General Information and Approval Process

Number of Visitors and Frequency of Visits

The number of visitors an offender may receive and the length of visits may be limited by the facility’s schedule, space, and employee constraints. The intended visitor must complete a Visitor Application, AR 300-01A and return the completed, signed form to the facility where the offender is housed. 

Applying for Visits and Visitor Approval

A copy of the individual’s current, valid photo ID must accompany the application for adults. Incomplete applications may be rejected.  

Minors who are accompanied by an immediate adult family member, who is not the minor’s legal guardian, must have the express written approval of the parent or legal guardian utilizing AR Form 300-01F, Authorization for Minor Child Visitation. 

Visiting applications may be accessed on the Visiting Applications page. A background check will be conducted annually from the time of initial application.

Automatic deactivation of visitor status: An individual who is listed on the approved visitor list, but has not visited that person for one year will be
placed on inactive visitor status in eOMIS. The Office of Information Technology will automatically review visitor status quarterly. If an individual is on inactive visitor status, the visitor must re-apply and have a background clearance completed prior to being re-activated.

Only one (1) adult name per application will be permitted. The Administrative Head is the assigned authority to approve, deny, or inactivate names of visitors on visiting lists. 

Visiting list restrictions

An offender 's visiting list shall be subject to the following restrictions:

• Any person representing any potential health hazards to offenders, employees, contract workers, volunteers, or other visitors will not be approved for visits, until the health hazard is cured (e.g., communicable disease). DOC medical providers will render final decisions in such matters.
• Volunteers who resign from or are terminated by Faith and Citizen Programs may not be placed on an offender’s visiting list for a period of three years.
• Current or previous employees, private prison employees, contract workers, or private company employees who provide offender supervision assistance, who were not an immediate family member of the offender prior to incarceration or parole supervision will not be approved for visitation.
  • All such persons may request visiting access through the administrative head or designee after seven years have elapsed from the last date of their employment, or
    other work as listed, with the DOC.
• Visitors will not be placed on an offender’s visiting list and will be denied in person, non-contact, and video visitation when it has been determined they have a felony or misdemeanor warrant. They MAY be on the offender’s phone list and have phone calls. If an active warrant is discovered the facility’s OIG investigator will be notified and provided with the information.
• If it is determined that an individual is likely to present a potential security threat to the facility, they will not be approved for visits.
• Offender requests to change names of persons on the approved visitors list will be limited to 90-day intervals unless specifically otherwise approved by the administrative head.
• An approval to visit an offender may be revoked when information which would have resulted in denial of visits becomes known after an approval to visit has been granted. Revocation and/or suspension of visits may be ordered by the administrative head or designee for any activity or event occurring subsequent to the approval for visits. All revocations and/or suspensions will be entered into eOMIS, with beginning and ending dates noted.

The following persons will not be approved for visits without the approval of the administrative head.  Approval may be granted if visitation would assist with offender rehabilitation and re-entry. Administrative head may also consider allowing video visitation for the following:

• Persons who are on active parole, probation, or other forms of conditional release (e.g., community programs, furloughs from custody, etc.) for a felony or misdemeanor adjudication or those placed under constructive custody or perpetual supervision by the parole board or courts (e.g., sex offender life-time supervision).
• Persons who incurred a felony adjudication for which the terms of sentencing were incarceration must wait three years past the completion of their sentencing terms. Persons who incurred any other felony adjudication (e.g., probation, deferred judgment, community programs, fines, community services, or any other sentence) must wait one year past the completion, satisfaction or discharge of the sentencing terms. Immediate family members as designated by policy will be eligible for review for visitation prior to the three-year waiting period.
• Co-defendants.
• Victims of offenders will not be approved to visit with the offender through the normal application process.
  • Persons with an active and valid protection order that prohibits contact with the offender will not be authorized to visit the offender with whom the protection order exists unless approval has been obtained through the following:
    • Any victim of the offender who wishes to visit with the offender must submit such request, in writing, to the appropriate administrative head requesting authorization.
      • The administrative head/designee will consult the victim services unit coordinator involving victims who are enrolled in the Victims Notification Program or as necessary.
      • The administrative head/designee will consult with the sex offender treatment team regarding victims of an offender, or children under the age of 18 who are requesting to visit a judicially determined sex offender. *Judicially determined sex offenders will not be allowed to loiter near children in the visiting room.
      • A written response to the victim indicating the decision will be made within 30 days from the receipt of such request.
      • The victim services unit coordinator will be notified of the administrative head’s or designee decision in cases involving victims enrolled in the Victim Notification Program.
      • The victim of the offender may have to resubmit another request if the offender changes facilities. Authorization does not apply to all facilities.