Before Your First In‑Person Visit to RJ Donovan: A Practical Checklist

Before you drive out for an in-person visit, confirm you’re actually scheduled for the right type of visit. Pennsylvania DOC facilities (including RJ Donovan) offer both in-person and video visitation, and the Inmate Visitation System (IVS) and its visitor guide are the go-to places to check current rules and instructions. Schedules and requirements can change, so treat this as your pre-trip step: verify what you’re approved for and what you need to do next so you don’t arrive expecting one thing and find out the facility is set up for another.

Vehicle Security

• ✓ Lock your vehicle while you’re on prison property.
• ✓ Roll windows up/close them completely.
• ✓ Secure equipment like ladders and toolboxes (or remove them if you can).
• ✓ Put away anything you don’t want visible inside the car so it’s not left out in the open.

Plan on your vehicle being searched if you bring it onto DOC facility grounds, including at RJ Donovan. Searches are part of how the Department controls contraband and keeps unauthorized weapons, drugs, and other prohibited items out of the facility. The simplest way to avoid problems is to keep your car “clean” for the visit - don’t bring anything that could be considered contraband onto the grounds.

You should also expect personal screening at the entrance. Every visitor - regardless of age - is subject to search, and all visitors must pass through a metal detector for an in-person visit. Build a little extra time into your day for this step, and be ready to follow staff instructions so you can get through screening without delays.

RJ Donovan follows the DOC rule that there is no waiting area at visitation entrances. That means you shouldn’t bring someone who can’t visit and have them wait on the grounds - anyone who isn’t visiting must exit the facility property. Take that seriously: violations of visiting regulations can lead to suspended visiting privileges, which can affect future visits.

Sometimes a visit gets disrupted for reasons that have nothing to do with you. The Facility Manager (or a designee) can order a general search of any or all areas of the facility after an unusual incident or as part of an annual search plan. During searches, staff may also deal with property issues inside housing areas - if an inmate has excessive personal property in a cell, they may be allowed to designate someone to receive shipped items (with the inmate paying shipping). If shipping isn’t possible, the items can be removed and the inmate should receive a written list of what was taken and how it was handled.