What to Bring (and What Not to Bring) When Visiting Tipton Correctional Center
A smooth visit starts with showing up prepared. Use this checklist to know what Tipton Correctional Center allows, avoid dress-code issues, and steer clear of anything that could be treated as contraband.
Expect airport-style screening at Tipton Correctional Center. Visitor screening can include an Intercept full-body scanner, walk-through and hand-held metal detectors, and X-ray baggage scanners. Before you're scanned, staff enter your name and ID number into the scanner system, and the scanner takes a photograph that gets stored on file. Have your photo ID ready at the start to keep check-in moving.
- ✓ Driver’s license (the ID number is used for visitor scanning)
- ✓ Non-driver’s license (the ID number is used for visitor scanning)
- ✓ Passport (the ID number is used for visitor scanning)
If you need medication or medical equipment to maintain life during your visit, Tipton Correctional Center allows it. It just has to be handled the right way. Examples include nitroglycerin, insulin and insulin supplies, oxygen, and asthma inhalers. Bring these items in the original container and only pack the dosage you'll need for the visiting period. Anything beyond that can delay your entry or cause problems at screening.
- Notify the institutional case manager in advance - give notice ahead of time so staff are aware you may need life-sustaining medication during the visit.
- Tell staff when you arrive - let staff know upon arrival that you will need medication during visitation, and have it in the original container.
- ✓ Bring life-sustaining medication or equipment only (for example nitroglycerin, insulin and supplies, oxygen, asthma inhalers)
- ✓ Keep everything in the original container
- ✓ Bring only the necessary dosage for the visiting period
- ✓ Notify the institutional case manager in advance
- ✓ Notify staff upon arrival that you need medication during visitation
Dress code is one of the most common reasons people get turned away. At Tipton Correctional Center, avoid clothing that is tight, excessively baggy, transparent, or revealing. Also skip anything with gang-related, racial, inappropriate, or inflammatory language or symbols. If you're on the fence about an outfit, go with the more conservative option. It's not worth losing your visit over.
- ✓ Skirts, dresses, or shorts shorter than the top of the kneecap when standing
- ✓ Wrap-around skirts or dresses
- ✓ Slit skirts or dresses
- ✓ Shirts, blouses, and tops that do not cover the chest and cleavage
- ✓ Tops that do not cover the back or stomach
- ✓ Tops without sleeves that cover the shoulders
Do not bring contraband into Tipton Correctional Center. Under Missouri law and DOC policy, bringing in drugs, alcoholic beverages, firearms, or other articles offenders are not permitted to possess is a criminal offense. This can be charged as a felony, with potential punishment of up to 15 years. Even if something seems minor, it is not worth the risk to you or your loved one.
Missouri DOC bans illegal narcotics, but it also prohibits substances that are legal outside of a correctional setting. That includes tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis. If you bring banned items to Tipton Correctional Center, staff can refer the case for prosecution. The safest move: leave anything questionable at home or locked in your vehicle.
Quick Checklist
- ✓ Bring a valid photo ID (your name and ID number are entered into the scanner system, and a photo is taken before scanning)
- ✓ Expect security screening (full-body scanner, metal detectors, and X-ray baggage scanning)
- ✓ If you need life-sustaining medication/equipment, bring it in the original container and only in the necessary dosage for the visiting period
- ✓ Notify the institutional case manager in advance if you will need medication during the visit
- ✓ Tell staff upon arrival if you need medication during visitation
- ✓ Avoid tight, excessively baggy, transparent, or revealing clothing
- ✓ Avoid skirts/dresses/shorts shorter than the top of the kneecap, plus wrap-around or slit skirts/dresses
- ✓ Wear tops that cover chest/cleavage/back/stomach and have sleeves covering the shoulders
- ✓ Do not bring contraband (including drugs, alcohol, firearms, tobacco, or cannabis); violations can lead to prosecution and may be a felony punishable by up to 15 years
Find an Inmate at Tipton Correctional Center, MO
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
