book a virtual prison visit

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How to Schedule a Visit Using Visitation Scheduling Application (VSA)

VSA allows Friends and Family to schedule visits from a variety of web enabled devices including computer, smartphone and tablet. Get familiar with our visiting guidelines and make sure you are approved to visit before using VSA. If it’s your first time using VSA, you’ll need to claim your account before you can schedule a visit.

Schedule visits at the time designated for the institution listed below.

Northern Region VSA request period will open from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. for the following institutions in the Northern region:

• California Correctional Center
• Central California Women’s Facility
• California Health Care Facility
• California Medical Facility
• California State Prison – Sacramento
• California State Prison – Solano
• Folsom State Prison
• High Desert State Prison
• Mule Creek State Prison
• Pelican Bay State Prison
• Sierra Conservation Center
• San Quentin State Prison
• Valley State Prison

Central Region VSA request period will open from 6:30 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. for the following institutions in the Central region:

• Avenal State Prison
• California Correctional Institution
• California Men’s Colony
• California State Prison – Corcoran
• Correctional Training Facility
• Kern Valley State Prison
• North Kern State Prison
• Pleasant Valley State Prison
• Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison – Corcoran
• Salinas Valley State Prison
• Wasco State Prison

Southern Region VSA request period will open from 7 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. for the following institutions in the Central region:

• California City Correctional Facility
• Calipatria State Prison
• Centinela State Prison
• California Institution for Men
• California Institution for Women
• California Rehabilitation Center
• California State Prison – Los Angeles County
• Chuckawalla Valley State Prison
• Ironwood State Prison
• Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility

The request period begins eight days prior to the visitation day and closes five days prior to the visitation day. See the table below for examples.

• Friends and Family (also referred to as visitor) go to the visitor website and click Claim Account .

• Type your First Name, Last Name and Date of Birth.    

• Add and confirm your Email Address . Select Next.

• Complete the remaining fields with all Personal Information . Click on the checkbox to run the robot test. Review the information and when you are ready, select the checkbox to verify that all information is correct, and then click the Finish button.

• Once your account is created, you will receive your Visitor ID . It is very important to write down the number, print the summary page, or take a screenshot of the following screen for your records.

• Look for an email from [email protected] with your temporary password .

• Starting from the visitor website, sign into your account with your temporary password. You will then be required to change your password. Enter and confirm a new password, and then click Update .

• Once your password has been successfully reset, the Home page of the visitor website will be displayed with any upcoming visits, a list of associated (approved) inmate names, and any canceled visits. 

Claiming Your Account – Mobile Device

• Friends and Family (also referred to as visitor) go to the Visitation Scheduling website and click Claim Account .

• Type your First Name, Last Name and Date of Birth.  Click Next .

• Add and confirm your Email Address . Select Next .

• The Address Information screen will display (showing California).  Click Next.

• You will then be required to set your password. Enter and confirm a new password, and then click Next .

A confirmation email with login information is sent from [email protected] .  

• Review policies and then click Accept Policies and Submit.   

• From the Registration Successful screen, select New Visit to go directly to scheduling a visit. Or select Main Menu to schedule a new visit, display upcoming visits, view history, and manage account settings. 

You can organize your account by going to the My Account menu where you can manage your email address, password, inmates, and visitor groups.   

You can organize your account by going to the Main Menu and selecting Account Settings . From here you can manage your password, personal information (email address), visitors, and inmates.  

• Login to the Friends and Family visitor website with your visitor ID or email and password.

• The Visitation Scheduling Home page displays:
• Upcoming visits
• Canceled Visits
• My Inmates (approved list)

• Click on the Visit link next to the inmate’s name from the My Inmates list to schedule a visit with them. 

• Choose Visitor (select yourself) or select multiple Visitors (additional visitors must be approved to visit). A visitor can send another approved visitor a friend request via the Manage Visitor Groups option under the My Account Menu. This means both visitors would be able to visit the same inmate together.  Both visitors must be approved to visit the inmate.
• Click Next .
• Select available Date from calendar.

• Select the Visitation Location (Facility and Video Station location) and the Time of Day.  Click Search.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Because institutions are currently offering a variety of video visit options, it is recommended to select No Preference to show all available visits for all visitation centers at an institution.   

For example, institutions may be providing In Person Only visits, Internet Only visits, or a hybrid of In Person and Internet visits.  The available days for in person visits may also vary per institution.  

• Select the desired time slot from the displayed options.  Only available times will display.

• Review visit information and click Confirm .
• Type of Visit – Internet Video Visit or Face to Face Visit
• Date, Time, Location (map will display for Face-to-Face Visit)
• Inmate name
• Visitor name, Relationship
• Visitation Policies
• Once the visit is confirmed, a unique confirmation number is added and a confirmation email will be sent to you with visit information.  

• Schedule another visit
• Return Home
• Print Summary
• Cancel Visit

Schedule A New Visit

• Click English or Spanish

• Login to the Visitation Scheduling website with your visitor ID or email address and password.

• The Visitation Scheduling Home page displays.

• To see a list of previously scheduled visits, click on the Upcoming Visits link.  From this screen you can schedule a new visit.  Click on the New Visit button to add a new visit.

