Visitation

Visiting Cautions

We ask visitors who answer “yes” to one or more of the following questions to not enter our facilities because of the risk they may pose to themselves, our inmates and staff:

1. Do you have a fever, sore throat, muscle aches, joint aches, and shortness of breath or a cough? (If it has been more than 10 days since you last experienced these symptoms, you will be allowed to visit).
2. Are you currently feeling ill or feel you are in need of medical care?
3. Are you currently being treated for any contagious illness?

While the prison and its personnel do understand the inconvenience not being able to visit can cause, we appreciate your help in maintaining public health and safety.

Introduction to Visitation

All visitors must pass through a body scanner. If you have a medical condition that may set off the body scanner, please be prepared to provide proof from your doctor detailing which part of your body might set off the detector (such as hip or knee replacements). It is important to do this before your first visit to eliminate the possibility of being turned away.

Visitors are expected to read and understand all of the following rules:

General Visitation Rules

• Visitors shall access only those areas specifically designated as visiting areas.
• Personal property such as purses, wallets, paper money, coats, sweaters (used as an outer garment), blankets, writing paper, writing instruments, pictures, letters, etc. are not permitted in the visiting area. Visitors may not be permitted to bring in more than two vehicle keys. The keys should be on a small keyring.
• Visitors and inmates should remain seated during their visit at all times, and they should remain three feet or more from any wall or door in the visiting area.
• The inmate and visitor shall conduct themselves in a quiet, responsible manner.
• Visitors shall leave promptly when the visit is over.
• Visitors shall not be permitted to leave and re-enter the visiting area during a visit.
• Visitors’ restroom facilities shall be off-limits to inmates.
• Visitors are not permitted access to inmate restroom facilities.
• Children shall not be allowed to use restrooms without supervision by the visiting parent or other approved adult.
• Any visitor found in possession of nuisance or illegal contraband may have their visiting privileges suspended, restricted or revoked and their name removed from the inmate’s visiting list pending a review. Visitors with illegal contraband shall be referred to the Shift Commander for criminal prosecution.
• Visitors with babies shall bring no more than one transparent baby bottle and no more than two diapers into the visiting area; sippy cups are not allowed.
• Sanitation problems caused by children shall be taken care of immediately by the visitor.
• Tobacco products, matches and lighters are prohibited in the visiting areas.
• Food items (gum, candy, etc.) from outside the prison shall not be allowed.
• Visitors shall not be permitted to bring pets or other animals onto prison property. Service dogs are permitted with application.
• Visitors shall not be permitted to bring cameras or audio/video recording devices, cell phones or pagers into the visiting area.
• Visitors shall visit with only the inmate they are approved to visit; inmates and visitors shall not visit with other visitors or other inmates during their visiting time.
• Those visitors who have approval to be on more than one inmate’s visiting list shall only visit with one inmate per visiting session. The Warden/designee shall make exceptions in writing, on a case-by-case basis.

Visitor Conduct:

• Sexual contact between inmates and visitors such as petting, fondling, prolonged/open mouth kissing or other bodily contact is prohibited.
• Any visitor/inmate who displays inappropriate or abusive behavior, foul and/or abusive language, or refuses to comply with Department rules, policies or procedures shall be denied entry into the visiting room or, if already in the visiting room, shall be required to leave the visiting area immediately.
• Any visitor who exhibits signs or behaviors that indicate they may be under the influence of drugs or intoxicants shall be detained and the matter referred to the Shift Commander.
• Inmates and the escorting adult visitor are responsible for controlling behavior of visiting children.

All visitors shall adhere to the following visitor dress standards:

1. The attire must be conservative.

2. All visitors shall adhere to the following visitor dress standards (PROCEDURE FD04 – Visiting Revised: 7/11/2022 PUBLIC Page 4 of 22):

• a. visitors must be fully clothed;
• b. visitors must wear shoes or closed-toe sandals;
• c. all clothing (e.g. skirts, dresses, capris) including slits in the garments, shall be knee-length or longer when standing;
• d. buttons and zippers must remain fastened;
• e. female adults and physically-mature minor female visitors must wear a bra and undergarments; and
• f. religious attire, e.g. scarves, head wraps, etc. may be worn but is subject to removal so it can be searched; and
• g. layered clothing may be approved on a case-by-case basis. If approved, the clothing is subject to search.

