Before Your First Visit to Stewart Detention: ID, Searches, and What to Expect at Check‑In

Stewart is required to have written visiting procedures available to the public, including a schedule and hours. Check these before you make the trip - you don't want to drive out there only to find the schedule changed or hit a requirement you weren't expecting.

Need information about a detainee at Stewart? Call (229) 838-5000 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. A quick call can save you a wasted drive, especially if you're trying to nail down details before your first visit.

• ✓ Detainee’s first and last name (including hyphenated names)
• ✓ Any aliases the detainee may use
• ✓ Date of birth
• ✓ Country of birth

While you're on the phone, confirm the visiting schedule and any check-in requirements. Stewart must have written visiting procedures available to the public, so ask staff to point you to the current rules before you show up.

Bring a government-issued photo ID. Staff will verify every adult visitor's identity before letting you in - no ID, no visit.

Expect screening at check-in. You'll go through an ID check and possibly a personal search. Any bags or items you bring may be inspected. Thinking about dropping something off for the person you're visiting? Don't assume it'll be accepted - item drop-offs have their own rules and approval process.

• ✓ Don’t bring articles or gifts expecting staff to take them for a detainee at check‑in.
• ✓ Items can only be accepted if the facility administrator and/or shift supervisor approved them in advance.

Visiting schedules are built around facility operations, staffing, and detainee population needs - which can make them feel confusing. Under ICE visitation standards, facilities must allow visits during set hours on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. So weekend and holiday visiting time should be part of Stewart's schedule.

ICE standards also say facilities should offer weekday and evening hours "to the extent practicable." Translation: weekday or evening options may exist, but confirm what Stewart's current schedule actually allows before you go.

Attorneys and legal team members scheduling a virtual legal visit (VAV) need to verify their identity. Stewart requires legal representatives to show appropriate ID - like a state bar card or documentation proving bar membership - before the meeting starts. Only legal representatives, legal assistants, and interpreters can participate. Family and friends aren't allowed in virtual legal sessions.

Traveling a long distance? Call ahead and ask whether any special arrangements are possible. Stewart's visiting procedures are required to be in writing and available to the public, and the facility administrator has some flexibility within those rules. Worth asking about exceptions before you commit to the trip.