Before you start
1. Make a booking
2. Plan your visit
3. Check what you can and cannot bring with you
4. When you arrive
5. During your visit
6. After your visit
On this page
For a person in prison, getting visitors is an important way to keep social connections. It can help them adjust to prison life, promote mental health and reduce their chances of going back to prison after release.
For friends and family, visiting a prison can be a difficult experience. Prisons can be intimidating places and strict rules must be followed. Knowing what to expect can make the process smoother.
Note: The information on this page is designed for friends and family of prisoners. If you’re a professional visitor, such as a lawyer, see information about professional visits.
Before you start
You need to know which prison they’re in
Visits are booked directly with the specific prison, so you need to know where the person is.
Contact someone without knowing their location
If you do not know which prison someone is in, you can contact them by writing to Corrections Victoria. We will forward your letter to them.
Post your letter to:
[Prisoner's first name and surname]
c/- Corrections Victoria
GPO Box 123
Melbourne VICTORIA 3001
AUSTRALIA
In your letter, you could ask them:
- to tell you which prison they’re in, so you can post them letters, send them property or email them
- to add you to their visit list, so you can visit them or send them money
- to add your phone number to their phone list, so they can call you from prison.
If you are already on their visit list, you can call 1300 191 835 (External link) to confirm which prison they are currently in.
You must be on their list of approved visitors
To book a visit with a person in prison, your name must be on their visit list.
Visit list
A visit list is the list of people who are approved to visit a person in prison.
To get on a visit list, write to the person and ask them to add you. You’ll need to give them your:
- full name
- address
- date of birth.
You must be on the visit list before you can:
- visit them in person
- have a video visit
- send money to them.
Sometimes you may not be allowed to visit
Prisons have strict rules and a strong focus on safety and security. Sometimes it is not possible for in-person visits to happen.
You may not be allowed to visit if:
- a temporary issue, such as a lockdown, means that visits are restricted
- you have previously been banned from visiting a Victorian prison
- you have a criminal history.
We recommend that you phone the prison on the day of your booked visit to check that there are no issues.
Visiting if you've been banned or have a criminal history
You may need written permission from the prison General Manager before visiting if:
- you have previously been banned from visiting a Victorian prison
- you have a Corrections Reference Number (CRN) or a Person Identification (PID).
You will have a CRN or PID if you have been in prison, held on remand or subject to a Community Correction Order in the past.
To seek permission to visit, write to the General Manager and include:
- your CRN or PID (if known) or your offences
- your full name
- your date of birth
- your current residential address
- name of the prisoner you wish to visit
- reasons you want permission to visit (such as your relationship with the prisoner).
Address your letter to the postal address of the specific prison. Find the prison’s mailing address in the list of prisons in Victoria.
Alternatively, you can email your request to corrections@justice.vic.gov.au (External link) and we will refer this to the prison for consideration.
The General Manager will review your request and tell you their decision.
If you cannot visit in person, there are other ways to stay connected, such as:
- posting letters or property to someone in prison
- emailing a person in prison
- having phone calls or video visits with a person in prison.
1. Make a booking
All visits must be booked in advance.
In some prisons, visits are booked by the person in prison, not the visitor.
To book a visit, or find out how visits are booked, contact the specific prison. Find contact information and visiting hours for each of the prisons in Victoria.
Types of visits
There are a few different types of prison visit, including:
- contact visits, where there is no barrier between the prisoner and visitors
- non-contact visits (‘box visits’) where the prisoner and visitors talk through a window using a telephone handset
- video visits.
The type of visit you can have will vary depending on the prison, the visitor and the prisoner.
If you’re sick, please reschedule
When the day of your visit approaches, please reschedule if:
- you have tested positive to COVID-19 in the last 5 days
- you have a cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, runny nose or nasal congestion that is new or getting worse.
2. Plan your visit
Getting there
Free parking is available at all prisons, except Melbourne Assessment Prison.
Instructions for driving and using public transport are available on each prison’s profile page. Find the prison’s profile page in the list of prisons in Victoria.
