| Visiting Inmates in Prison |
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| Visiting Inmates in Prison |
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Positive relationships between inmates and their families and friends, is encouraged by the Oregon Department of Corrections.
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| General application information |
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Inmates must apply to have a person added to their approved visiting list. Even if you were visiting an inmate in the county jail, you must apply for visiting privileges once he or she enters a Department of Corrections facility. Applications are submitted by inmates to the Inmate Services Unit for processing. Prospective visitors may submit the completed application directly to the Inmate Services unit via U.S. Mail or as a scanned email attachment; visitors will not be added to the approved list without the consent of the inmate. A criminal records background check is performed as part of the application process. Once the application is processed, the inmate is notified of the result. Please allow 30 days from the date the application was received by the Inmate Services Unit for processing. It is the responsibility of the inmate to notify their visitor of the outcome. The visiting rule prohibits staff from responding to telephone inquiries regarding whether a visitor has been approved. A consent form is mailed to the custodial parent of all prospective visitors who are under the age of 18, the form must be notarized and returned to the Inmate Services unit before the child can become an approved visitor. In some cases, proof of biological relationship is also required.
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| Filling out applications for visiting |
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Visiting applications must be filled out completely in order to be processed. Please print or type all information. The name of the visitor should match DMV records. Privileged visiting refers to visits which occur during regular visiting hours. Privileged visiting allows limited physical contact with the inmate including a brief embrace and kiss upon meeting and leaving, hand holding, and holding of children. Basic visits must be scheduled in advance with the institution where the inmate is located and do not involve physical contact.
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| Eligibility of prospective visitors |
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Criminal records background checks are performed as a part of the visiting application process. Prospective visitors with pending criminal charges, drug charges within five years from the date of application, or who have been incarcerated for a felony crime at some time within the past five years are ineligible to visit. Other than immediate family members, persons who are on probation, parole, or post-prison supervision are ineligible to visit in a Department of Corrections facility. Immediate family members who are on supervision are eligible to apply for visiting privileges with the written consent of the supervising officer or judge.
Victims of an inmate’s crime, past or present, are ineligible to visit that inmate. Persons who have been codefendants of the inmate in any criminal prosecution are ineligible to visit the inmate with whom they are codefendants. Current Department of Correction’s employees or volunteers are ineligible to visit unless the inmate is an immediate family member. Former employees or volunteers who were found to have engaged in an inappropriate relationship with an inmate are ineligible to visit.
For the complete listing of eligibility of prospective visitors, please click here for visiting rule (section 297-127-230).
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| Inmates convicted of a sexual crime involving minor children |
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Inmates who have a current or prior conviction for a sexual crime involving a minor child are ineligible to visit with any minor child, other than their own biological children. Inmates who have a current or prior conviction for a sexual crime involving a minor child belonging to their immediate family, or who have a documented history of sex abuse with a minor child belonging to their immediate family are ineligible to visit with any minor child, including their own biological child.
For the complete text of the visiting rule regarding eligibility of sex offenders to visit with minor children, please click here to visiting rule (section 291-127-0020).
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| Appeal process |
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Inmates may request an Administrative Review of denial of visiting applications by sending a request in writing to the Inmate Services Unit no later than 30 days after receiving notice of the determination. The visitor may also submit documentation to be considered during the review process. Administrative Reviews are reviewed and determined by the Chief of Inmate Services and the final determination is reviewed and approved by the Institutions Administrator. The inmate will receive a written notification of the final decision.
The Inmate Services Unit was created within the Operations Division to ensure that the needs of inmates and their families are given due consideration as the department continues to grow and refine operations. Along with administration of the inmate visiting system, the Inmate Services Unit also oversees maintenance of grievance systems, oversight of legal libraries and mail room operations, non-cash incentives, social opportunities, inmate true name verification, responding to inmate questions regarding canteen and PRAS (Performance Recognition and Award System) issues; revisions to emergency contact information; and universal releases of information. You may contact the Inmate Services Unit at:
DOC Inmate Services Unit
2575 Center Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-378-2883
Email: DOC.Visitors@doc.state.or.us
Click here for Visiting Rule
Click here for Printable Visiting Form (word document)
Click here for Prison Visiting Hour Information (link to Prisons)
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