How to Get Approved to Visit Someone at West Tennessee State Penitentiary

Under TDOC policy, an incarcerated person can have all immediate family members approved to visit, plus up to eight additional adults. Final approval is still up to the facility, but the key point: you're not asking for a favor. There's a formal process designed to get families and support people on the approved list.

First, get a blank CR-2152 Visitation Application. TDOC requires that inmates have access to blank copies along with written instructions, so your loved one can request one and mail it to you. Fill it out completely, attach a current photograph, and return it to the Deputy Superintendent/Associate Warden in charge of visitation within 30 days.

• ✓ Use a physical address on the CR-2152 - a P.O. Box is not allowed.
• ✓ Address your mailed application to the Associate Warden/Deputy Superintendent in charge of visitation (as directed for submission).
• ✓ Do not mail your completed form to the offender - forms mailed to the offender will not be accepted.

Your application needs a current photograph - an actual photo, not a photocopy. Include it in the same envelope as your CR-2152 and send everything to the Associate Warden/Deputy Superintendent in charge of visitation. Don't mail your paperwork to the person you're visiting; forms sent to the offender won't be accepted.

Follow the written instructions that come with the CR-2152 as you fill everything out. If you have supporting materials that apply to your situation, include them with the completed form so the reviewer has what they need.

1. Complete the CR-2152 in full - fill out every section before you send it.
2. Add a current photo - include a current photograph (not a photocopy) with the application.
3. Address it correctly - mail it to the Associate Warden/Deputy Superintendent in charge of visitation (as instructed for submission).
4. Mail it directly (not to the offender) - applications mailed to the offender will not be accepted.
5. Wait for processing - TDOC indicates applications should be approved or denied within about 30 days of receipt.

A background check is part of the process. All visitor applicants go through an NCIC background check, which the facility uses when deciding whether to approve your application.

Once approved, you're added as an approved visitor in TDOC's offender management system (OMS). That's the internal record staff check when confirming who can be admitted for visitation.

If a designated reviewer initially disapproves your application, the Warden/Superintendent makes the final call. When a disapproval happens, the inmate can appeal through the grievance procedure. The inmate receives the notification and passes the outcome along to you.

Approval isn't permanent. TDOC requires the CR-2152 visitation application to be updated every two years (24 months), so mark your calendar to refresh your information before it expires.