• You can also schedule a new visit from the Main Menu by selecting Schedule a New Visit . 

• A list of all approved visitors will display (or select the button on the bottom left to request a visitor be added).  Select a Visitor(s) from the Available column by using the green arrow to move them to the Attending column .  Click Confirm Visitors .

• Select the applicable inmate name and then click the Confirm Inmate button.

• Use the drop-down menu to select the applicable inmate/visitor relationship. Click Confirm Relations .

• Select the Visitation Center. 

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Because institutions are currently offering a variety of video visit options, it is recommended to select No Preference to show all available visits for all visitation centers at an institution.

For example,  institutions may be providing In Person only visits, Internet Only visits, or a hybrid of In Person and Internet visits.  The available days for in person and internet visits may vary by institution.

• Select an available visit date from the Calendar (displayed in white). Click Confirm Date .

NOTE: Depending on which day you select will determine whether In Person or Internet visit time slots will be displayed on the next screen after clicking Confirm Date .

• Select the desired Time from the list.  Only available time slots will display.  Click the Confirm Time button

• Review the details of your reserved visit.

• Click Edit to change a visit. Select the field to be changed (Inmate, Visitor, Date, Time, or Location) and click Edit .  You will be re-directed back to the applicable area to make the change.  It is important to note, if you need to change an inmate name, visitor name, date or time while making a visitation appointment, it must be done before selecting the Agree and Reserve button .   Otherwise, you will need to cancel the visit and reschedule the visit.

14. Click on the Review Policies button to see the Terms of Use, Privacy Policies, and Facility Policies.

• Click Agree & Reserve to confirm the visit.  A unique confirmation number is added and a confirmation email will be sent to you with visit information.  

Once a visit has been scheduled, the Upcoming Visits screen allows you to:

• Edit a visit
• Cancel a visit
• Add a New Visit

Once a visit is confirmed, you can only add/remove visitors.   If you need to change an inmate name, visitor name, date, or time, you must first cancel the visit and then reschedule it.  

• To add or remove a visitor from an already confirmed visit, click View Upcoming from either the Visit Summary screen or the Main Menu screen.    

2. Select the visit that needs to be changed.  Click Edit . You will be re-directed back to the Visit Summary screen. 

• Click Edit Visitors. Use the green and red arrows in the center of the screen to add or remove approved visitors to your existing visit. Click Confirm Visitors .   

• The updated Visit Summary screen will display with visitor changes. Click Agree & Reserve to reconfirm the visit with updated visitors. This example shows the visit was modified to reflect two visitors.

CDCR inmates are allowed one free video visit per month with Friends and Family.  Quotas (number of visits inmates get per day/week/month) are determined by CDCR and are configured into the visitation scheduling system. When a visit is canceled, the quota for that inmate is automatically reset.

• Friends and Family can go the visitor website to cancel a scheduled visit. 
• To cancel a visit from the visitor website, click on the Cancel Visit link on the Home page.

• Confirm the cancellation by clicking Yes or No.

• The visit status is updated to Canceled and is displayed on the Visitor Home Page. In addition, a cancellation email will be sent your email account confirming the cancellation.

CDCR inmates and visitors are allowed one free video visit per 30 days with Friends and Family.  Quotas (number of allowed per day/week/month) are determined by CDCR. When a visit is canceled, the quota for that inmate/visitor is automatically reset.

• Friends and Family can go the Visitation Scheduling website to cancel a scheduled visit. 
• From the Upcoming Visits screen, select the applicable visit to be canceled and click the Cancel button. 

• Confirm the cancellation by clicking Cancel Visit .

• The visit status is updated to Canceled . In addition, a cancellation email will be sent your email account confirming the cancellation.

Look for an email from WebEx with details for how to join your video visit.

For more information on “How to Use WebEx to Join a Video Visit”, you can also refer to CDCR’s Web Site:

Join your video visit from your computer, mobile device, phone, or a video conferencing system. You may pick the one that works best for you. All video visits are secure. The communication is encrypted and CDCR processes ensure that approved visitors are validated and only those approved visitors may join the visit. 

For technical assistance with VSA, contact the Visiting Sergeant or Lieutenant of the institution you wish to visit .

DO NOT contact GTL for technical assistance.

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• September 25, 2023 September 25, 2023

How to Book a Prison Visit Online

Scheduling an in-person visit with an incarcerated loved one is important for maintaining connections. Many corrections departments now allow online prison visit reservations to improve convenience and efficiency. This article outlines the typical process for booking online prison visits.

Check Visitation Eligibility Requirements

Before scheduling visits, confirm eligibility with the facility’s policies:

• Age minimums – Adult visitors usually required.
• Visitor approval – Visitors must be on inmate’s approved list.
• ID/documentation – Valid photo ID often required.
• Allowed items – Review dress code and authorized items.
• Health requirements – Some facilities require COVID vaccination proof.

Ensure you meet all criteria to avoid wasted trips or denied entry.

Create a Visitor Account on the Facility’s Website

Most prisons with online scheduling require creating a visitor account:

• Enter your personal details like name, address, email, phone number.
• Create a username and password for the visitor account.
• Provide your ID number and type (driver’s license, passport, etc).
• Electronically sign any waivers or terms required.

