Visiting in North Dakota (ND DOCR)
How to get on a North Dakota prison's approved visitor list, how visits are scheduled with each facility, the dress code, ID requirements, and what visitors may bring.
Getting on the approved visitor list
No one may visit until they are an approved visitor. Each prospective visitor submits a visitor application, either online or on the printable PDF, to the facility where the resident is held.
Once the facility receives the application, processing takes about 15 business days. Each visitor’s name is checked with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, North Dakota Parole and Probation, and local law enforcement.
Scheduling a visit
North Dakota DOCR does not operate a statewide scheduler. Visiting days and hours are set by each prison, so the current schedule is confirmed with the specific facility where the resident is held.
- Confirm the visitor is approved on the resident’s visiting list.
- Confirm the current visiting days and hours with the specific facility, since each prison sets its own schedule.
- Arrive with valid identification for everyone 16 and older.
Visiting days and hours
Visiting days and hours vary by facility. Each North Dakota prison publishes its own schedule, and the days and times differ from one institution to the next. Because schedules change, the current days and hours are confirmed with the specific facility before traveling.
ID and what visitors may bring
Official photo identification is required for everyone 16 and older.
Most personal items must be left locked in the vehicle. Inside the visiting area, a small amount of cash in ones and quarters is permitted for the vending machines — generally about $10 to $20, with the exact limit set by each facility. A limited number of baby items is also permitted.
Dress code
A dress code applies to all visitors:
- No clothing with obscene language or with gang, drug, or alcohol references.
- No visible undergarments.
- Skirts must be at least mid-calf in length.
- Closed-toe shoes are required; Crocs are not allowed.
- Clothing may not resemble the attire residents wear.
Reception and where someone enters the system
Where a person first enters the North Dakota prison system depends on their gender:
- Men: newly sentenced men enter at the North Dakota State Penitentiary (NDSP) in Bismarck, where the reception and orientation unit assesses each resident before classification.
- Women: newly sentenced women enter at the Dakota Women’s Correctional and Rehabilitation Center (DWCRC) in New England, which holds the women’s orientation unit.
The ND DOCR resident lookup shows a resident’s current location. See Transfers & Finding Someone.
Verify Before Acting
Sources
This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.