Prison Place

Visiting Information

Hours: Visiting hours are:Thursday through Monday, and Holidays from 8:30 AM to 3:30PM.  No visitors will be processed after 2:00 pm. this will allow each inmate to have a minimum of one (1) hour visit.

Visitors must continue to secure purses and items not permitted into the visiting room in the lockers provided in the institution visiting lobby area. The charge is 25 cents. Visitors may not wear their coat to the visiting room, but it must be secured in a locker located inside the visiting lobby area.

Vending machines and restrooms will continue to be provided for all.

Rules:

All persons under 18 years of age must have permission from the parent(s) or legal guardian(s). Minors will not be permitted to visit until permission is granted. All visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older who is also on the same inmate's visiting list.

There will be no sitting on laps, except for small children.

The only physical contact permitted by adults in the visiting area is holding hands or sitting with one arm around the visitor's shoulders. Inmates and visitors may embrace when meeting or departing.

No person may be on more than one inmate's visiting list, except in cases of person(s) being part of the immediate family of more than one inmate. Special permission is required from the Superintendent or his designee.

Any interaction between inmates and any visitors outside the visiting room will be construed to be inappropriate and may have an impact on future visits.

Alcoholic beverages, narcotics, drugs or weapons are not permitted anywhere on the grounds or inside the institution. Persons caught introducing contraband into SCI-Laurel Highlands will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and will be permanently banned from visiting ALL state correctional institutions.

The only items permitted inside the institution are change, one-dollar bills, five-dollar bills and the jewelry on your person. Money must be carried in a small change purse.

Carried in a clear plastic bag, the following baby items are permitted into the visiting area: baby food in original unopened container, 3 clear plastic baby bottles containing pre-mixed formula or milk, 3 loose diapers, baby wipes, a pacifier and small blanket. Changing a child will be done outside the visiting room.


General visiting information:

All persons must be on the approved visiting list. It is recommended that you arrive as early as possible. It may take time to locate an inmate for a visit because of work, medical or recreational reasons. Please know his name and institution number.

All visitors 16 years of age and older are required to present proper identification prior to admittance to the institution. Proper identification is defined as one form of photo ID or two forms of non-photo IDs. A birthdate must appear on one of the non-photo IDs. No ID .. no entry.

All visitors shall register in and out of the institution. You are asked to complete the register in its entirety, to include make, model, color and license number of your vehicle.

All visitors are subject to search before, during or after a visit. Refusal to be searched will result in a denial, termination, revocation or possibly being detained until appropriate law enforcement authorities arrive. Visitors must pass a metal detector screening and drug screening via ion scan prior to visit. Failure to pass will result in visit being denied.

Do not bring any kind of gift, photo, food, camera, video or tape recorders or any type of radio, clothing or paper for an inmate. Inmates are NOT permitted to take anything from the visiting area. Any unauthorized items in the inmate's possession after a visit will be confiscated. Essential medication must be secured at the officer's desk.

ALL visits beyond one hour are subject to being terminated when the visiting room becomes overcrowded. Available seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those who arrive first will be asked to leave first. Minimum amount of time guaranteed by the institution is one hour.

Any inmate placed in the Restricted Housing Unit will have their visiting privileges restricted/revoked. DC status inmates: One visit per month, one hour maximum, immediate family only, two visitors maximum. AC status inmates: One visit per week, one hour maximum, two visitors maximum. A contact visit may be granted by the PRC only! NO VISITS FOR RHU ON WEEKENDS OR HOLIDAYS.

Use good judgment and discretion in dress. Good behavior also is necessary. Please do not embarrass yourself or others. Children are your responsibility. Keep them under control. Failure to do so may result in early termination of the visit.

Ex-offenders must have prior written approval from the superintendent to visit any inmate.

Inmate visitors are not permitted to leave money for the inmate they are visiting. Funds, in the form of money order or certified check, will only be accepted by mail. Picture tickets will not be sold in the visiting room or lobby. They must be purchased in the Commissary until a ticket machine for the visiting room is obtained.

Vending machines are stocked with sandwiches, snacks and soft drinks. These items may be purchased and consumed in the Visiting Room. Neither visitors nor inmates are permitted to remove vending machine food from the visiting room. Purchases must be made by visitors. Inmates are prohibited from handling money.

Any visitor appearing to be under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance or creating a disturbance will not be permitted to enter the institution.

All inmates are informed of changes that may occur in visiting regulations. It is the inmate?s responsibility to inform his visitors of any changes.

Remember that any violation of visiting regulations may result in the termination, suspension or revocation of visiting privileges.

Inmates assigned to the Long-Term Care Unit are subject to medical authorization concerning the length, frequency and location of visits.

The Department of Corrections encourages you to put money on inmate accounts electronically using one of the two following options:

JPay

Western Union

Please remember:  If your friend or family member owes fines, costs or restitution, a percentage of any money you deposit (regardless if it is electronically deposited) may go to paying his or her debt in accordance with DC-ADM-005    

How To Email an Inmate

1. Go to the vendor website that services the institution where the inmate is housed.

2. Establish an account with that vendor and follow their instructions to create an email.

3. All emails are subject to review for appropriate content.  After review, the email will be printed on paper and delivered to the inmate.

4. Any response from the inmate will be mailed out using regular U.S. Postal Service mail.  Inmates do NOT have access to any outgoing email programs.