Visiting in Utah (UDC)

Getting Approved

Everyone must be approved before visiting either Utah state prison, and the process starts with the incarcerated person: they complete their portion of the Application for Visitation first, then the visitor submits the rest. UDC prefers the online application on corrections.utah.gov; the PDF form, emailed to the facility’s visiting office, is the alternative.

UDC says processing takes 6 to 8 weeks. Every applicant goes through a background check run on name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Approval at one facility covers both — if the person transfers between the Salt Lake City and Gunnison prisons, no new application is needed.

Who Can Be Denied

UDC’s published policy lists denial grounds that include recent criminal convictions (on a published timetable — for example, violent or sexual felonies within seven years, other felonies within five), currently being on probation or parole or having been within the past year, being a crime partner of the incarcerated person, and prior contraband or escape-related conduct. A denial can be appealed through the facility’s visiting captain, with a response due within 15 working days.

If an email address is on the application, the decision arrives by email. If not, only the incarcerated person is notified — which makes including an email address the practical choice.

Minors

All minor visitors except spouses must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. If the parent cannot come, only the minor’s grandparent or adult sibling may escort — with a notarized permission letter from the parent. Step-relatives and extended family may not escort minors under the published policy, though case-by-case exceptions can be approved. Newborns may visit on hospital documentation for up to 90 days after birth. At 18, a minor is automatically removed from the visiting list without notice and must apply as an adult.

Scheduling a Visit

Utah prisons do not take walk-ins. Every visit is booked ahead through housing-unit sign-up forms linked on UDC’s Visitation Information page — so the first step is confirming the person’s housing assignment through the Offender Search tool or the visiting hotline (801-522-7046).

• Sign up for only one time slot per visiting day — booking multiple slots gets all of them denied.
• Confirmation comes by email, and UDC says to allow up to two business days for it. Email is the visiting offices’ main communication channel; phones often go unanswered.
• In-person visits run Friday through Sunday: two hours at the Salt Lake City prison, 90 minutes at Gunnison. Video visits run Monday through Thursday, 30 minutes.
• Arrive 30 minutes early for in-person visits. The entry window runs from 15 minutes before to 15 minutes after the scheduled start; later arrivals can be turned away.
• A maximum of three visitors, including children, may attend a session under the published policy.

How Many Visits Are Allowed

The number of visits per month follows the incarcerated person’s privilege level, not the visitor’s preference. UDC’s published allowances range from no visits or one video/barrier visit per month at the most restrictive maximum-security levels, up to twelve visits per month (six in-person plus six video) at the highest general-population level. The person being visited knows their level; the visiting office can confirm what it allows.

What to Wear

The dress code applies to adults and children, and every visitor passes through a body scanner. The published rules:

Required

• Modest, loose-fitting clothing
• Tops with sleeves covering the full shoulder — cleavage line, back, midriff, and underarms covered at all times, whether standing, sitting, or bending
• Dresses, skirts, and shorts long enough to touch the kneecap when standing (slits count)
• Undergarments, worn at all times
• Closed-toe shoes, worn at all times

Prohibited

• Skin-tight or figure-hugging clothing: form-fitted shirts, leggings, jeggings, yoga pants, spandex
• Sleeveless, tube, tank, halter, low-cut, or off-the-shoulder tops
• Sheer or transparent fabrics, open-weave knits, and ripped or distressed styles
• Plain white, orange, or maroon clothing (what incarcerated people wear), grey pants with a black shirt (resembles staff uniforms), medical scrubs, and camouflage
• Hooded clothing of any kind
• Underwire bras and clothing with excessive metal, zippers, or embellishments — they fail the body scanner
• Open-toe shoes: flip-flops, sandals, Crocs
• Watches, internet-connected devices, pendants, and oversized jewelry

The outfit must pass on its own — a cardigan or jacket layered over non-compliant clothing does not fix it, and extra layers are subject to removal on request. Hats and caps must be hung up before seating at the Salt Lake City prison and are not permitted at all at Gunnison. Religious attire is allowed but subject to search. A visitor turned away for dress can, with a supervisor’s approval, change into compliant clothing and complete the visit.

ID and What You Can Bring

Every visitor 16 or older presents a government-issued photo ID. At the entrance, staff hold the ID in exchange for a visitor card; the ID comes back at exit.

Almost nothing comes inside: no phones or electronics, purses, wallets, keys, paper money, letters, photos, or outside food. Lockers are available for personal items. For the visiting room, coins for vending machines go in a clear bag (loose change, no rolls), and one debit or credit card is allowed. Baby supplies are limited to one transparent bottle, wipes in a clear bag, and two diapers — car seats and carriers stay outside.

Visit Types

Contact visits are the standard format for general-population privilege levels.

Barrier (non-contact) visits apply to all in-person visits for the two most restrictive custody levels, and can be imposed as a sanction — UDC’s policy sets four months of non-contact visiting after a first drug-related disciplinary conviction and a year after a second.

Video visits run on ThrIVE, a browser-based video visiting system. As of UDC’s published FAQ, video visiting is paid for with department funds and carries no fee, though the FAQ notes a future fee has not been ruled out. Visits are 30 minutes including login time, scheduled at least two business days ahead; approved visitors receive login credentials by email. The video dress code mirrors the in-person rules; recording, screenshots, or livestreaming result in suspension of visiting privileges for both the visitor and the incarcerated person.

Special visits can be approved for visitors traveling more than 250 miles or for verified emergencies; the incarcerated person submits the request form at least seven days ahead.

Utah has no extended, overnight, or family-visit program — the published visiting policy contains no such provision, unlike some other states.

Verify Before Acting

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