This information links you to the inmate and confirms identity upon arrival.

Schedule Visit Date and Time

With an approved visitor account, you can view visitation calendars and schedule dates/times:

• Select day(s) – Weekends and holidays are busiest.
• Choose time slot(s) – Typical windows are 1-2 hours long.
• Check-in 15-30 minutes prior – To clear security screening.
• Bring printed or digital confirmation – Shows your scheduled slot.

Visits are usually first-come, first-served for available times. Book well in advance for best selection.

Understand Cancellation and No Show Policies

Review policies if you must cancel or miss scheduled visits:

• Timeframe – Cancel at least 24-48 hours in advance when possible.
• Allowed frequency – Too many cancellations or no shows may restrict future visits.
• Notifications – Call the visitation hotline as soon as possible.
• Exceptions – Illness or family emergencies may qualify for waivers.

Follow proper procedures to avoid penalties like temporary visit suspensions.

Arrive Prepared on Visitation Day

Give yourself extra time and arrive prepared:

• Dress appropriately – Follow dress code to get cleared for entry.
• Limited belongings – Carry only approved items needed for children.
• Check in at gate – Provide printed or digital confirmation and ID.
• Clear security – Successfully pass through metal detectors and searches.
• Confirm visitation rules – Keep physical contact limited if prohibited.
• Enjoy visit! – Make the most of this valued time together.

Proper planning ensures visitation goes smoothly.

Online scheduling systems are making arranging prison visits easier and more efficient. Visitors can quickly check availability and reserve slots after creating an approved account. Following facility policies ensures a smooth visitation process. While in-person time is limited, it remains invaluable for maintaining inmate connections and support systems.

FAQs About Booking Online Prison Visits

How far in advance can visits be booked.

Most facilities allow booking 1-4 weeks in advance. Holidays and weekends fill up quickly.

Can visitors schedule multiple back-to-back time slots?

Usually not – facilities limit visits to 1-2 hour sessions with buffer times in between.

Is there an age limit or requirement for minor visitor approval?

Yes, approval rules vary but most prisons prohibit visitors under 18 years old.

Can online visit reservations be made on a mobile device?

Some systems only allow scheduling on the desktop website. But mobile-friendly platforms are becoming more common.

What if a visitor’s plans change after booking?

Notify the prison as soon as possible if you cannot make the booked time. Schedule changes are limited.

How do waiting lists work if times are fully booked?

Waiting lists prioritize visitors by order and frequency since last visit. Openings from cancellations are first-come, first-served.

What happens if a visitor is late for check-in?

You may forfeit that day’s visit. Arrive well before the scheduled window to ensure entry.

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• Why Did Taryn Manning Go to Prison?
• Is Andrew Tate Still in Prison in 2023?
• Why Did Jelly Roll Go to Prison?

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schedule a visit

Three Types of Video Visits

At Facility

These visits are when you go to your facility and sit at a video visit station in the lobby. Your loved one or friend will be on a video visit station in their pod.

From Computer

At select facilities families and friends can have video visits from their own personal computers in the comfort of their own homes. You will need the following equipment to do a video visit from home:

• A computer.
• A webcam and a microphone, or a computer with these components built in (most laptops have these built in).
• An internet browser. Internet browsers Safari 4 and higher, or Firefox 7 and higher, are strongly recommended. Using other browsers may not load the page appropriately in order to begin your visit. We are not responsible for technical problems or issues that may arise from using an unsupported browser.
• For the best visit experience you should use headphones, but they are not required.
• High speed internet (DSL or Cable) connection (dial up and satellite are not supported).

From Android Device

Video visits go mobile with our Visit Now Android app. At select facilities families and friends can have video visits from their own Android devices.

How to Schedule a Visit

Free video visit policy.

Free visits are a benefit for the inmate and are credited to the  inmate’s account. Therefore the inmate is the only one who  can book a free visit . This allows the inmate at your facility full control of whom they want to use their free visit with. There are also advanced scheduling rules that control the timeframe that a free visit can be booked. These rules vary by facility. If an inmate books a visit outside this timeframe, they will not be allowed to use a free visit.

• Book the visit with their Friends & Family.
• Suggest a visit with their Friends & Family. The Friends & Family must have no prepaid funds on their account at the time they confirm the suggested time. The inmate’s free visit will then be deducted.
• Confirm a suggested visit from their friends and family. The Friends & Family must have no prepaid funds on their account at the time the inmate confirms the visit. The inmate’s free visit will then be deducted from their free visit allowance.

The only way Friends & Family can use a free visit is by suggesting a visit with the inmate. If the inmate has a free visit available and there are no prepaid funds on the Friends & Family account at the time the inmate confirms, the free visit will be deducted from inmate’s account.

What Services Are Available At My Facility?

Select your facility below, available services:.

• Phone & Voicemail
• Video Visit at Facility
• Video Visit from Home

• Photo Sharing
• Tablets Your inmate has access to tablets. Make a deposit to their account so they have more ways to be productive, and you have more ways to stay connected.
• Verification Required

What is Telmate Verified?

