What to Leave at Home: Prohibited Items for Visits at Warren Correctional

Warren Correctional follows Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) rules, including zero tolerance for drugs, alcohol, or weapons on facility grounds. These situations fall under Ohio Revised Code section 2921.36, which covers knowingly conveying - or attempting to convey - contraband into a detention facility. The simple rule: if you're not sure something's allowed, leave it behind.

• ✓ Any electronic device (including smart watches, cell phones, pagers, and other electronic communication devices)
• ✓ Any tobacco product or tobacco substitute (plus smoking-related items like matches and lighters)
• ✓ Purses, handbags, backpacks, or similar items
• ✓ Cash
• ✓ Drugs, alcohol, weapons, or anything that could be treated as contraband under Ohio law

Electronics trip people up more than almost anything else. Warren Correctional doesn't allow electronic devices during visits - smart watches, cell phones, pagers, none of it. The Declaration of Understanding specifically prohibits any "cellular telephone, two-way radio, or other electronic communication device." If it powers on, connects, records, or communicates, leave it in the car.

Skip the purse, handbag, or backpack. Leave these at home or locked in your car - you don't want to be scrambling at check-in trying to figure out what to do with them.

All tobacco and smoking-related items stay behind. ODRC prohibits anything containing tobacco - cigarettes, loose tobacco, cigars, snuff, chewing tobacco - plus tobacco substitutes. Smoking paraphernalia counts too: matches, lighters, cigarette papers, rolling machines. Even "just a lighter" can get you turned away. Do a quick pocket check before heading in.

Expect to be searched when you arrive. All visitors entering ODRC facilities, including Warren Correctional, go through screening - and anything you bring can be checked. To keep things moving, dress simply. ODRC notes that hairpins, underwire bras, certain boots and shoes, clothing with multiple zippers, and excessive jewelry can set off metal detectors and slow you down.

You'll check in every single visit. Visitors must register each time and show valid photo identification - no exceptions, no "just this once." Have your ID ready at the start of the line to speed things along.

Following these rules protects your visit. Bringing prohibited items can mean delays at screening or being turned away entirely. ODRC's Declaration of Understanding makes clear that conveying - or attempting to convey - drugs, alcohol, or weapons onto facility grounds triggers zero-tolerance enforcement under Ohio Revised Code section 2921.36. The easiest way to avoid problems? Make sure your pockets and belongings are visit-ready before you arrive.