- ✓ Make sure you used a physical address (no P.O. Box).
- ✓ Confirm you included a current photograph, since the institution’s instructions require it.
- ✓ If you were denied, review whether the decision mentions incorrect or falsified information, because that can affect when you’re allowed to apply again.
Falsifying information on a CR-2152 carries a serious consequence. If TDOC finds falsification, you won't be allowed to resubmit a visitor application for a minimum of six months. Slow down and make sure everything you submit is complete and accurate.
Quick Application Checklist
- ✓ Get a blank CR-2152 (the institution should furnish copies to inmates).
- ✓ Complete every section of the CR-2152.
- ✓ Use a street address (no P.O. Box).
- ✓ Attach a current photo.
- ✓ Submit the completed CR-2152 back to the warden of the inmate’s institution (and follow the institution’s instructions to route it to the Deputy Superintendent/Associate Warden in charge of visitation within 30 days).
- ✓ Track your timeline: TDOC guidance says applications should be approved or denied within 30 days of receipt.
Quick reality check: Your application goes through an NCIC background check. Most people cannot visit until they're fully approved. The one exception: immediate family of newly committed inmates may get temporary access for up to 60 days from intake.
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