If you are asked to be Telmate Verified it means your facility requires verification of your identity prior to acceptance of inmates' calls. The purpose of verification is to ensure inmates are not connecting with inappropriate people on the outside. The verification process is simple and can be completed before or after creating an account.

To be verified, you can make a deposit , schedule a visit or download and complete the Telmate Verified form .

Did you know…

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, inmates who

maintain strong relationships

with friends and family, greatly reduce their risk of recidivism.

Terms of Use governing use of GettingOut services state that all services are intended to be used by persons over the age of 18.

To continue, please enter your date of birth to confirm you are over the age of 18.

Visitation Scheduling

It’s now easier and more convenient than ever to schedule a visit with your loved one at a facility.

With our Visitation Scheduling service, you can choose the date and time for a visit, and get registered as an approved visitor—all in advance through our website.

Visitation Scheduling services are FREE and can be used to schedule:

• traditional visits in face-to-face booths at the facility
• video visits from home on your mobile phone or computer
• video visits from stations at the facility

Please note: These services can vary by facility and are not available at all locations.

How It Works

• Check to see if your inmate’s facility offers visitation scheduling.
• If scheduling is offered at the facility, go to www.gtlvisitme.com . Register yourself and all visitors participating in the visitations.
• Select the facility where your loved one is located.
• Search for your inmate, and add them.
• Click “Schedule” to begin the scheduling process.

What it Costs

Visitation scheduling services are free!

Please note that there may be fees for conducting select visit types such as video visitations . Any visitation fees will be outlined during the scheduling process and if required, your payment information will be requested to complete the scheduling process.

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Terms of Use governing use of ConnectNetwork services state that all services are intended to be used by persons over the age of 18.

To continue, please enter your date of birth to confirm you are over the age of 18.

Video Visitation

Provide the Opportunity for On-Premise or Remote Video Visitation

The GTL VisitMe video visitation solution allows federal, state, county, municipal, and private facilities to supplement traditional in-person visitation service offerings with secure on-premise or remote alternatives. This highly scalable solution can help facilities of any size improve security while allowing staff time to be reallocated to more critical tasks. In addition, friends, family, and professional visitors are given a convenient, accessible way to stay connected with inmates.

With the on-premise solution available through VisitMe, visitation services can be conducted at predetermined locations within the immediate facility or at an established annex location. Inmate visitation stations can be installed at specific locations throughout each housing unit so that inmates do not need to be moved. A visitation station can also be set up on a cart as a mobile solution for restricted classification offenders.

Utilizing the At-Home video visitation solution through VisitMe allows visitors to conduct their regular visitation sessions through most PCs, laptops, and tablets (Android or Apple iOS devices) without stepping onto facility property. As these visitation sessions are conducted in an outside environment, correctional staff members are provided with several monitoring tools to prohibit any illicit activity.

Minimize Inmate Movements

With the implementation of the GTL VisitMe solution, visitation units are installed in strategic locations throughout each housing unit, reducing the need to coordinate inmate movements throughout the facility. With the reduction of inmate movements, the threat of a safety and security breach will be drastically reduced so that staff can be reassigned to other duties.

Securely Monitor and Record Visits

With the security features built into the GTL VisitMe system, correctional officers monitoring the visitation sessions have the capability to record, interrupt, or terminate any visitation for lewd or inappropriate conduct as determined by the facility. For visitation sessions that are classified as professional visits, the system will automatically disable the recording feature, keeping the facility within legal compliance.

Eliminate Contraband Introduction Opportunities

As individuals pass through the lobby of the correctional facility on a daily basis, the threat of contraband being introduced remains a reality. Even without the availability of contact visits, contraband can be placed in an area often visited by inmates or employees. With the introduction of on-premise or at-home visitation, visitors will conduct each session from a secure area, removed from any point that may allow the introduction of contraband.

Related Products

Video Scheduling

VisitMe Scheduler can eliminate long queues in the visitation area by avoiding the chaos of having a high volume of concurrent visitors at the facility. In so doing, the system also minimizes staffing requirements.

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Reporting to New Yorkers

Library Video Conferencing Helps Loved Ones Book Visits in the Pen

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When the pandemic hit, New York state prisons banned in-person visits in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus. 

The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision began to expand the use of video visits at state lock-ups as an alternative. 

Now, the Brooklyn Public Library has begun a program to make it even easier for people to connect online with loved ones behind bars. 

The BPL last month started to offer private rooms and large video screens with hookups to nine state facilities, including some an hours-long drive away. In prison, incarcerated people use portable tablets for online meetings. 

“It’s really about maintaining connection for incarcerated people and their families,” said Michael Carey, the BPL’s Justice Initiatives Coordinator.

Carey, the driving force behind the venture, stressed that the video visits in no way should be used to completely replace in-person visits. 

“When someone is sent upstate it’s very difficult for families to stay connected,” he said. “The telestory program is a supplement to that.”

The initiative involves a few part time staff who help families register for the visits and some equipment like 42-inch screens. Operating expenses are between $130,000 and $150,000 annually, incorporated into the BPL’s overall budget. 

The program comes as Mayor Eric Adams has cut library funding , forcing branches to reduce hours, delay repairs, and reduce new book and material purchases. 

