What to Bring (and Leave Behind) for Visiting at Waupun Correctional Institution
Pack light and bring the right ID, and check-in at Waupun Correctional Institution goes much smoother. This quick list will help you avoid delays in the lobby and reduce your chances of being turned away at security.
Plan to arrive no more than 15 minutes before visiting hours start. WCI uses that short window for lobby processing, so showing up way early usually just means extra waiting and more time juggling your belongings before security screening.
Once you're in the lobby, staff may ask you to fill out a DOC-176 (Request to Visit Offender). It's a simple form, but it goes faster when you're not sorting through a bag of extra items at the same time.
Bring your photo ID: If you’re age 16 or older, you must show photo identification at check-in.
If you're 16 or older, WCI accepts several types of valid photo ID. You can bring any one of these: a valid state driver's license, a valid passport or visa, a valid Department of Transportation (DMV) photo ID, a valid military identification card, or a valid tribal photo ID. Pick which one you'll use before you leave home so you're not digging through your wallet at the front desk.
You'll go through a metal detector as part of the entrance process. If you can't clear it within three attempts, you'll be denied entry to the visiting room. Take a minute to remove obvious metal items before you step up to screening.
- ✓ Take off metal jewelry before screening
- ✓ Skip clothing or accessories with lots of metal (buckles, snaps)
- ✓ Avoid wire undergarments if you can
- ✓ Empty your pockets completely before you approach the metal detector
Planning to grab snacks or drinks during the visit? Bring a card. The vending machines in WCI's visiting area accept credit and debit cards only.
You can bring one credit or debit card for vending machine use. The person in our care (PIOC) is not permitted to leave their table or handle money, and only visitors can operate the machines. So if you want something from the vending area, expect to be the one getting up to grab it.
Pack light. The less metal and clutter you bring into the lobby, the easier it is to arrive within that 15-minute window and clear the metal detector without burning through your three attempts.
- ✓ Extra jewelry you don’t need for the visit
- ✓ Belts, accessories, or outfits with lots of metal hardware
- ✓ Anything that’s likely to set off the metal detector and force repeat screenings
- ✓ Unnecessary items that make it harder to keep pockets empty and move quickly through check-in
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