Can You Bring Kids to Visit Tipton? Rules for Visiting with Children

Tipton allows a standard limit of 3 visitors per offender. Missouri DOC guidance adds an exception for young children, but the published age cutoff isn't consistent across DOC materials. One DOC rule says a visit may include up to 3 additional visitors who are age 5 and under (so 3 regular visitors plus up to 3 very young children). Another DOC page says a visit may include up to 3 additional visitors who are age 10 and under, for a total of 6 visitors. Those two rules conflict. Treat the "3 visitors" limit as firm, and call the facility to confirm the children's age exception before you bring a larger group.

Children need active supervision during the visit. Tipton's visiting rules require that kids be attended by an adult visitor at all times. Plan on keeping them with you and within arm's reach rather than letting them roam the visiting room.

Seating matters with small kids. Children age 6 and under may sit on the offender's lap during the visit, but that allowance does not apply if the offender is a sex offender. If that exception might affect your loved one, get clarity before you arrive so you can set expectations with your child ahead of time.

Physical contact at Tipton is limited, but families do get a small amount of normal connection. The rules allow one greeting embrace and a brief kiss at the start, and one departing embrace and a brief kiss at the end. If you're visiting with kids, treat those moments as the main "hug time," then settle in for the rest of the visit.

Holding hands is allowed during the visit. That said, some offenders may have extra restrictions based on their situation. If you've been told there are special contact limits, follow the more restrictive rule.

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• ✓ Call Tipton before you go to confirm how many children can be added beyond the 3-visitor limit, and what the current age cutoff is (5 and under vs. 10 and under).
• ✓ Ask whether any temporary limits are in place that could reduce the number of visitors allowed at one time.
• ✓ Confirm whether the offender has any special restrictions that affect visits with minors (including lap-sitting and any contact limitations).
• ✓ Plan for supervision: make sure an adult can attend to children at all times in the visiting room.
• ✓ If you are unsure what physical contact will be permitted that day, ask staff to clarify the greeting/departure hug and brief kiss rule before the visit starts.