Did you know that half of Americans have a family member or someone they love that is or has been incarcerated?
Odds are that at least half of you reading this article have someone in jail and you may be planning a jail visit sometime soon.
If that’s the case, here’s everything you need to know about going to county jails.
1. Know What to Bring
When visiting a county jail, there’s not a whole lot of things that you can bring during your visit. If you bring something that is not allowed, you will most likely have it taken away by the guards or could possibly be turned away from your visit.
Here’s a list of what most jails allow for visitors:
- Tissues
- Brush or comb
- Photographs
- Documents
- Keys
- Money (usually a limit on the cash you can bring in)
Again, be sure to check with the specific county jail you will be visiting before making assumptions about what you can bring inside.
2. Wear Appropriate Clothing
Most jails have some limits on what is appropriate to wear as a visitor. If you are planning a visit, you should plan to wear what you would wear to work or a more professional outing.
For instance, crop tops or clothes that look like inmates’ clothing are not advised.
3. Plan Some Questions
If you are visiting someone in jail, you may become tripped up on what to say once you get there. Going prepared with a few questions or topics for conversation is a great idea for you and your loved one!
Make sure to always listen to the person you are visiting as well, as you do not know what they are going through on a daily basis. You should also be wary about any planning for the future.
4. Always Be on Time
If you are approved for a prison visit, you will need to show up on time for your visitation. You will want to check the visitation hours for the prison you are visiting, especially if you are planning to visit on a holiday or weekend.
Showing up during visitor hours will also show the person you are visiting that you care about them and their wellbeing.
5. Reach Out to the County Jail
The last thing you want to do before making a prison visit is to reach out to the country jail to learn anything else you should know before going. Here’s what to know for most states.
In addition to that guide, be sure to call the specific one as well.
Visiting County Jails
If you find yourself in the position of having to visit one or more county jails in your lifetime, you’re not alone in doing that.
With these tips, you should be prepared for your jail visit and nothing should come as a suprirse.
Did you enjoy reading about these tips? Check out more tips on our blog.