Who Can Be on Your Loved One's Visitor List at Debra K. Johnson Rehab Center (and who may be denied)

At Debra K. Johnson Rehab Center, an approved visitor list is created during your loved one's initial classification. Immediate family members who apply can be approved, and your loved one can also have up to eight additional adult visitors beyond immediate family. That eight-person limit is separate from immediate family, so most families start with close relatives, then use the extra slots for other supportive people like long-time family friends.

Planning to bring a child? Pay close attention to the minor-visitor rule. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an approved adult visitor who is the child's parent or legal guardian. The only exception is if the minor is married to the offender.

Some people are restricted because of their connection to the department. Current or former employees of TDOC, TRICOR, or contract agencies, along with interns or practicum students, cannot be approved as visitors unless they are immediate family members. If this applies to you, the "immediate family" connection is what determines whether you can be considered.

Volunteer status can also delay approval. If you volunteered with TDOC, you cannot apply to visit an offender until 24 months have passed since your volunteer work ended. This is a strict time-based restriction. If you're within that window, you'll need to wait before submitting an application.

If you are a current or former TDOC/TRICOR/contract agency employee, intern, or practicum student, the same core restriction applies: you cannot be approved to visit unless you are immediate family. Planning contact around release? Keep in mind these limits can still affect whether you'll be approved as a visitor.

The volunteer waiting period applies here too. Anyone who volunteered with TDOC must wait 24 months after volunteering before applying to visit an offender, even if the relationship is supportive and long-standing.

If you think you were wrongly denied (or you've been waiting without an answer), knowing the timeline helps. CR-2152 visitor applications should be approved or denied within 30 days of receipt. If that window has passed, follow up through the facility's normal channels and confirm they received your application.

1. Address the envelope correctly - Send the visitation form to the Associate Warden of Security (or the Deputy Superintendent), with the prison name and prison address.
2. Mail it to the facility, not your loved one - Forms mailed to the offender will not be accepted.
3. Double-check the “To:” line before you seal it - The most common mailing mistake is sending it to the wrong recipient inside the prison system.