How to Get Approved to Visit Sheridan If You Have a Criminal Record—or Want to Visit Two People in One Day

If you have a criminal conviction or pending charges, you're not automatically eligible to visit. IDOC requires written approval from the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) before you can visit anyone in their custody. That written approval is what gets you processed as a visitor instead of turned away because of your record or open case.

Already been through this approval process before? The scope matters. Once you receive written visitation approval at any IDOC facility, that permission stays in effect at all IDOC facilities for the person's current incarceration. You generally don't have to start over at each prison during the same incarceration. Just make sure that written approval is actually on file.

Start with the Prospective Visitor's Interview (PVI). Every adult visitor (18 and older) must complete the PVI form (DOC 0148) before visiting, with the exception of legal visitors and government officials. Show up without having completed the PVI process, and your first trip turns into paperwork instead of a visit. Handle it up front.

There's one common exception: if you already have prior written PVI approval through the electronic PVI process, you may not need to complete a paper form on your first visit. Not sure whether you were approved electronically? Confirm before you travel so you don't duplicate forms or get held up at check-in.

If you fall into the "restricted visitor" category because of a conviction or pending charges, plan on submitting a written request for CAO approval as part of getting cleared. That's the key requirement IDOC calls out for proposed visitors with a record or open case. Good news: if you're approved in writing at one IDOC facility, that approval carries across all IDOC facilities for the individual's current incarceration. This can simplify things if your loved one transfers or if you visit at different locations.

IDOC's baseline rule is simple: you may only visit one incarcerated individual at a time. The only way around that is prior written approval from the Chief Administrative Officer. If you want to see two people on the same day, or need any exception to the one-person limit, get that written CAO approval before you go.

Separate from the one-person-per-visit rule, IDOC does allow visitors to visit more than one facility in a single day. That doesn't automatically mean you can see more than one incarcerated person without permission. If your plan involves multiple people, you still need to follow the "one at a time" rule unless you have prior written CAO approval. And if you already have written visitation approval on file from another IDOC facility for this incarceration, that approval remains in effect across facilities, which helps when you're coordinating a multi-stop day.

Practical Tips Next Steps

• ✓ Your full legal name (so the CAO can match your request to your visitor file)
• ✓ A clear statement of why you need written CAO approval (for example, a conviction or pending charges)
• ✓ The incarcerated person’s name, plus your relationship to them
• ✓ The date(s) you want to visit
• ✓ If you are asking to visit more than one incarcerated individual in the same day, say that plainly and request the exception in advance (prior written CAO approval is required)
• ✓ If you already have written visitation approval from another IDOC facility for the person’s current incarceration, include that information so staff can verify it across IDOC

1. Complete the PVI requirement. If you are 18 or older (and you are not a legal visitor or government official), complete the Prospective Visitor’s Interview (DOC 0148) as required.
2. Check whether electronic PVI already covers you. If you previously received written PVI approval through the electronic process, you may not need to fill out a paper PVI again for your first visit.
3. Submit your written CAO request early if you have a record or pending charges. Visitors with convictions or pending charges need written CAO approval to visit.
4. Confirm visitation is actually available before you travel. Call the facility if you are coming from far away, since visits can be restricted.