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Visitor Policy

Interview with Kristen, Renee, Chad and Dennis

JM: How often could you receive visitors?
Kristen: 1-2 times per week. It was on certain days and there were certain times. Also you would have to get your visitor list approved before you could receive visitors.
Renee: Once a week for one hour was visitation. We could have three slots filled with three people, 20 minutes a piece.
Chad: Visitors are allowed once per week at the Erie County Prison. You 'visit' through a glass panel and speak to each other through a phone. No touching!
Dennis: Once a week and it was via telephone and a two inch glass window no contact.

JM: Was the check-in process lengthy for those who came to see you?
Kristen: yes, they have to empty all their pockets and search their belongings. Also, had to walk through a metal detector, then wait until you walked down to the visiting center.
Renee: No, they gave their ids, and if they were on the list, we were called down to the visiting area. Sometimes the wait was long.
Chad: I was never told that it was a lengthy process. They are usually not given a hard time as far as I know. They usually have to have ID.
Dennis: Not really they would only have so many seats in the visiting room so they had to wait until someone left. And they had to go through a metal detector.

JM: What was the visiting environment like?
Kristen: It was the nicest place in the prison. They have vending machines, but only the visitors can put money into the machine, because we are not allowed to have possession of money. There is also a T.V. with kids movies. They had games you could play and children's books. They also have toys for children.
Renee: There were about 15 phones and glass separated us from our loved ones. We used phones to talk. The area was loud and not the cleanest. The glass was scratched so if you didnt have a good spot it was hard to see. It was hard not to be able to hug your loved ones.
Chad: The visiting room in Erie County Prison is set up like a big curve " ( " with little booths all around the curve, and stools at each booth. Glass separates you from your visitor, and they have a stool and phone also. It can get loud there. You can see everyone else's visitors, and they can see yours.
Dennis: Very depressing it was no contact it was only once a week and it was only for one hour per week. They had rigid steel stools you had to sit on for both the inmate and the visitor.The telephones were old and the quality of hearing left something to be desired

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