General Information and Approval Process

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. 

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

Minors must be listed on the application of the legal guardian or immediate family member that will accompany the minor on visits. Minor children must be named on the Visitor Application, but will not be counted toward the fifteen (15) approved visitors. 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.

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

• A person will not be allowed to visit more than one offender unless the person is an immediate family member of each offender being visited or the appointing authority determines the visit(s) to be beneficial to both offenders.  
• Approval for a person to change from the visiting list of one offender to another offender will only be considered if the visitor applicant has not visited for one year. The administrative head may make exceptions in such situations if there are extenuating circumstances.  Exceptions to this section are clergy and immediate family members.
• 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.
• All minors must be listed on AR Form 300-01A, Visitor Application, and be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.  Exceptions will be made for emancipated minors.  
• The approved visitor application and subsequent changes will be entered into eOMIS for system-wide utilization and access during the course of the offender’s incarceration.   
• 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.
• 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.

The following persons will not be approved for visits without the approval of the administrative head.  

• 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
• 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.  
• Any victim of the offender who wishes to visit the offender must submit such request in writing to the Administrative Head seeking authorization to visit. A written response to the victim indicating the decision will be made within 30 days from the receipt of such request.  
• The victim of the offender may have to resubmit another request if the offender changes facilities. Authorization does not apply to all facilities.  
• If it is determined that an individual is likely to have a detrimental effect on the offender, or present a security threat, they will not be approved for visits.