Safety
Visit someone in prison
Get on an approved visitor list, book a visit at Leonida Penitentiary and know what to bring.
01About this service
About this service
Visits keep families together and help people come home ready. Leonida Penitentiary and every State correctional facility welcome approved visitors on weekends and State holidays.
Every visitor must be on the inmate’s approved visitor list before booking. Approval takes about 30 days and lasts as long as the inmate stays in State custody.
Who it’s for
- Family members and friends of a person in State custody
- Children under 18, with a parent or legal guardian on the same list
- Attorneys and clergy, who book through the facility’s legal visits office
02How it works
4 steps, start to finish.
Step 1: Get on the list
The inmate sends you a visitor application. Return it signed to the facility’s visiting office.
Step 2: Wait for approval
The Department runs a background check and writes back within about 30 days.
Step 3: Book your visit
Call the visitation line at least 48 hours ahead to choose a day and a time slot.
Step 4: Arrive early
Check in 45 minutes before your slot with your photo ID. Lockers are available for anything you cannot bring inside.
03What to prepare
Have these ready.
- A valid photo ID for every visitor aged 18 and over
- The inmate’s full name and DC number
- Clothes that follow the dress code
- Up to $50 in small bills for the vending machines, in a clear bag
Ways to do it
- By phone
Inmate Information Line, 1-800-555-0163, to find where someone is held or to book a visit, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- By mail
Visitor applications and letters to the facility’s visiting office.
- In person
At the visitor center of each facility, on visiting days.
Online services are open around the clock. Keep the confirmation you receive: it is your proof of filing.
04Questions
Frequently asked questions
05Run by
Who runs this service
Questions about your case? Leonida.gov can help.
Service centers open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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