Visitation by family and friends is encouraged and can be a positive influence during an inmate’s time in prison, as well as after the inmate’s release. Regular visitation assists individuals re-entering the community by helping to preserve healthy relationships with family and friends. The Department strives to make these visits comfortable and pleasant. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the visiting rules and procedures for Colorado Department of Corrections prior to visiting. Specific rules and useful information are outlined below in the “General Information and Approval Process” section.
Visiting applications
Ongoing visitation application: Complete a Visitor Application and mail to the location specified under the Facility Specific Visiting Information section below.
Minor Children (any child under 18) visiting application: A parent or guardian needs to complete a Form 300-01G Authorization for Minor Child Visitation and mail to the location specified under the Facility Specific Visiting Information section below.
Please complete a Special Visitation Application and mail to the location specified under the Facility Specific Visiting Information section below.
What is considered a special visit?
Special Visits by persons whose names are not on an offender’s approved visiting list may be authorized by the Administrative Head. Other special or extended visiting privileges may be approved by the Administrative Head or Executive Director.
Special or extended visits between offenders and their families may be granted for reasons such as:
Requests for an initial visit prior to background verification for visiting approval. When the visitor(s) has traveled out of state and/or a long distance; and/or, When a special visit is determined by the Administrative Head or designee to be in the best interest of the offender’s rehabilitative needs or correctional goals.
The number of visitors an offender may receive and the length of visits may be limited only by the facility’s schedule, space, and personnel constraints. The intended visitor must complete a Visitor Application and return the completed, signed form to the facility where the offender is housed. Incomplete applications may be rejected.
Minors must be listed on the application of the legal guardian or immediate family member that will accompany the minor on the visit. Minor children must be named on the Visitor Application, but will not be counted toward the twelve (12) approved visitors.
The Administrative Head is the assigned authority to approve, deny, or delete names of visitors on visiting lists. An offender’s visiting list shall be subject to the following restrictions:
Offenders and their visitors are accountable to conduct themselves in such a manner as to not bring suspicion nor discredit upon themselves or be disruptive or offend the sensibilities of other visitors. Visitors and offenders are required to obey all staff instructions and to comply with all Administrative Regulations.
A short embrace and appropriate closed mouth kiss may be permitted at the beginning and at the end of each visit. During visits, offenders may hold hands with their visitor. Visiting conditions will permit informal communication and reasonable levels of physical contact between offender and visitors. In instances of substantiated security risks, the Administrative Head may establish non-contact visiting areas. Body contacts between offenders and visitors other than these will not be permitted.
It is the responsibility of visitors to supervise and maintain control over their minor children. Any physical discipline of such minor children deemed necessary cannot occur on correctional facility property. If a minor becomes disruptive during a visit and is not controlled by verbal instruction from the supervising visitor, the visit will be terminated. Breast-feeding of infants is only allowed in the designated area noted in the facility Operational Memorandum.
In facilities where restrooms are provided within the visiting area, the use of restrooms will be established by the facility Administrative Head and posted for visitor’s information. Times will be posted as well as reflected in the facility Operational Memorandum.
Other than items from available vending machines, visitors shall not exchange any object nor article with an offender. Only those items approved by facility Operational Memoranda will be allowed into the visiting area.
The DOC will assume no responsibility for items lost, stolen or left in or around the visiting area or on DOC grounds. If an offender is found to be in possession of or use of contraband, either during or following a visit, it will be assumed that the contraband was introduced by the visitor(s) and the contraband will become reasonable suspicion for revocation or suspension of visiting privileges for that visitor(s).
Please be advised: Unforeseen security problems may interfere with visiting, causing delayed, shortened, suspended or cancelled visits. This is unusual, but it does occasionally occur. Whenever possible, notice of such events will be posted on this website on the homepage under “What’s New”
The Colorado Department of Corrections is committed to ensuring equal access to and full participation in services and programs for qualified individuals with disabilities, including visitors. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is an important part of our culture and we are committed to provide reasonable accommodations when needed without causing undue hardship to the Colorado Department of Corrections.