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How Many People Can Visit at Once? Visitor Limits and Children Rules at SECC

Planning a visit to Southeast Correctional Center? The first question most people have is simple: how many adults can come, and do kids count toward the limit? Here's what Missouri DOC publishes—plus how to confirm the child-age rule before you make the drive.

• 3 min read • doc.mo.gov
How Many People Can Visit at Once? Visitor Limits and Children Rules at SECC

At SECC, visits are limited to three visitors per offender at one time. If your group is larger than that, plan ahead so you can rotate visitors instead of having someone turned away at the door.

Missouri DOC allows additional young children on top of the three-visitor limit - up to three extra child visitors. The catch? The age cutoff isn't consistent across official sources. One DOC page says "age 5 and under." Another says "age 10 and under." Since the wording doesn't match, treat the child allowance as something you'll need to verify for your specific visit.

Here's the exact conflict you should know about before traveling. The Missouri DOC "Plan Your Visit" page describes visits as limited to three visitors per offender, with the option to bring up to three additional visitors age 5 and under. A separate Missouri DOC visiting-hours page describes the same basic limit differently: three visitors per offender, plus up to three additional visitors age 10 and under (six total). Both are official Missouri DOC pages. They don't match on the child age limit. That's why confirming with SECC directly matters - especially if you're bringing kids.

Note: The published child-age cutoff is inconsistent across Missouri DOC pages. Confirm the visitor count and child-age rule with SECC before you travel - especially if your group depends on the "extra children" allowance.

How Many People Can Visit at Once? Visitor Limits and Children Rules at SECC
  1. Make sure you’re approved to visit first - SECC requires pre-approval through the Missouri DOC online visiting application, and you shouldn’t attempt a visit until final approval is received.
  2. Gather the offender’s DOC ID before you apply - you need the offender’s Department of Corrections Identification Number (DOC ID) to submit the application.
  3. If you’re adding a minor child on the application, follow the minor-ID instruction - under the child’s Identification Number, choose “other – on type” and enter “NA – on Number” where the form instructs you to do so.
  1. Call SECC (or the institutional case manager listed for visitation) - ask directly how many adults can be in at once and what child age cutoff they are using for the “additional child visitors” allowance on the day you plan to come.

Tip: Even when kids don't have an ID number for the application, bring whatever identification you do have for them. Make sure their application details match Missouri DOC instructions for minors - use "NA – on Number" where required.

SECC is open for visits Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in two daily blocks: 9:30am–1:30pm and 2:30pm–6:30pm. If you're traveling with a larger group, having both sessions in mind can help you plan a rotation if you need to split visitors.

How Many People Can Visit at Once? Visitor Limits and Children Rules at SECC

If staff turn you away for exceeding the visitor limit (or a related rule), stay calm. Ask which specific rule applies to your denial. When a sanction or restriction is imposed, Missouri DOC guidance says the institution sends written notice outlining the infraction and sanctions - so asking for the denial reason in writing is reasonable.

  1. Appeal a visiting application denial within 30 days - if your visiting application is denied, Missouri DOC allows you to send an appeal letter within 30 days to: Missouri Department of Corrections, Attn: Deputy Division Director of Adult Institutions, 2729 Plaza Drive, PO Box 236, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
  2. Know the reapply timeline if you’re denied - denied visitors may reapply for visiting status after one year.
  3. Appeal visitor restrictions/sanctions in writing - if visiting sanctions are imposed, Missouri DOC states you may appeal restrictions in writing to Missouri Department of Corrections at 2729 Plaza Drive, PO Box 236, Jefferson City, MO 65109.

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