When a person is a convicted felon there are many things that they are no longer allowed to do. There are some restrictions that they will need to live with. They will be forbidden to do certain things and other activities will be closely monitored. A felon may have been released from prison but he still may have close friends or even family member that is incarcerated. Many wonder can a felon visit someone in prison?
Requirements to Visiting Someone in Prison
When it comes to visiting someone in prison there are strict requirements. If a person violates any of these requirements the prison staff has the right to turn them away. A person will need to have the felon add their name to the visitors’ list. That way they can get in and see them. A person will need to bring photo identification. Before going to the prison they need to find out about the dress code for visitation. There are some prisons that do not allow coats, hoodies, and items that may be considered to be too tight or too revealing. There are many items that are prohibited as well. Smartphones and other mobile devices are prohibited. A person should find the exact requirements so they do not get turned away.
When a person goes to visit a felon they need to go through security. They will need to have their id verified. They will also need to go through a metal detector or a metal detecting wand may be used on them. A person may also be pat down by the staff and have their items searched. The type of visit with the felon will be determined by the prison. Some prisons will allow face to face visits. There are somewhere a person may not get close to the felon. They may have to visit them on the other side of a shield or may need to have a visit over the screen on the computer. There is a limited amount of time for the visit and there are only certain days that visits are allowed.
Requirements for Felons to Visit
Each prison has its own policy on the people that they allow to visit the inmates. When a felon is looking to visit someone in prison each case will be reviewed by the prison staff on an individual basis. They will look at the nature of the relationship between the felons. They will also look at the visit and if it will pose a safety threat to the security of the prison or any of the inmates. They need to keep the best interest of the prison in mind. The prison will look at a number of factors to determine if they want to allow the felon to visit or if they are going to reject the visitor application.
The inmate will need to add the felon to the visitor list and they will need to state that this person has a record. The felon looking to visit will need to undergo an application process and they will need to be open with the prison. The prison staff will look at the felon’s history and the crime or crimes they have been convicted of. If a person is convicted of a nonviolent or minor offense they are the most likely to get approved for the visit. Applicants that have been convicted of a serious or violent crime and they have a long criminal history are examined closely. The offense will be reviewed and these are the ones that are the most likely to be rejected.
The prison will also review how much time has passed since the felon was convicted and released from prison. The more time that has passed since their release date the more likely their visitor application is going to be approved. If a felon was recently released or they have current charges pending against them, they are often denied the visit. Each prison has different time requirements and standards of visitation. There are some state facilities that require that a convicted felon has to wait at least two years after serving their time before they can visit someone in prison. This extra time will vary from facility to facility.
The prison will look at the relationship between the felon and the inmate they want to visit. This is reviewed very carefully on the visitor application. If the inmate is an immediate family member especially a parent or a sibling, the felon will have a better chance for a visit. If the inmate they are looking to see if a friend or other relative they may not be permitted the visit. Most facilities will waive a specific time period for felons if their immediate family is in the facility.
The place of incarceration will also play a role in determining if a visit is allowed. Most prisons have very strict restrictions if a felon was previously housed at that facility. This can be a risk to the security of the prison. While this is not an automatic rejection, it is not a good thing for a visit. The prison staff will have to determine if the visit is going to disrupt the running of the facility in any manner.
When a felon is released from prison they may have to serve additional time on parole or probation. They have strict requirements at this time and if they do not follow the conditions of their release they may be returned to the prison to finish serving their sentence. If a felon is looking to visit an inmate while they are on parole or probation they are going to need written permission from their parole or probation officer as part of the visitor application. Some facilities require that a person must be off parole or probation for a specific time period before they are allowed into the facility to visit an inmate.
There are some instances where a felon will not be allowed to visit an inmate in a prison. A felon is not allowed to see someone that was their co-defendant. If they were tried together or tried for the same crime, they will not be allowed communication within the prison facility. They will need to wait until the inmate is released if they are looking to reconnect.
Visiting someone in prison for a felon is a long application process. They must be willing to provide their contact information and consent to various background checks. They may have to go through several different security checks. This process will take at least six weeks to complete. A felon has to be willing to wait for this time while their application is reviewed. If they are living a clean life they are more likely to be approved for the visit.
What to Talk About When Visiting Someone in Jail
When visiting someone in prison it may be hard to know what to talk about. Things may seem uncomfortable at first. A person can start by talking about their life and what they have been doing. they should tell about all the positive things that are happening in their life and any positive changes that they have made. They can also keep the inmate up to date on how other family members are doing. They can talk about what the inmate is doing to better their lives and any programs in the prison they are going to join to help them make positive changes. They can speak of the good times of the past and about some memories that they share. The talk should be upbeat and light. They should try to joke around and make some light conversation. A person should try to be relaxed and try to keep things positive. The inmate is going to be happy about the visit and that someone still cares about them. They do not want to feel forgotten. They are going to be open to talking about most topics and they will want to socialize about just about anything.
There are some things that should not be spoken of in prison. There should be no mention of crimes, illegal activity, or planning of anything violent or illegal. There should be no sexual talk. When speaking to each other it is important not to argue or talk about topics where an argument can break out. It is important to stay calm and enjoy the visit.
If a person is a felon it is possible for them to visit a person that is an inmate in a prison. They are not going to have an easy time getting permission for the visit. They are going to need to undergo different background and criminal checks. Each felon and their request for visitation will be reviewed on an induvial basis. While not all applications are approved, if a person is a felon and wants to see someone close to them that is an inmate they can apply for visitation and hope that their application is approved.