Navigating The Visitation Process In NC Prisons: Inmate Visitors Application

The first step in visiting an inmate in North Carolina is to request the offender add you to their visiting list. The offender will need to send you an original copy of the North Carolina Inmate Visitors Application.

• An application must be completed for each adult and each minor who will attend the visitation

• Applicants over the age of 16 must include a photocopy of their valid photo identification (driver's license or state ID)

• Applicants under the age of 16 must include a photocopy of their birth certificate

• Applicants under the age of 16 must update their application upon reaching age 16 to include a copy of a photo ID

Offenders can send out up to 18 visiting applications and may change their visitor list every 6 months during their "open enrollment" period. The open enrollment period is based on the date of admission to prison (i.e., admission date is January; open enrollment is July and January)

• If an offender has 18 approved visitors and they want to add a new visitor during their open enrollment period, they must first remove one of the currently approved visitors from the list.

• An offender can request that an approved visitor be removed at any time but must wait until their open enrollment period to add a replacement.

• Legal, law enforcement, consular officials, local and state Family Services, and Juvenile Court officials are not counted in the maximum 18 approved visitors.

Completed applications should be mailed back to the prison facility where the offender is currently housed. Do not mail the application directly to the offender, as the facility will not accept the application if the offender hands it in. The facility will notify the offender of your application status and the offender will be responsible for notifying you of your approval or denial.

• Incomplete applications and applications containing false information will not be approved

• Applications may also be denied based on the visitor's prior criminal record, participation in the criminal activity for which the offender is incarcerated, and whether the visitor is on probation/parole.

The offender's visitation list will remain active when transferring to a new facility. However, if the offender is released or paroled, the visitation list becomes inactive. If the offender is re-admitted to prison, the visitation process must start over.

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