Still, Carey, and prison officials, hope the video visits will eventually expand to include all 44 state facilities. 

“The department believes that a key component for the successful re-entry of an incarcerated individual is maintaining a social connection with friends and family,” said DOCCS spokesperson Thomas Mailey. 

He noted that the department “contracts with outside organizations…to facilitate video visits” currently offered at 20 facilities. DOCCS has “plans for future expansion,” he added. 

People interested in scheduling a video visit can call or text the BPL at 718-916-9408 or email [email protected] . Before an initial visit, they must fill out an intake form and sign a consent form before contacting the library. 

This year, some 509 video visits have occurred as of Nov. 1, according to DOCCS records. There were 399 in 2019; 565 in 2020; 544 in 2021, and 370 in 2020. 

Meanwhile, in-person visits have not returned to pre-pandemic levels of 555,563 in 2019, records show. This year, 285,530 of those visits have happened as of Nov. 30, according to DOCCS. There were 216,642 in 2020; 206,699 in 2021; and 276,372 in 2022, department records show. 

The prison population has declined over the same five year period, records show. Some 44,276 people were locked up in state prisons as of Dec. 31, 2019. That number dropped to 34,405 that same date in 2020; 30,571 in 2021; 31,310 in 2022; and 32,633 this year, according to DOCCS. 

By all accounts, visits are a lifeline for people behind bars, especially for younger detainees who are sometimes away from their families for the first time. 

“What the Brooklyn Public Library is doing is a big benefit for everybody,” said Mark Cranston, a former acting city correction commissioner at the start of the administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio. 

“It’s hard to calculate the importance of visits for people who are incarcerated,” he added. “The ability to connect to the outside world and have some hope.” 

Vanessa Santiago, who spent 17 and a half years in state prison, said she always looked forward to visits from her husband. 

“They meant everything to me,” she said, “it took me out of the normal common day of prison.”

Related Headlines

On Monday, March 7, 2022, the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP) will resume in-person civilian visits. Registration will begin on Friday, March 4.

The PDP has reached this decision as both hospital and infection rates continue to decline in the city and region. PDP will continue its ongoing mitigation efforts to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and to keep our workforce and incarcerated population safe.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Onsite Visitation Rules

• Each Incarcerated Individual is allowed 1 hour visit per week
• 1 Adult and 1 Child, (6 months to 17 years of age) can visit with a parent or guardian. The adult must provide proof of custody or a birth certificate. 
• Visitors must be at the facility at least ten minutes before the scheduled visit.  
• Walk-ins are not permitted.   
• Visitation is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
• All appointments must be made 48 hours in advance and no more than seven days in advance of the visit.
• Holiday visits are only on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

Saturday Visits* Only for designated facility populations

Schedule visits from your Android Phone or Tablet

If you have an Android device, you can now use GTL VisMobile to register online, schedule visits, and manage your visitor group. Download here , or search "GTL Vismobile" in Google Play .

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Visiting a prisoner

Queensland Corrective Services recognises the importance of visits to prisoners. This page explains the types of visits, the need to apply for visits to a prisoner and what you need to know when you attend a prison, including the rules and regulations and entering a prison .

Prisoners may receive visits from:

• lawyers and members of the legal profession
• official visitors
• religious visitors

Family and friends

It is important that prisoners keep strong links with family and friends during their time in prison, so we encourage you to visit them. A prisoner can normally have up to 1 hour of visiting time each week in addition to time with their lawyer. Visits may be contact or non-contact.

Virtual Personal Visits (VPVs) are also available. New visitors seeking a VPV must go through the same application process as visitors to a centre.

Learn more about applying to visit a prisoner .

Lawyers and members of the legal profession

Legal professionals  can visit a prisoner they are representing, although this must be pre-arranged with the prison authorities. Unlike visits from family and friends, there are normally no restrictions on how long legal visits last or how many legal visits a prisoner can have in a week.

A prisoner may also be able to phone specialist legal organisations for free such as the  Prisoners' Legal Service, Legal Aid Queensland and the  Queensland Ombudsman (who investigates complaints about government departments, including prisons). Unlike calls to friends and family, these calls will not have a prison officer listening in.

Official visitors

Official visitors are specially appointed to visit prisoners regularly to help them manage and resolve any problems or complaints they may have.

Find out  more about official visitors .

Organising your visit

Applying for a prison visit.

Before you visit, you must complete a  personal visitor application (Form 27) and return it to the  correctional centre you wish to visit.

If you can’t download the form, we can send it to you by mail. If you need us to send you a Form 27, please email your request to [email protected] .

The form requires you to:

• provide identification (ID) documents
• state if you have any  criminal convictions —including a criminal record in another state or territory
• include photocopies of ID signed by a  Justice of the Peace or Commissioner for Declarations .

The person in charge may approve a contact, non-contact or virtual visit. Contact visits are personal visits during which there is direct physical contact between you and the prisoner. Unforeseen circumstances (e.g. COVID-19) may require correctional centres to place temporary restrictions on visits.

You will be security checked before you can have a contact visit, which can take up to 6 weeks. In the meantime, you can request a non-contact visit or virtual visit.

Accepted ID

You can prove your identity by providing either :

• any 1 item from the first list
• any 3 items from the second list.

All forms of ID must be current —we will not accept expired ID.

List 1—supply any 1 item:

• driver licence
• letter signed by a member of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander organisation that identifies you by name and signature
• the chief executive of your workplace
• a law enforcement agency
• the Supreme Court
• a state government entity
• an education facility.

List 2—supply any 3  items:

• other photographic ID displaying signature
• birth certificate
• statutory declaration verifying your identity and signature, signed by a Justice of the Peace or Commissioner for Declarations.
• debit/credit card or bank book with signature
• Medicare card
• pensioner or social security card

Your security clearance must be updated every 12 months.

You must bring your approved ID with you every time you visit . If you do not have your approved ID, you will not be allowed to visit.

Children as visitors

You can apply to bring a child into the centre to visit by completing the relevant section on the  personal visitor application (Form 27). To be considered for approval, the child must have an established relationship with the prisoner, and you must provide proof of the child's identity.

The person in charge must be satisfied that:

• there are no court orders preventing contact between the child and the prisoner
• a visit is in the child’s best interests.

They may impose special conditions on the child’s visit, such as requiring a non-contact visit.

An application for a child visitor must include  any 1 of the identification documents listed above.

Booking a prison visit

Once you are approved, you can book a visit. You must book all personal visits in advance during nominated booking times.

Every prison has its own system, so  contact the prison for details and visiting times.

The prison keeps a register of all people who have been security cleared, including:

• your full name
• your date of birth
• the date of your security check
• your criminal history file number (if any)
• the prisoner(s) you’re visiting.

Each prison has a different allowance for the number of people visiting. They allow visits for an hour at a time each week due to social distance regulations.

Find information about  centre visiting arrangements .

Rules and regulations

All Queensland corrective services facilities are tobacco and smoke free. No smoking is allowed anywhere on the grounds of a corrective services facility (including car parks and walkways).

You can’t bring cigarettes and other smoking-related products (including cigarette lighters, matches, papers and filters) into a corrective services facility.

If you fail to follow this rule, you may be:

• asked to leave the prison
• suspended or refused visit access approval.

What to wear

There are very strict rules about what you can wear when visiting a prisoner.

You must wear:

• proper shoes or sandals (no thongs)
• clean clothes in good condition.

You can’t wear:

• any clothing displaying racist or derogatory slogans, motorcycle gang colours or clothing with gang insignias
• see through garments, including garments that expose underwear
• clothes that are excessively torn, stained, dirty, ripped or frayed
• steel capped boots
• high heels (heels are to be no higher than 5cm)
• any jewellery other than wedding and engagement rings
• hair scrunchies or clips (only single elasticated hair ties are allowed)
• internet enabled watches (i.e. smartwatches).

You can wear your wedding or engagement ring, but you must remove all other jewellery before you enter the prison.

For more information, refer to the  appropriate dress standards notice .

Prohibited items

It is a criminal offence to take certain items into a prison. You can read what items you can’t take into prison in the  Corrective Services Regulation 2017 s 19 .

If an officer suspects you have any of these items on you, you can be detained and searched—this could be a frisk or full body search. Officers may also search your car. If a banned item is found, you may be charged.

What you can give a prisoner

You cannot give the prisoner money, documentation, or personal items during your visit. However, you can bring items like socks, singlets, underclothes and clothes for court.

These items must be approved beforehand and given to the Visits Processing Officers to be passed onto the prisoner. You will need to complete a hand-in form for the items to be accepted.

You can also mail cards, letters and photographs to the prisoner. Note: Mail may be opened, searched and censored. At high security centres, there are rules which do not permit certain items to be included in mail (e.g. items which contain glitter, glue or stickers). If in doubt, contact the correctional centre before posting an item.

Some centres allow you to deposit money into a prisoner’s account. If you would like to deposit money, speak to the Visits Processing Officers before your visit. You will need to bring the correct amount to your visit.

Transfer of money

For safety and security purposes, we cannot accept cash payments for prisoners by ordinary or privileged mail.

Any payments to prisoners must be facilitated, preferably by Secure Payment Services . Payment may also be made by money order or cheque.

Entering the prison

Each prison has a  visitor fact sheet that tells you when to arrive for your visit. If you’re late, you may not be allowed to enter. Always check the visiting times, as they may have changed since your last visit.

When you arrive, go to reception in the visits area to confirm your booking.

You may not be allowed to enter if you don’t have the right identification, or if the prison officer believes you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Storage lockers or other appropriate storage facilities are provided at high security centres to allow the storage of personal items that are not permitted to be brought into a secure facility.

Security and searches

In many prisons, you may have to go through security screening with electronic drug detection devices or be checked by drug detection dogs. If you refuse to have a scan or search, or return a positive result to drugs, you may not be allowed to enter the prison or be limited to a non-contact visit.

During your visit

If you or the prisoner break the rules or behave in an inappropriate way, your visit may be cancelled, and you may be prevented from making future visits.

Keep an eye on your children at all times and make sure they don’t interfere with or disturb other visitors or prisoners during the visit.

You are also not allowed to:

• remove anything from a prison
• interview or photograph a prisoner or part of a prison facility.

