Prisoners are allowed to visit with immediate family members, qualified clergy, attorneys, outreach volunteers and up to ten other people designated by the prisoner. Those wishing to visit a prisoner, either in person or through video visitation, should follow these 5 steps:
View exceptions and special circumstances to the above rules
Every person wishing to visit a prisoner needs to fill out a visiting application. Visiting applications can be printed, filled out, and mailed in; or they may be filled out online after registering for a MiLogin Account. A prisoner must also fill out a Visitor List form to add approved visitors. Once you have your visiting application filled out, proceed to step 3.
Online visiting applications will be submitted when you have completed the steps in MiLogin, and a response will be sent to your email when your application is processed informing you if you can visit. Processing times may take up to 4 weeks.
To mail in a visiting application, mail it to the facility where the prisoner is located, with a self-addressed stamped envelope that the facility will use to mail you a response once your application if processed. Processing time may take up to 4 weeks.
Address EXAMPLE:
John A. Smith, #123456
Michigan Correctional Facility
123 Prison St.
Anytown, MI 48909
To schedule an in-person visit or a video visit, you must register on the Michigan DOC Visitation Scheduling website hosted by ViaPath (formerly GTL). You cannot create or schedule a visit until your visiting application (step 3) has been approved. Visits must be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance but not more than 7 days in advance.
Michigan DOC Visitation Scheduling
A maximum of 5 visitors may visit a prisoner at a time. Visitors may schedule up to 2 separate visits on the same day with the same prisoner. Visiting blocks are 3 hours during the weekdays, and 2 hours during the weekend. Periodically, a facility or unit may be under medical quarantine and will be unable to attend visits, you must check the quarantine status of the facility you intend to visit before you arrive.
View Facility Visiting Schedules and Quarantine Status
Video visits are 20 minutes in length and cost $3.20 per visit which must be paid for in advance by the visitor.
Identification: All visitors must sign in upon arrival at the facility and provide an approved identification document.
Dress Code: Visitors must avoid revealing clothing including skirts and shorts more than 3" above the knee; form-fitting garments like leggings and yoga pants; hooded items, and items with graphic content on them. See the visiting standards for full list.
Personal Contact: Visitors are allowed to briefly hug and kiss a prisoner at the beginning and end of a visit. No other personal contact is permitted during the visit.
Vending Machines: Vending machines are available in the visiting room for snacks and beverages. Vending items must be immediately removed from packaging, placed on a plate, and the packaging discarded before returning to your seat. Food must remain uncovered until consumed.
Photos: Visitors and prisoners can take photos together, an embrace including a kiss is permitted while the picture is being taken.
Bathroom Breaks: Visitors can take bathroom breaks but the time used in the bathroom counts towards the scheduled visiting time.