Arrive early
Some prisons ask visitors to arrive well before their booked visit time (sometimes up to 40 minutes before). Check the prison’s profile page in the list of prisons in Victoria and, if you’re not sure, contact the prison to ask.
If you arrive late, you might need to rebook the visit. We cannot guarantee this will be on the same day as the original booking.
Bring identification (ID)
You must prove your identity every time you visit a prison.
Visitors need to show 100 points of ID.
If you do not have enough ID, you will not be allowed to visit.
Showing 100 points of identification (ID)
To prove your identity, you usually need 100 points of ID. The ID items you use must be current (not expired).
The most common ID item to use is a driver licence. A driver licence is worth 100 points, so it would be the only item you need.
If you do not have any of the items in the 100-points category, you can use either:
- two items from the 50-points category (50 + 50 = 100 points)
- one item from the 50-points category and two items from the 25-points category (50 + 25 + 25 = 100 points).
Using four items from the 25-points category is not allowed.
Items worth 100 points
- Victorian driver licence
- Correctional Services pass
- Consulate ID card
- Valid passport
- Working With Children Check card
- Firearms licence
- Key Pass
- Police member ID
- Ombudsman’s photo ID pass
- Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission ID
- Proof of Age card
- Australian Board Force identification card
- Victorian Government ID
Items worth 50 points
- Law card
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Australian citizenship certificate
- Immigration card
- Defence Department ID
- Government authorised under-16 years card
- Australia interstate digital drivers licence (including a digital driver licence)
Items worth 25 points
- Medicare card
- Health care card
- Student card
- Credit card
- Bank book
- Senior's card
If you cannot meet the ID requirements, contact Corrections Victoria on corrections@justice.vic.gov.au (External link) or call 1300 191 835 (External link).
What to wear
As a visitor to a prison, you must follow prison rules, including the visitor dress standards. Visitor dress standards help keep prisons safe and secure.
Staff must consider many factors when processing visitors, including whether the visitor’s clothing:
- is suitable for a prison environment
- could hide prohibited items (contraband)
- could hide a person’s identity or help someone breach security
- could lead to unrest or cause incidents among prisoners.
Refer to this information as a guide and, if you’re unsure about whether your clothing is okay, contact the prison.
Visitors are not allowed to wear:
- gang-affiliated clothing, colours or patches
- clothing with racist, derogatory, sexist or profane messages, images or symbols
- clothing that inappropriately reveals private body parts or is sexually provocative, which includes clothing that:
- is sheer, see-through or low cut
- is very short, such as football shorts, miniskirts or high-cut shorts that show upper thigh or buttocks
- is unnecessarily exposing, such as crop tops or other tops that show the midriff
- gloves
- high-visibility workwear (due to similarity with the clothing worn by contractors)
- open-toed shoes
- scarves (unless for religious purposes)
- watches, including any type of smart watch or Fitbit activity device.
Other items might also be seen as a risk to security or safety, such as:
- boots and thick-sole shoes
- hair pieces such as headbands and scrunchies
- hooded tops or jumpers (hoodies)
- jewellery, particularly if it's excessive
- sleeveless or strapless clothing
- windcheaters, tracksuit pants or T-shirts in similar colours to what a person in the prison is wearing (bottle green in men’s prisons and royal blue in woman’s prisons).
Staff may ask you to:
- present an item to be searched
- remove hair pieces or jewellery
- place items into a visitor locker
- wear a prison-issued visitor T-shirt.
Specific prisons may have additional rules and restrictions. Check the information on the prison’s profile page, which you can find in the list of prisons in Victoria. If you’re not sure about something, contact the prison to ask.
3. Check what you can and cannot bring with you
Do not bring prohibited items (contraband) onto prison property
It is a criminal offence to bring prohibited items onto prison property. This includes items left in cars in prison car parks (cars may be searched). Make sure you check what you can and cannot bring onto prison property before you leave home.
For a list of items prohibited at all prisons, see prohibited items (contraband).
Some prisons have other rules. Check the information on the prison’s profile page, which you can find in the list of prisons in Victoria. If you’re not sure about something, contact the prison to ask.
Bringing personal items for people in prison
You can bring property to drop off at the prison.
