The Colorado Department of Corrections is charged with protecting the public from criminals who have been sentenced to prison. The system, which consists of several state-owned and operated prisons as well as multiple private or “for-profit” prisons, is overseen by Ari Zavaras, the current director, who was appointed to the position by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter.
Before you visit
Before visiting an inmate at a CDOC facility, you must first submit a Visitor Application. The inmate you want to visit can send you this form or go here. A visitation application must be completed and signed. You should also include a copy of your current government-issued identification or driver’s license. If you plan to bring any children or minors (those under the age of 18) with you, you must also include a copy of the proof of identity of the persons. In order for a minor to visit you, you must be the child‘s legal guardian or have a signed document. by the child’s legal guardian allowing you to do so. This system can vary, so it’s best to check with each facility about their practices.
It must be noted whether your loved one is going to be held in public or private prison. If the inmate is in a private prison, the application should be sent to the Prison Monitoring Unit, (PPMU) 2862 South Circle Drive, Colorado Springs , CO 80906. If the resident is in a state run facility, you must file a visitation application at the facility where the resident lives.
Applications can typically be approved within 1-3 weeks, but may take longer depending on the number of applications received on a given date. If you have questions about whether your application has been accepted or not, you can contact the facility or PPMU.
Once your application has been reviewed and you have been approved to visit the state, your application will be notified. So it is up to them to inform you. There are many facilities that are interested in visiting, so you don’t have to worry about checking over the phone to see if they are approved.
Sometimes, however, you may simply be informed that the inmate is “touching” you.
If the visit application is rejected, both you and the applicant will be notified. See the section of this article below about what to do if your visitation application is rejected.
Finding in the Door
When you first enter the facility, you may feel overwhelmed. Relax, take breathes and remember, you are not in prison. The visiting staff tends to be quite friendly and will take the time to explain the specific rules for their facility.
One of the cheapest mistakes visitors make is placing foreign items in the facility. While some facilities allow people to store locks on their property, many do not. It is worth remembering that you should always have one car key, one wedding band, and one religious necklace. Some facilities may be allowed to bring in vending machines on a quarterly basis, while other facilities have a vending machine plan that requires cash to be checked with visiting staff before you arrive to explore their systems.
Clothing is the second reason why visitors are turned away. The main dress rules include this from the DOC: “All guests, including representatives and official visitors, must be fully clothed, in appropriate, conventional clothing, not overly provocative, suggestive or revealing or similar to the dress or clothing of the person present. Jewelry that could be used as a weapon.” . This rule also includes a rule that is as simple as open sandals or shoes to cover some facilities, shirts or sweaters, flat white shirts that can be semi-transparent, and anything that can be green or orange. Camouflage is also prohibited in the visiting room.
You must wait to pass through a metal detector, and sign a consent form for the Colorado Department of Corrections to search your vehicle at any time without probable cause. . In almost all facilities you will be subject to a “pat search” where an officer of the same gender as you will check to see if you are hiding anything under your clothing. This can be a little intimidating.
Remember that during the search you must face the officer with your legs slightly apart and your arms extended at your sides. It is best not to move during this search, as the danger may be perceived by some of the officers. Clean socks when you visit. You will be asked to remove your shoes for inspection.
Finally, remember to bring your identification. If you don’t have your ID, they won’t let you in.
During your visit
All applicants are allowed a short period of physical contact at the beginning and end of each visit. This includes hugging and/or kissing. But groping often draws negative attention to you and the guest you’re visiting. Look around the site around you, you will be shown a welcome by those who have visited the facility before.
You will most likely be seated across from the guest you are visiting, and you will be allowed to hold hands with the inmate. In some facilities you may have physical contact up to the elbow of the offender, in other facilities this may be strictly hand-holding.
You can use the restroom at any time during your visit. However, you may submit another inquiry to enter the visiting room again. The defendant you visit will have designated bathroom break times, he or she will know when these times are and will have to pay attention to when it is called a “bathroom break.”
Machinery will most likely be in the room, food and drinks will be allowed to buy in the hostel. Depending on the facility, there are different rules of conduct for these devices. In some facilities the inmate is allowed to get up and leave with you during the designated part of the visit, in other facilities the inmate must remain seated at all times. Check with the visiting staff, they will teach you about the rules.
In most circumstances games and cards are used during your visit. You can ask for these from the staff who may require you to sign your name in “checking” the game of your choice. Typically, gyms do not have taxis in the visiting room, although again this varies by facility.
Women’s sanitary products, special medicines and other needs should be handled at the facility’s facility. You can contact the facility to visit and talk to someone you can ask about the procedure to attend, they will help you with everything you need.
Admonitions
Never, never give anything to the inmate he is visiting. Even if you bring an item that seems harmless to you, such as a comb or a comb, if you ever bring something into the facility, it is considered contraband and you will be charged with a felony. This will usually result in you also going to jail, and at the very least, your visiting privileges will be revoked.
Always be aware of your surroundings, although violence in the visiting room is rare, it can happen. Remember that you are visiting your loved one in a situation where people are very real and dangerous. Paying attention to those around you can help you avoid uncomfortable and potentially dangerous situations.
If you have children with you, keep an eye on them at all times. Do not allow your children to become particularly noisy and run around the room. You will almost certainly be asked to leave, but this way you can put your children at risk. There are six offenders in several Colorado facilities. Some of them were convicted of assaulting a child, and even at a moment, when no one was looking, it could be dangerous for them. In addition, it is polite with other guests to keep your children close to you and quiet.
What to do if your application is rejected
Technically, the Colorado Department of Corrections can deny anyone the right to visit at any time. However, if you find yourself in this situation, there are steps you can take. Initially, you should review the rejection letter sent to you to see why you were denied the opportunity to visit. If there seems little reason for this, or if the guest is legally married or has immediate family, you can visit the staff at the facility and discuss the matter with them.
Often the next step is to write a letter to the Custodian of the facility asking to be allowed visiting privileges. If that is denied, then you can ask for a special visit. The inmate who wants to visit can fill out a special visitation form, and also write another letter to the Warden requesting a one-time visit. Sometimes these requests are approved. However, if this request is not approved, then you have the opportunity to appeal to the Colorado Department of Corrections Central Office. At this time you can address the letter to the CDOC Executive Director. If you make your case well, then you will be allowed to visit.
If you have exhausted all of these reasons and you are still denied the opportunity to visit, either you cannot get the visit, or you should try to hire a lawyer to pursue the matter in court. Either way, this is a difficult place. You can also call in the assistance of the Attorney General. However, as previously status regarding this correction, if the Guard does not want to approve your visit to the facility. He has not.
Special visits
In addition to being granted in situations where a person does not usually visit, special visits are often granted for family members who travel long distances over 350 miles in one way, or from another state. If you are planning a trip to Colorado and would like to visit an inmate during your stay, you must submit your request in writing at least three weeks before your departure. Although the process does not usually take 3 weeks, it is always better to be too early than too late. If you find yourself in Colorado unexpectedly, or in need of family or would like to visit, you can call the facility and see if it is possible to be approved for a special visit under certain circumstances. This all depends on the facility as Special Visits are at the sole discretion of the Warden.
Additional Information
For further information you can always review the Colorado Department of Corrections Website at http://www.doc.state.co.us
