Who Can Be on Your Loved One's Approved Visitor List at Washington State Penitentiary

At Washington State Penitentiary, the Approved Visitor List is exactly what it sounds like: people who've applied and been cleared to visit. No application, no approval - no visit.

This applies to more than in-person visits. Want to do video visits at WSP? You'll need to be on the approved visitor list first - that's the step that unlocks that option.

Worried about a cap on how many people can be approved? Good news: there's no limit to how many visitors someone can have on their Approved Visitor List.

Washington DOC uses a broad definition of

Here's where people get tripped up: you can only be on one incarcerated person's Approved Visitor List. The exception? If you're immediate family to multiple incarcerated people. In that case, you can apply to multiple lists - but you'll need to submit an online application and attach official documentation proving each relationship.

• ✓ Birth certificate (commonly used to show parent/child or sibling relationships)
• ✓ Marriage certificate (commonly used for a legally married spouse)
• ✓ Documentation supporting a state-registered domestic partnership
• ✓ Adoption paperwork (if the relationship is through adoption)
• ✓ Any other official document that proves you fit the DOC “immediate family” categories (children/stepchildren, grandchildren/great-grandchildren, parents/stepparents, grandparents/great-grandparents, siblings, aunts/uncles, spouse/domestic partner)

1. Write a removal request - Ask to be removed from the incarcerated individual’s Approved Visitor List.
2. Send it to the right place - Mail your written request to Headquarters Visit Unit, PO Box 41118, Olympia, WA 9804-1118, or email the Statewide Visit Unit.

Get removed from an Approved Visitor List? You'll need to wait 90 calendar days before applying again - whether for the same person or someone different. There are limited exceptions: if you never actually visited the person whose list you were on, or if it's been at least 90 days since your last visit, the waiting period may be waived.