For more information about what you can and cannot bring, and other ways to send property, learn how to send property to prisoners.
Bringing money for people in prison
Money for people in prison can be dropped off at prisons. To do this, you must meet prison identification requirements.
For more information about money, including other ways to send money, read more about how to send money to a person in prison.
4. When you arrive
Where to go
On arrival, follow the signs to the gatehouse or visit centre.
Waiting area
Most prisons have a waiting area with toilets and vending machines.
Many have lockers that you can leave a small amount of belongings in.
Going through security
Security procedures vary depending on whether the prison is maximum, medium or minimum security.
When it’s your turn, prison staff will take you through security. This is a routine process that everyone must go through, including prison staff.
If you’ve been to an airport, you will be familiar with some of the procedures.
Depending on the prison security level, security procedures for visitors at Victorian prisons may include:
- inspection of your clothing, accessories or other property
- sniffer dogs in the prison and the carpark
- body scanners.
If staff suspect you may have contraband, they may ask you to submit to a strip search. You have the right to refuse a strip search.
Body scanners
All visitors will be subject to body scanning on entry to prisons. This includes personal visitors (friends and family) and professional visitors (such as lawyers).
About the body scanners used in Victorian prisons
Millimetre wave body scanner
Millimetre wave technology (MMW) is a high-level radio frequency security scanner that emits radio waves. MMW has been introduced as an added layer of security at prison gatehouses.
MMW emits no radiation. It is safe for all persons to enter the screener, including pregnant women and people with medical implants such as pacemakers and defibrillators.
MMW body screeners are now in use at most passenger departure points at most Australian airports as well as international airports and other locations where high levels of security are needed.
Shoes, jackets and bulky outerwear must be removed to ensure the most effective and efficient scan is achieved.
X-ray body scanner
The X-ray body scanner produces an image of the whole body to show items that may be concealed by a person.
Shoes, jackets and bulky outerwear must be removed to ensure the most effective and efficient scan is achieved.
Persons undergoing the scan will be exposed to a very low dose of radiation. The radiation dose is minimal, comparable to routine activities in the community. For example, 400 scans over 12 months is equivalent to less than one medical chest X-ray.
Visitors under 18 years will not be scanned.
The Victorian Department of Health have advised that the scanners are safe for pregnant women and people with medical conditions to enter. Medical exemption certificates do not exempt people from being asked to go through the scanner.
The Victorian Department of Health also sets the maximum number of scans that an individual will receive. This is done in accordance with the Victorian Radiation Act 2005 (External link) and Radiation Regulations 2017 (External link).
If a visitor refuses a body scan:
- the visit may be refused
- a non-contact visit may be offered
- the visitor may have to undergo an alternate screening method.
For more information about body scanning processes, please contact the specific prison or email corrections@justice.vic.gov.au (External link).
5. During your visit
Follow the rules
All visitors must follow the directions of prison staff.
Inappropriate, disrespectful and abusive behaviour will not be tolerated. Any visitor whose behaviour risks prison security or the safety of people in prison, staff or other visitors may be banned from visiting.
If you fail to follow prison rules, you may:
- be refused entry
- offered a non-contact visit
- receive a visit ban.
Practice good hygiene
Please practice good hygiene to stop the spread of infectious diseases and keep everyone healthy and safe.
While you’re visiting, we encourage you to:
- use hand sanitiser
- cough and sneeze into your elbow
- avoid touching your face.
Child toys and play equipment
Play equipment, toys and books can be made available to you during your visit. Speak with the staff in the visit area about what is available.
Food and beverages
Some visit centres have canteens and some have vending machines. Fresh water is always available.
Toilets
Please ensure you use the toilet in the waiting area of the gatehouse or visit centre. If you require a toilet break during your visit, or need to use the baby change rooms, the visit may be terminated. If you have a medical condition or specific circumstances that require you to use the toilet more frequently, please advise the prison staff before entering the prison.
6. After your visit
If you would like to give feedback about your visit:
- contact the specific prison you visited
- email corrections@justice.vic.gov.au (External link)
- learn about making a complaint.