What You Can't Bring to Southern Ohio C.F. (CRC): Complete Prohibited Items & Dress Checklist
Showing up prepared can save you a long drive and a denied visit. Use the checklists below to avoid bringing banned items to Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (CRC) and cut down on delays at screening.
CRC follows Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) "zero tolerance" rules for contraband. Don't bring drugs, alcohol, weapons (including ammunition), cash, or electronic devices like cell phones or two-way radios. These are serious violations under Ohio Revised Code 2921.36 - not just policy infractions.
Warning: Trying to bring drugs, alcohol, weapons, cash, or electronic devices onto ODRC grounds can lead to criminal charges under ORC 2921.36.
Tobacco is explicitly banned - not just cigarettes. Leave all tobacco products and substitutes at home or locked in your car: cigarettes, loose tobacco, cigars, snuff, chewing tobacco. The ban extends to smoking paraphernalia too, including matches, lighters, cigarette papers, and rolling machines.
Tip: Don't accidentally leave tobacco or a lighter in your pocket or coat. These items are explicitly prohibited and will cause problems at screening.
One of the most common reasons visits get delayed? Visitors arriving with items meant for their loved one. At CRC, you can't hand-deliver packages, correspondence, money, or printed materials directly to an incarcerated person. Send those through the mail process instead.
- ✓ Packages (leave them at home and use the mail process)
- ✓ Money or cash (do not try to deliver it directly)
- ✓ Letters or other correspondence (send through the mail)
- ✓ Printed materials like books, magazines, or other reading items (must be processed through the mail)
Even items that aren't contraband can slow you down at screening. Hairpins, underwire bras, certain boots, clothing with multiple zippers, and excessive jewelry can all trigger metal detectors. Dress with screening in mind if you want to get through quickly.
Note: Keep it simple. Fewer metal pieces - jewelry, zippers, hair accessories, heavy footwear - usually means fewer delays.
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- ✓ Cigarettes, loose tobacco, cigars, snuff, chewing tobacco, matches, lighters, cigarette papers, rolling machines
- ✓ Any drugs, alcohol, weapons, or cash
- ✓ Cell phones, two-way radios, or other electronic communication devices
- ✓ Packages, letters/correspondence, money, or printed materials intended for the incarcerated person
- ✓ Extra jewelry and metal-heavy accessories (including hairpins)
- ✓ Underwire bras (they can trigger the metal detector)
- ✓ Boots/shoes that tend to set off detectors, or outfits with multiple zippers
- Confirm you have valid ID for check-in - You must register at each visit and show government-issued identification.
- Do a quick pocket-and-bag sweep before you approach the entrance - Leave cash and any electronic communication devices secured in your vehicle, and never attempt to bring drugs, alcohol, or weapons onto the grounds.
- Handle “drop-off” items the right way - Don’t bring packages, correspondence, money, or printed materials to hand-deliver; send those through the mail process.
Check-in is structured. You'll register each time you visit and need a government-issued ID to be admitted.
CRC limits the number of visitors: only five people can visit at one time, including children. If the person you're visiting is in reception status, the rules are different. Each approved visitor gets up to two visiting sessions per calendar month, and reception inmates cannot receive visits during their first eight days at CRC.
Final reminders: Bringing drugs, alcohol, weapons, cash, or electronic devices onto ODRC grounds can result in criminal charges under ORC 2921.36. Tobacco and smoking paraphernalia (lighters, matches) are banned. And you can't hand-deliver packages, money, correspondence, or printed materials - those go through the mail.
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