If you expect to serve time in the federal prison system, it may help to get a better understanding of the visiting process.
Every prison has its own visiting guidelines, with higher-security institutions typically enforcing stricter rules than lower-security ones. Regardless of these regulations, I always looked forward to visiting. Those visits broke up the time, and helped me feel connected to family, or the broader community. They gave me a sense of support.
In this blog, I’ll write about what I remember of visiting in the federal prison system. Like anything else in prison, we should expect obstacles and disruption, but if we have the right mindset, we’ll find ways to make the most of the experience. I did.
My Background:
As I’ve shared previously, I spent my first year in pretrial detention, often in solitary confinement. I appreciated the effort that my sister and my dad made to come see me. Each weekend, they’d wait in long lines and go through all the inconveniences so they ease some of anxiety about facing a lengthy prison term. Even though detention center visits meant speaking through a telephone handset while separated by a plexiglass barrier, I looked forward to every minute I could spend with my family.
After my judge sentenced me to serve multiple decades, the U.S. Marshals transferred me to a high-security prison on the other side of the country. Due to the distance, visits became less frequent—only a few times each year instead of multiple visits monthly. Fortunately, these visits allowed us to sit beside each other without barriers. My family could purchase small snacks and meals from vending machines in the visiting area. I looked forward to treats like microwavable pizzas, cheeseburgers, and burritos.
Before entering the visiting room, the rules required me to go through a thorough strip search to make sure I wasn’t smuggling any contraband. After each visit, I faced another strip search to confirm I wasn’t brining anything from the visiting room into the prison. These procedures became routine aspects of the prison experience.
As my sentence progressed, I eventually transferred from high-security to medium and low-security facilities, where visiting rules were about the same. Finally, when I reached the final decade of my sentence, I moved to minimum-security camps. Visits at these camps were somewhat more relaxed, involving fewer searches and offering slightly more freedom. Yet even in these less restrictive environments, visits occurred in loud, cafeteria-like settings monitored by guards. Although often noisy and crowded, I looked forward to the visits as they were a great break from daily prison life.
Getting Married:
In 2002, Carole came into my life. She was living in Oregon and I was confined in New Jersey. After a regular correspondence that lasted for several months, she started to visit me. It was a long commute. She relocated to move near the prison and we were able to visit a few times each week. Life got much easier for me because Carole came into my life. On June 24, 2003, during my 16th year of confinement, we got married inside of the prison’s visiting room. Regardless of where the prison system sent me, Carole would relocate so we could spend as much time together as possible.
I wrote about our relationship, and how we nurtured our marriage in visiting rooms during my final decade in prison. Anyone can read that story in Earning Freedom: Conquering a 45-Year Prison Term:
Process to visit:
If you’re planning to visit, make sure that you read the rules and policies of the specific prison facility you will be visiting. Each facility may have different guidelines, so be sure to check their website or contact them directly. Pay attention to dress codes, prohibited items, and any behaviors that are not allowed during the visit. Being well-prepared will save you from unnecessary complications. For the federal system, you can check the following link to learn more about visiting policies:
Visiting Forms
To visit in federal prisons, it’s typically necessary to complete a visiting application that includes background checks. In most cases, only people who are approved on the visiting list are allowed to visit. Before going, confirm the visiting hours and days, as these vary by facility.
What to Bring and Wear
Before heading to the facility, take inventory of what to bring along. Generally, you are required to carry an official photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. It’s wise to bring quarters and dollar bills to purchase food from vending machines (if it’s available). But don’t bring electronic items, or anything that you don’t want to staff to inspect.
With regard to clothing, it’s best to dress as if you’re going to church. Don’t wearing anything too revealing. And check on any color restrictions. The prison may not allow clothing that resembles the same colors as the prison uniform. But they may have additional restrictions. It’s best to play it safe by considering the following:
- Wear sneakers or shoes, but no flip flops, and no open-toe shoes.
- Do not wear anything that staff would consider too revealing.
- Do not wear clothing that makes a political statement.
Remember that prisons are not too family friendly. Many staff members may be kind, but other staff members may obstruct the visit. Try to blend in and be invisible and you’ll go a long way toward having a pleasant visit.
Arrive Early
Arrive early to allow sufficient time for check-in and security clearance. Upon arrival, you will likely undergo a screening process similar to airport security. This includes metal detectors, bag inspections, and possibly additional checks. Be patient. Expect that it may take two hours from the time you park your car until the time you see your visitor. That isn’t always the case, but sometimes the institution has special counts, or lockdowns that delay visits.
The Visitation Experience
Once inside the visiting room, expect guards to monitor the room with designated seating arrangements. Depending on the security level of the facility, the officers may allow some level of physical contact, while high-security settings typically use partitions or telecommunication devices.
Visiting the Federal Bureau of Prisons is a structured process that requires preparation, patience, and compliance with rules. It may seem overwhelming at first. In time, it becomes routine. Carole and I nurtured our relationship while going through the final 10 years of my term. If you’re going into the system, you may enjoy the privilege of visiting. Use that time to share all the ways that you’re using time inside to prepare for success outside. That was the secret that worked for me.
