In-Person Visiting

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) has made several changes to its visiting policy (PD 05.03.140). The goal of these changes is to foster increased family connectedness, while maintaining the safe operations of the MDOC’s facilities. The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) below cover some of the most significant changes in the updated policy.

FAQ Prisoner Visiting Policy Change

What changes are being made in this updated policy regarding visiting restrictions?
Several changes are being made in the visiting policy to reduce the number of visiting restrictions while maintaining procedures to protect facility operations. Among the major changes:

Individuals found guilty of Substance Abuse – Alcohol misconducts will no longer be subject to a visiting restriction for this conduct. Misconducts during in-person or video visits, as well as two or more substance abuse misconducts related to substances other than alcohol in the past three years can result in a visiting restriction.

Individuals subject to an in-person visiting restriction for receiving multiple Substance Abuse misconducts for substances other than alcohol will no longer be subject to a video visit restriction for that conduct, allowing for families to remain visually connected during the period of the in-person visiting restriction.

MDOC will directly assist prisoners who have received a visiting restriction with seeking a restoration of visiting privileges after one year. The restoration of visits will be based on conduct during the period of the visiting restriction.

Clarifies that if an individual paroles or discharges, but subsequently returns to prison, a past visitor restriction will not carry forward to their new time in prison.
Prisoners with alcohol misconducts

Prisoners with visitor restrictions due solely to Substance Abuse-Alcohol misconducts can request an immediate review of their visiting restrictions based on the change in policy. The removal or continuation of a visiting restriction will be determined based on the individual facts of the case and conduct of the prisoner since the restriction was put in place.
Will professional visits, such as those by an attorney, count against a prisoners monthly allotted visit quota allowance?

No. Professional visits do not count against a prisoner’s monthly visiting allotment.
How will professional visitors, such as clergy, attorneys, outreach volunteers, and Department of Health and Human Services staff be scheduled?

Professional visitors will have the ability to schedule visits using the ViaPath visiting website. Scheduled in-person visits by these professionals are non-confidential visits in the visiting rooms. Attorneys seeking a confidential visit may contact the Warden’s Administrative Assistant at the facility to schedule a confidential visiting space based on availability.
Will prisoners and visitors be placed on temporary visiting restriction until a misconduct, Notice of Intent, or investigation is completed?

Yes. If it is believed that conduct occurred during a visit that violates MDOC policy or the law, an immediate, temporary restriction may be placed on the prisoner and members of the visiting party until an investigation is completed and necessary hearings occur to determine if a permanent visiting restriction will be issued.
What steps must a person take to visit someone in a MDOC facility?

Each potential visitor must submit a visiting application form (CAJ-103) to the facility where the prisoner is located, if they have not previously been approved by MDOC. The potential visitor must also create a profile in the ViaPath Visiting Platform (ViaPath Visitor Web 8.0). Once approved by the facility, the visitor’s profile will be finalized, allowing them to use the ViaPath platform to schedule in-person or video visits.
Are visitors required to have a valid picture ID?

Visitors are required to provide a government-issued picture ID. While a non-expired ID is preferred, an expired ID may be used to participate in a visit if it was issued by a government entity and includes a representative picture of the visitor.
Are visitors who cannot pass the MDOC’s Search Policies (i.e. metal detector) allowed to have an in-person/contact visit?

Visitors must be able to pass through the stationary metal detector without it triggering prior to a visit, unless they have documentation of a medical device that triggers the machine. If an individual cannot pass through the stationary metal detector after two passes for reasons such as their clothing, permanent jewelry, or piercings, they will be subject to a non-contact visit if space is available or may be denied the visit if non-contact space is not available.

Only visitors with a documented medical reason for setting off the stationary metal detector will be searched with a handheld detector to confirm prior to an in-person, contact visit.
Can visitors or prisoners remove food and/or drinks from the visiting room after the visit?

Items purchased in the visiting room must be consumed during the visit. Any items not consumed during the visit will be disposed of in the visiting room before the visiting party departs from the room.
Is there a time frame for each kiss and/or embrace?

Yes. Each kiss and embrace must be “brief”. There can be an initial embrace and kiss at the start of the visit and there will be another opportunity at the end of the visit when the officer dismisses each respective visiting group.

It is necessary for all visitors to review this information prior to scheduling an In-Person visit.

Visitors must review the quarantine tables below to ensure the facility or housing unit of their loved one is not currently under outbreak status or housed in a COVID quarantined/isolation unit. Previously scheduled visits will be cancelled if a facility or an individual housing unit goes on outbreak/quarantine. Visitors must routinely monitor this site. They will also receive notification from ViaPath that any scheduled visits have been cancelled.

In-Person Scheduling Procedure

In-Person Visiting Schedules by facility can be found here .

Please keep in mind that quarantined facilities and individual housing units will not be scheduling visits.

All visitors are required to schedule visits using the ViaPath Scheduler. Only persons cleared and approved by the Michigan Department of Corrections will be permitted to participate in an in-person visit. Approved visitors can schedule a visit here. Visitors are required to schedule their visit at least 48 HOURS in advance of the scheduled visit, but not more than 7 DAYS prior to the visit.

The visits will be limited to two hours.

A maximum of FIVE visitors may visit a prisoner at one time.

VISITORS MAY SCHEDULE UP TO TWO SEPARATE VISITS ON THE SAME DAY WITH THE SAME PRISONER, BASED ON AVAILABILITY WHEN USING THE VIAPATH SCHEDULER.

During Your Visit

Food items sold from vending machines must immediately be removed from the manufacturer’s packaging and the food item immediately placed on a paper plate. The manufacturer’s packaging shall be disposed of prior to the visitor’s return to his/her seat. Food items must remain uncovered until consumed.

Bathroom breaks shall be permitted during visits, however, time used for the bathroom counts towards the two-hour duration of the visit.

Visitors and prisoners can take photos together. An embrace including a kiss is permitted while a picture is being taken.

Quarantine Tables

Please keep in mind that a single housing unit may be under quarantine while the rest of the facility is not. It is critical that you review both facility-wide and housing unit quarantines prior to traveling for your scheduled visit. The listing will change often.

Prisoners housed in the following facilities and/or housing units will not be allowed in-person visits at this time: