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NDCS Visitation
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Keeping relationships with family and friends strong during incarceration can be an important part of an individual's rehabilitation and successful reentry into their community. Each of our nine facilities has designated space for individuals to connect with family and friends during visits.
If you have a friend or family member incarcerated at the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, please review these guidelines to schedule a visit. BEFORE YOU BEGIN – PLEASE READ
NDCS Visitor Guidelines
- All visitors, including both adults and minors, must be an approved visitor on the incarcerated person’s visiting list before scheduling a visit. Please see additional information in the Frequently Asked Questions section about the process for becoming an approved visitor.
- Up to four adult visitors and a reasonable number of children** are allowed at each in-person or virtual visit. If multiple people are attending the same visitation session, only one registration form must be completed. Please ensure all required information is filled out on the visitation request form.
**The number of children allowed per visit may vary by facility. Please contact the facility for more details. - All visitation requests must be submitted at least seven days prior to the selected date and may be scheduled up to four weeks from the date of request.
- Visits are assigned on a first come first severed basis. You will receive email confirmation at least three days prior to your visit. Please include alternative dates and times for your visit. If your first preference is already filled, staff will try to grant your second or third preference.
- Please ensure you bring proper identification and only permissible personal items. For more information on proper forms of identification, permissible personal items, and visitation attire, please refer to the visiting policy for the facility you are visiting.
- All visitors are subject to search at any time. Searches are conducted to maintain a safe environment and prevent the introduction of unauthorized items.
- If you are not feeling well, please consider rescheduling your visit. If you need to cancel a visit for any reason, notify the facility as soon as possible.
Reference the visitation videos below for more information.
Rules for In-Person Visitation
Plan to arrive at the facility at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled visit to allow for processing into the facility. Please note that late arrivals will not be processed.
Before scheduling an in-person visit, please read the NDCS visiting policy and the visiting procedure for the facility you plan to visit.
Rules for Virtual Visitation
- Visitors must provide their own equipment and the necessary internet connection to participate in virtual visiting.
- Upon entry to the virtual visiting room, all visitors ages 16 and older must present proper identification. All minors under the age of 16 must have a birth certificate on file with NDCS at the time of the visit.
- Minors under that age of 19 must be accompanied by the authorized guardian for the duration of the visit. At no time shall a minor initiative a virtual visit.
- Violating NDCS policy, including allowing non-approved individuals to participate in virtual visits and sharing Zoom links, may result in suspension/termination of the visitor's virtual visiting privileges and may affect in-person visits. The staff member supervising visits has the discretion to terminate the visit at any time.
Before scheduling a virtual visit, please read the NDCS visiting policy and virtual visitation procedure information.
Frequently Asked Questions about Visitation
How do I become an approved visitor?
This process is initiated by the incarcerated person. To be placed on an individual’s visitation list, contact that person and request that they send a Visitation Request Form to you. A visiting form should be completed for each adult visitor and minor visitor. A parent or guardian must sign the form for a minor visitor. Once the form is completed, mail it to the facility where the individual resides. For facility addresses, visit the Facilities page.
How long does it take to become an approved visitor and how can I find out my status?
Processing time typically takes four to six weeks from the time the Visitation Request Form is received by the facility. Notification of approval or denial will be made to the incarcerated person, and it is their responsibility to notify their family or friend of the approval status.
How often can I visit?
The number of visits each incarcerated individual is allowed per week varies by housing unit/facility. Please refer to each facility’s visiting procedure for more information.
What should I bring to a visit?
All visitors ages 16 and older must bring a photo ID to every visit. Minors 18 and younger must present a birth certificate during their first visit. Please refer to the NDCS visiting policy and the facility’s visiting procedure for items authorized in visiting room.
What are the rules for conduct during visits?
It the responsibility of the visitor and the incarcerated individual to conduct themselves appropriately and not be disruptive to other visitors in the area. Physical contact between visitors and incarcerated individuals is limited to a brief kiss and a short embrace at the beginning and end of the visit. For information about visitor responsibility, conduct and behavior, please refer to the NDCS visiting policy and the facility’s visiting procedure.
If an individual transfers to another NDCS facility, do I need to submit a new request to become an approved visitor?
Once you are an approved visitor on an incarcerated person’s visiting list, you can submit a request to schedule a visit at any NDCS facility where that individual resides during their incarceration.
How can I be removed from a person’s visiting list?
A visitor may submit a request in writing to the warden/designee of the facility where that individual resides. The visitor must wait six months before they may be placed on another individual’s visiting list. At the warden's discretion, the six-month waiting period may be waived if the individual requesting deletion has not visited for a period of at least six months.
If a person has returned to an NDCS facility on a parole violation, and I was previously on their visiting list, can I schedule a visit?
When an individual is released on parole, their visiting list is deleted. The incarcerated person will need to initiate the visitation process by sending out a new Visitation Request Form to be submitted and processed.