3. The following types of clothing shall NOT be allowed:

• a. any clothing, which resembles inmate-issued clothing or staff-issued uniforms;
•  b. camouflage-patterned items (e.g. military-type clothing or military fatigues);
• c. transparent or sheer clothing, including “burn-out” fabrics, yoga pants, or leggings;
• d. any items that may not pass the body scanner or screening process, e.g. wired bras, excessive jewelry, pants with excessive buttons or zippers, etc.;
• e. open weave sweaters or blouses (i.e., lace);
• f. medical clothing (e.g. scrubs);
• g. strapless, tube tops, halter, low cut/backless, spaghetti straps or tops that expose the midriff; sleeveless tops/dresses, tank tops, wrap-around dresses or shirts, and/or any item of clothing that expose the chest and back;
• h. tight-fitting clothing (e.g. leggings, Jeggings, and spandex);
• i. attire displaying obscene/offensive, derogatory language or drawing;
• j. attire displaying gang association/ gang-related depiction;
• k. hats, hoods, or caps; and l. clothing fads that expose excessive amounts of skin, e.g. grunge, ripped, distressed, fatigued, destroyed, etc.

Processing Visitors Entering Visiting Area

• Visitors 16 years of age and older shall present a government-issued identification card prior to being permitted to visit.
• Visitors shall be screened with a body scanner, and must clear the body scanner, prior to visiting.
• Visitors are subject to a search (i.e., ionizer, property, vehicle search) upon entering the prison and/or visiting area. Visitation may be denied for failure to submit to a search request. Visitors may refuse a search at any time, but shall immediately leave prison property and shall not be allowed to visit.
• A maximum number of three visitors, will be allowed to visit an inmate per visiting session.

Visiting times shall be scheduled and posted in advance.

Visitors should plan to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to their scheduled visitation time.

Visitors shall not exceed one hour per visit per day without visiting captain/designee approval.

The inmate’s privilege matrix level shall determine the number of visits allowed per week/month.

Exceptions shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Level I and Level II Inmate Visiting:

All in-person visits shall be barrier;

In-person visits shall not exceed 60 minutes per visit;

Inmates and visitors shall remain seated on the chairs/benches provided during in-person visits.

Client Visits

To visit clients at either the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake or the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison, you must fill out an application, available at the Warden’s Office at either facility.  As part of the application, which must be renewed annually, you will need to provide your Utah State Bar card and pass a background check.

Before visiting a client, you must check in with the Warden’s Office at each facility.  At the Utah State Correctional Facility, the Warden’s Office in the Stephen R. Anderson Building in front of the Screening Building.  At the Central Utah Correctional Facility, the Warden’s Office is in the main entrance building.  

UPDATE:  5/17/23

Beginning July 1, 2023, Attorneys/representatives should call or email in advance to schedule a legal access visit at USCF.  This will ensure the availability of your inmate client and reduce administrative delays or possible security problems.  Electronics: smartwatches, cameras, tape recorders, cell phones, laptops, or any Wi-Fi-capable devices must be cleared in advance by the Warden’s Office, prior to arriving on prison property.  Please call 801-522-7001 or email UDC-USCFWardensoffice@utah.gov to schedule your legal access visit at USCF. 

If you plan to send a legal representative or investigator, please provide a letter from the Attorney of Record authorizing them to meet with your client.  Attorneys/representatives may conduct business with their inmate clients at the USCF Facility, Monday through Friday, 0800-1100 hours, and 1300-1500 hours.  Prior clearance from the Warden/designee may be obtained for times not addressed above for exigent circumstances.  This request will need to be approved by the Warden/designee so please provide a justification.  

Please note:  You will still be required yearly to fill out and sign paperwork agreeing with the rules of the institution and pass a background and bar license check.