Toilets are available before or after your visit in the administration building where you sign in. There may not be toilets available in the centre’s visiting area.

If there are toilets in the visiting area and you use them, we may end your visit or the rest of your visit may be non-contact. This ensures that no prohibited items enter the prison.

COVID-19 information

To ensure the safety of our correctional centres during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit restrictions are now in place at all Queensland prisons.

Read  the most up-to-date information about prison visits .

All visitors must wear face masks and hand sanitiser is available at all entry and exit points.

Legal advice

Prisoners’ Legal Service Inc is a community legal centre that provides free legal advice to prisoners and their families. To contact them, phone  (07) 3846 5074 or email  [email protected] .

Legal advice may also be available from  Legal Aid Queensland by phoning  1300 65 11 88 .

More information

Find out how to:

• find a prisoner
• contact a prisoner .

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• Crime, justice and the law
• Prisons and probation

Visit someone in prison

Use this service to request a social visit to a prisoner in England or Wales. There’s a different way to book a prison visit in Northern Ireland or a prison visit in Scotland .

To use this service you need the:

• prisoner number
• prisoner’s date of birth
• dates of birth for all visitors coming with you

If you do not have the prisoner’s location or prisoner number, use the ‘Find a prisoner’ service .

You can choose up to 3 dates and times you prefer. The prison will email you to confirm when you can visit.

The prisoner must add you to their visitor list before you can request a visit. This can take up to 2 weeks.

Request a prison visit

Visits you cannot book through this service.

Contact the prison directly if you need to arrange any of the following:

• legal visits, for example legal professionals discussing the prisoner’s case
• reception visits, for example the first visit to the prisoner within 72 hours of being admitted
• double visits, for example visiting for 2 hours instead of 1
• family day visits - special family events that the prison organises

Help with the costs of prison visits

You may be able to get help with the cost of prison visits if you’re getting certain benefits or have a health certificate.

Related content

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Purple Visits for Prisons

The Purple Visits secure video calling platform offers more than just video calls. We offer a feature-rich video calling solution specially designed for use within the criminal justice system.

We are proud to be working alongside the ministry of justice to provide our service across the UK during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Why use Purple Visits

The purple visits system helps you and your loved one stay connected by helping prisons and secure establishments offer a video calling option to their residents.

The in call security features of a purple visit video call means that the service can be offered in establishments that have lower than normal staffing levels.

Our UK based data centres can ensure that our secure and accredited servers have operational uptime of over 99.9%

Cost Effective

Having a Purple Visit is cost effective, meaning that lack of funds will no longer restrict visitors.

The Purple Visits integrated booking system means it's just as easy for prison staff to book a virtual visit as it is for the visitor to request one.

Purple Visits use the latest technology in a seamless fashion to make things easy for the visitor, the people in custody and your staff.

Full support network

With a UK based customer support team we are on hand to help both your staff and visitors if they experience any difficulties.

Contact us for a demo

If you are interested in having Purple Visits installed in your prison we can arrange a demonstration and discuss the benefits of our system.

• I'm interested in... A demonstration of Purple Visits Installing Purple Visits in our Prison Upgrading to Purple Visits

Book a visit to prison

You will need to book a visit if you want to see someone in prison. You can book online to arrange an in person visit or a virtual visit with a prisoner or you can telephone the prison Visits Booking Office.

If you haven't visited a prison before you will need to phone to book your visit. You will be provided with your unique visitor identification number. Once  you have this you can start to book online.

Booking online

To book online for an in person visit or a virtual visit you will need:  

• to have previously booked a visit
• the visit reference number for the prisoner
• the prisoner's number
• your unique visitor identification number
• your date of birth
• your e-mail address and contact number
• the unique visitor identification number and dates of birth for all additional visitors (not needed for a virtual visit)

If you do not have these details, you should phone the relevant booking office.

Booking by telephone

To book a visit by telephone you will need:

• the visit reference number for the prisoner 
• the unique visitor identification number and dates of birth for all additional visitors

If you don't have a unique visitor identification number, you can get one from the booking office which you can use for future visits.

If the person you are visiting has just arrived in prison you will need to ring the booking office and they can arrange a visit.

Virtual visits

A virtual visit can last up to 20 minutes. The visitor can use a personal computer, mobile device or smartphone to have this meeting with the prisoner.

All virtual visits are supervised, if NIPS become aware of any behaviour, language or actions which are considered inappropriate, this will result in the visit ending early and possible removal of the facility in the future.

• Guide to arranging an online visit
• Privacy notice  explaining your rights to privacy when you arrange an online visit

Registering for visits

All visitors need to be registered in the prison they are visiting. When you arrive at Visits Reception you need to be photographed, have a scan taken of your finger and you should bring identification.

• more information about registering for visits

Bringing proof of identification to prison

When you first visit someone in prison, you will need to be registered on the prison system as a visitor. You will need to bring proof of identification with you when you are being registered.

