How to Visit a Federal Prison 101

I would like to help the next person that plans to visit an inmate at Elkton Federal Satellite Low Security prison to have a little better idea of what is expected of them.  My first visit was a bit of a challenge!!

First thing to note is that you cannot just “pop in” for a visit without being on the inmate’s “approved” visitor’s list.  The inmate will list immediate family members, at the time of intake to the facility.  These visitors are “approved” without background checks.  Any other family (in-laws) and friends will need to obtain a form to complete (I have copies of this form) and they may be subject to a background check before being added to the approved visitor list.  The inmate is allowed 20 approved visitors at a time.  This makes “surprise” visits a bit difficult, until you have been there once.

What NOT to wear:

• ·      Ladies, no “underwire” bra.  They will literally make you take it off or turn you away!!!
• ·      No scarves
• ·      No shorts
• ·      No open-toed shoes
• ·      No low-cut blouses
• ·      Nothing too revealing or “sexy”
• ·      You can wear jewelry, but may have to take it off to go through the metal detector.
• ·      Seems kind of odd to me, but the rule book says you MUST wear underwear.  I guess that seemed like a “given” to me.

What you should bring:

• ·      Your driver’s license (must have!!)
• ·      You must KNOW your inmate’s prisoner ID number
• ·      You need to know the license plate number on your car (even a rental car – by the way – it is probably on the tag on the key to the rental car)
• ·      If you have implanted devices or metal hardware, it is helpful to carry a letter from your doctor that shows proof.   People have been refused visits because they failed the metal detector due to implants.
• ·      One one-dollar bill (to purchase your first prison debit card) and an additional amount of money to charge the debit card (it takes at least $20.00 per day to purchase food and drinks in the vending area of the visitors’ room)  There are microwaves to heat up the vending food.  This is a real treat for the inmates!!!

What to take INTO the visiting area:

• ·      NOTHING but what you are wearing!
• ·      You can’t take a wallet, purse, or any food, drink, etc.
• ·      Your driver’s license will be held at the check-in counter until you leave.
• ·      You can take a vending machine debit card (purchased as you come into the check-in area) but NO CASH can be carried in.

Here’s the Process:

1.            Park in the parking lot in front of the building you are visiting

2.            Leave anything locked in your vehicle that is listed above as not allowed

3.            Walk up to the gate at the entrance to the prison

4.            Ring the bell to seek entrance (at Elkton, it is a push button to the left of the gate and will sound like it is ringing a phone – they will not “answer” the call verbally)

5.            Wait for the click of the gate and walk through the first gate to the next locked door.

6.            You do not need to ring another bell for entry, but you need to wait for the first gate to close completely before they will unlock the next door, so be patient.

7.            When you hear the next door unlock, walk into the “foyer” area

8.            There will be a form to be completed EVERY time you visit.  This form must be fully completed.  The form asks for:

a.     Inmate’s name, inmate’s prison ID#

b.     Your full name and address

c.      A list of items to declare if you are carrying

d.     Vehicle color, make, model, year, license plate number

e.     If you were dropped off, just write “dropped off” and N/A in the other vehicle fields.

9.            There is also a log book to fill in that lists your name, address, inmate’s name and time and date you came.

10.        Now you wait for the guard behind the glass to motion you in for check-in.

11.        When you are allowed into the guard’s area:

a.     Give the guard your driver’s license – it will be held behind the desk until visitation is over

b.     Purchase your debit card in the machine with the one dollar bill

c.      When the card is spit out of the machine you can add money to the debit card by following the directions on the machine.  (first put the card in the slot, then put the money ($20.00 bill) into the cash slot.  When the card is charged, it will spit back out.  This is all you can take into the visitation room with you.

d.     You will now go through the metal detector so you must remove your shoes, jackets, watches, jewelry, or anything in your pockets (much like the airports) and put them in the plastic bins.  The plastic bin will go through a metal detector, too.

e.     Walk through the metal detector.

f.      If it beeps, they will ask you to step into the area behind the desk to be wand-ed or patted down.

g.     If you pass, you will be able to put your shoes and jewelry and jacket back on – If not, hmmmmm…plan to be turned away.

h.     When cleared you will walk into the visiting room – a room that is quite large and has plastic chairs facing each other (probably about 100 or so).  It is loud and there are guards watching over you.

i.       Grab a seat and wait for them to “call out” to your inmate to come to the visitation room.

j.       When the inmate comes to the room, you may give them hug and kiss hello.  After that, there is no contact allowed until you are leaving, at which time another hug and kiss is permitted.

k.     You are actually allowed to visit for the full scheduled visiting hours, as long as it is not over-crowded.  If the visiting room gets too full, the guards may end your visit early (but they generally ask “local” visitors to leave over a visitor that has come from a long distance).  (Friday nights visitation is from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.;  Saturday is 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m;  Sunday is 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)

l.       You also may not be allowed access if there is “fog” or any other issue that may cause visibility issues for the guards. 

m.   There is a bathroom for the visitors inside the visiting room.  There is no lock on the door however!  You flip the BUSY/VACANT sign on the door to let people know it is occupied, however, people still may walk in.  They at least have put a privacy screen between the door and the toilet, so even if they walk in, they don’t really “see” anything.  The prisoners cannot use these restrooms.

n.     You cannot leave the visitation room and come back into the visiting room, so if you leave, you are done for the day.

o.     When the visit is over, you go back through the guard’s check-in room and gather up your driver’s license and keys, if you left them with the guard.  Keep the debit card for the next visit.

p.     You will be “herded” through the guard’s check-in area to the “foyer”.  All guests that are leaving will wait in this area until all have gotten through, so the locked door can be opened one time.

q.     Once through the first door, you will all wait in the outer courtyard until the first door locks behind you before the outer gate is opened and you can go to your car.

r.      Do not “linger” in the parking lot or on the grounds.  Once visiting hours are over, they want you to be off the premises.

Accommodations:

• ·      There is a DAYS INN just about ½ mile from the prison.  A restaurant is next door and has a pretty decent menu.  If you book a room at the DAYS INN, LISBON, OH, mention that you are visiting an inmate at Elkton and you can get a reduced rate.  This hotel has enhanced “security” so you have to be buzzed into the foyer until you get your room key.
• ·      There is a COMFORT INN in East Liverpool, OH, that is quite nice and has a pool.  East Liverpool is about 15 minutes away from Elkton.
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I don't want this to discourage anyone from going to visit, however, you need to know that it is pretty restrictive and once you understand the rules, it makes visiting a bit easier.    If you get a chance to make a visit....say HI for me!!!

Jeannie

 

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