Visiting in Missouri (Missouri DOC)

Visiting an incarcerated person in Missouri involves two separate steps: getting on the incarcerated person’s approved visitor list, and then visiting at the prison. These rules come from the Missouri DOC visiting policy and apply at every Missouri state prison. Because each prison sets its own visiting days and hours, confirm the schedule and limits with the specific facility.

Step 1: Getting on the approved visitor list

Before anyone can visit, they must be on the incarcerated person’s approved visitor list. Apply through the online visiting application at web.mo.gov/doc/pubVisit, which requires the incarcerated person’s DOC ID number. The department runs a background check, the case manager processes the application, and the incarcerated person is notified of the result and passes it along. A denial can be appealed within 30 days.

Minors

A visitor age 13 to 18 shows a school or government photo ID, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an approved adult. Children age five and under do not count against the three-visitor limit (up to three of them may come along).

Step 2: Visiting at the facility

Each prison sets its own visiting days, hours, frequency, and limits, so confirm them with the specific facility. Up to three visitors may visit an incarcerated person at one time, plus up to three children age five and under. Most visits are contact visits: a brief embrace and closed-mouth kiss are allowed at the start and end, hand-holding is allowed during the visit, and a young child may sit on the incarcerated person’s lap (with exceptions based on the offense).

What to wear

The Missouri DOC dress code applies to all visitors:

• No tight, baggy, transparent, or revealing clothing.
• Skirts, dresses, and shorts must reach the top of the kneecap.
• Shirts must cover the chest, cleavage, back, stomach, and shoulders.
• No camouflage and no gang-related symbols or colors.

Dress standards are enforced at the door, so confirm the specific prison’s current rules before traveling.

Identification

Every adult visitor must show a valid government photo ID (such as a driver’s license or state ID). A visitor 13 to 18 shows a school or government photo ID. A visitor under 18 must be accompanied by an approved adult.

What you can bring

Items are tightly limited:

• A government photo ID.
• Coins in a clear bag for vending machines, where allowed.
• Limited medical supplies and infant items, and clear plastic containers for a food visit where the facility permits.

Not allowed: cell phones, bags, and gifts. Money for the person is sent through JPay, never handed over at a visit. All visitors pass through screening.

Video visiting

Missouri offers video visits through Securus. Remote video visits are scheduled in advance and carry a fee; on-site video visits at the facility are free. Confirm the current scheduling steps and any fee with Securus and the facility, since video-visit pricing has been subject to change.

Verify Before Acting

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