Visiting in Alabama (ADOC)

Getting on the visiting list

The inmate builds the visiting list using Form 303-A, and the warden approves or denies each name; a background check is run on every adult applicant. An inmate may have up to eight approved adult visitors (plus up to four minor children) active at once, and the list can be updated only once every six months. A person may be on only one inmate’s list unless they are an immediate family member.

A criminal record matters: ex-felons, parolees, and probationers are barred from visiting for two years after release, and after that may be considered only if they are an immediate family member (parolees and probationers also need their officer’s written approval). A victim of the inmate’s crime is not approved.

Minors (anyone under 19) require the non-incarcerated parent or guardian to complete a notarized Form 303-B, submitted with the child’s birth certificate or a document establishing the inmate’s parentage. A minor must be supervised by an approved adult.

What to wear

Alabama inmates wear white (minimum-custody clothing is tan or white), so the dress code is built around not resembling it:

• No tan clothing or anything that looks tan, and no scrub-style clothing.
• Dresses, skirts, and pants must be no shorter than three inches above the knee (including any slit); trousers must be ankle-length, and no shorts, stretch pants, or tight, sheer, or see-through clothing.
• No sundresses or sleeveless tops — blouses and shirts must cover the waist and chest — and a complete set of undergarments is required.
• No hats, caps, scarves, or headbands (religious headwear needs advance written approval); no sunglasses unless prescribed and no smart glasses; jewelry limited to a wedding set and simple stud earrings; no house, shower, or beach shoes.

What you can bring

Each visitor may bring up to $30 — in change or on a $30 debit card bought on site — for the vending machines, plus a photo ID and car keys, in a clear plastic bag, and nothing else. Phones and electronics, purses and bags, tobacco, and weapons are prohibited. Parents may bring a few baby items (a small number of diapers, a baby blanket, and bottles).

Scheduling and visit days

There is no statewide schedule, and ADOC does not post visiting hours online — each warden sets days and hours, so confirm with the specific prison. Under the 2025 rules, all visits must be pre-scheduled and approved, and a newly arrived inmate may face up to a 60-day wait before visits begin. In practice, Alabama visiting is generally weekend-based. Up to four adults and four minor children may visit at one time. Special visits (for immediate family living far away), clergy visits, and attorney visits follow separate tracks.

Contact, non-contact, and video visits

Most Alabama visits are contact visits — a brief hug and kiss are allowed at the start and end, and hand-holding in plain view. ADOC does not publish a general non-contact (“through glass”) category for ordinary visitors. Video visiting is being rolled out through the communications vendor (ICSolutions) at about $0.16 a minute, but it may not be available at every facility yet — confirm. Alabama does not offer conjugal or family overnight visits.

Verify Before Acting

For the general, nationwide overview of this topic, see the national guide: Visiting Basics.