Before You Drive to Wende: Weekend Visit Checklist

Wende Correctional Facility holds visits on weekends only. If this is your first trip - or it's been a while - check the posted schedule before committing to the drive.

Visiting hours run from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM on visiting days. That sounds like plenty of time, but your actual visit depends on when you arrive and how busy it gets. Build in some buffer.

Each visit allows three visitors, plus one child under age five. That under-five child counts as an extra spot but must sit on an adult's lap. Plan your group accordingly.

• ✓ Keep your group to three visitors total, unless you’re bringing one child under 5 as the extra lap child
• ✓ If you’re bringing a child under 5, plan for them to sit on an adult’s lap during the visit
• ✓ If more than three people want to come (not counting the lap child), decide ahead of time who will go this weekend and who will go another weekend

Weekend visitation is first come, first served. On busy days, this affects how quickly you get in and how long you can stay. Arriving early usually means a smoother experience.

Wende allows unlimited visits per day - there's no "one visit and done" rule. That said, the visiting room can still get crowded.

When the visiting room gets too crowded, staff first ask for volunteers to wrap up early. If you're flexible and can end your visit sooner, that's how they relieve pressure before cutting anyone off.

1. Listen for a request for volunteers - If space is tight, staff will first ask visitors to voluntarily end their visit.
2. Expect local visits to be ended first if overcrowding continues - If there are no volunteers (or space is still needed), visits from people within 100 miles of the facility can be terminated after three hours, using a first-in, first-out process.
3. If space is still needed, longer-distance visits can be ended next - If overcrowding continues, visits from people who traveled over 100 miles can be terminated after three hours, also first-in, first-out.
4. Know that some visits may get special consideration - Visits with special permission, or visits for incarcerated individuals who have not received a visit within six months, may be reviewed for special consideration by the Superintendent or Officer of the day before termination.

If your loved one is in SHU custody, visits are more restricted: one non-legal visit per seven-day period. The facility counts weeks Sunday through Saturday, so plan around that window.

For someone in RMU, visits happen weekends only in a dedicated RMU visit room. Confirm whether RMU applies before you travel - you don't want to make the drive for the wrong setup.

Final Checklist

• ✓ Confirm you’re going on a weekend (Wende’s visiting days)
• ✓ Plan for visiting hours: 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM
• ✓ Do not arrive later than 2:15 PM
• ✓ Confirm your group size: up to 3 visitors, plus 1 child under 5 (must sit on an adult’s lap)
• ✓ Remember weekends are first come, first served - earlier is usually easier
• ✓ Know that the facility allows an unlimited number of visits per day on visiting days
• ✓ Build in extra time in case the visiting room is busy and lines move slowly

Before you leave, save the directions and the facility's main contact info somewhere easy to access. If plans change mid-trip, you'll be glad you did.