• more information about the types of identification needed

Useful links

• Visiting someone in prison

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Librarians fear new penalties, even prison, as activists challenge books

Tom Bober, librarian and President of the Missouri Association of School Librarians, poses for a photo Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in Clayton, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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When an illustrated edition of Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” was released in 2019, educators in Clayton, Missouri needed little debate before deciding to keep copies in high school libraries. The book is widely regarded as a classic work of dystopian literature about the oppression of women, and a graphic novel would help it reach teens who struggle with words alone.

But after Missouri legislators passed a law in 2022 subjecting librarians to fines and possible imprisonment for allowing sexually explicit materials on bookshelves, the suburban St. Louis district reconsidered the new Atwood edition, and withdrew it.

“There’s a depiction of a rape scene, a handmaid being forced into a sexual act,” says Tom Bober, Clayton district’s library coordinator and president of the Missouri Association of School Librarians. “It’s literally one panel of the graphic novel, but we felt it was in violation of the law in Missouri.”

Across the country, book challenges and bans have soared to the highest levels in decades. Public and school-based libraries have been inundated with complaints from community members and conservative organizations such as as Moms for Liberty. Increasingly, lawmakers are considering new punishments — crippling lawsuits, hefty fines, and even imprisonment — for distributing books some regard as inappropriate.

The trend comes as officials seek to define terms such as “obscene” and “harmful.” Many of the conflicts involve materials featuring racial and/or LGBTQ+ themes, such as Toni Morrison’s novel, “The Bluest Eye,” and Maia Kobabe’s memoir, “Gender Queer.” And while no librarian or educator has been jailed, the threat alone has led to more self-censorship.

Already this year, lawmakers in more than 15 states have introduced bills to impose harsh penalties on libraries or librarians.

Utah enacted legislation in March that empowers the state’s Attorney General to enforce a new system of challenging and removing “sensitive” books from school settings. The law also creates a panel to monitor compliance and violations.

Awaiting Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s signature is a bill that empowers local prosecutors to bring charges against public and school libraries if they don’t move “harmful” materials away from children.

“The laws are designed to limit or remove legal protections that libraries have had for decades,” says Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.

Since the early 1960s, institutions including schools, libraries and museums — as well as educators, librarians and other staffers who distribute materials to children — have largely been exempt from expensive lawsuits or potential criminal charges.

These protections began showing up in states as America grappled with standards surrounding obscenity, which was defined by the Supreme Court in 1973.

Ruling 5-4 in Miller v. California, the justices said obscene materials are not automatically protected by the First Amendment, and offered three criteria that must be met for being labeled obscene: whether the work, taken as a whole, appeals to “prurient interest,” whether “the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law,” and whether the work lacks “serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.”

Eventually, almost every state adopted protections for educators, librarians and museum officials, among others who provide information to minors.

“Until recently, police and prosecutors were unable to pursue charges against public libraries over materials that make certain individuals uncomfortable. These exemptions have prevented spurious prosecutions of teachers over health and sexuality curriculum, art, theater, and difficult subjects in English classes,” stated a 2023 report from EveryLibrary, a national political action committee that opposes censorship.

Arkansas and Indiana targeted educators and librarians with criminalization laws last year. Tennessee criminalized publishers that provide “obscene” materials to public schools.

Some Republicans are seeking penalties and restrictions that would apply nationwide. Referring to “pornography” in the foreword to Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s blueprint for a possible second Donald Trump administration, the right-wing group’s president, Kevin Roberts, wrote that the “people who produce and distribute it should be imprisoned. Educators and public librarians who purvey it should be classed as registered sex offenders.”

Arkansas’ version was temporarily blocked by a federal judge after a coalition of librarians and publishers challenged the legality of subjecting librarians and booksellers to criminal charges if they provide “harmful” materials to minors.

Indiana lawmakers stripped away “educational purposes” as a defense for school librarians and educators charged with giving minors “obscene” or “harmful” material — felonies punishable by up to 2½ years in jail and $10,000 in fines. The law also requires public catalogs of what’s in each school library and systems for responding to complaints.

Indiana’s law took effect January 1. It’s likely a matter of when — not if — a lawsuit is filed, and the anxiety has created a chilling effect.

“It’s putting fear into some people. It’s very scary,” said Diane Rogers, a school librarian who serves as president of the Indiana Library Federation. “If you’re a licensed teacher just being charged with a felony potentially gets rid of your license even if you’re found innocent. That’s a very serious thing.”

Rogers said she’s confident Indiana’s school libraries don’t offer obscene materials, but she’s seen reports that some districts have moved certain titles to higher age groups or required parental approval to check them out.

A PEN America list shows 300 titles were removed from school libraries across 11 Missouri districts after lawmakers in 2022 banned “sexually explicit” material, punishable by up to a year in jail or a $2,000 fine. The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and library groups challenged the law last year, but it remains in effect pending a motion for the state to intervene.

“Gender Queer” is another title no longer available to high schoolers in Clayton, where district officials recently turned their attention to Mike Curato’s graphic novel, “Flamer,” about a teenager who struggles with his sexual identity and how to fit in at Boy Scout camp. The American Library Association included “Flamer” on its list of 2023’s most challenged and/or banned books .

“We had a lot of conversations about how to interpret the law and not be in violation,” Bober said. “But we also didn’t want to overreach and overcensor our collections. With ‘Flamer,’ we did not feel we were in violation of the law.”