Visitation as a Privilege, Not a Right
GDC policy is unambiguous on the foundational question: visitation is a privilege, not a right. Board Rule 125-3-4-.01 states directly that "visiting is an inmate privilege not a right. As such, some or all of an inmate's visiting privileges may be suspended or revoked as a disciplinary measure; because the rules governing visiting are violated; or when the security of the institution so requires." SOP 227.05 echoes this framing in its introduction: "Visitation is a privilege for offenders and should not be considered a right."
Who May Visit: Visitor Categories
SOP 227.05 defines three categories of approved visitors:
- Immediate Family — parents, siblings, spouse, grandparents, grandchildren, children, "or other persons with the discretion of the Warden."
- Extended Family — step-parents, step-siblings, step-children, brothers- and sisters-in-law, uncles, aunts, cousins, half-siblings, nephews, and nieces.
- Significant Relationship Visitors — persons "having a meaningful relationship with the offender to provide support and encouragement in a rehabilitative capacity," including friends, employers, and pastors. The policy explicitly limits this category to two (2) visitors at any given time and states that "the term Significant Relationship does NOT imply automatic approval for visitation because of romantic involvement. Rehabilitative potential must still be established."
An offender's approved visitor list is capped at twelve (12) total visitors across all categories. SOP 204.10 (GOAL Device / JPay Kiosk) confirms this twelve-person cap and adds that electronic mail, video grams, and video visitation through the JPay system are also restricted to persons on the approved visitation list.
For transitional centers, SOP 215.06 (IID03-0003) sets the same twelve-person cap for the approved visitor list, while noting that residents with large families "will be considered on an individual basis."
Visitor Approval Process
Board Rule 125-3-4-.02 requires that each new inmate be interviewed upon arrival at their first permanent assignment to identify proposed visitors by name, address, and relationship. The Warden may disapprove any proposed visitor if that person "would constitute a threat to the institutional security or would undermine the rehabilitation or discipline of the inmate." A copy of the approved list is provided to the inmate as soon as practicable.
SOP 227.05 references a Facility/Center Visitation List (Attachment 5), which must be completed for GOAL Device access as well (per SOP 204.10). Subsequent additions or deletions are requested through the offender's counselor, who forwards the request to the Warden or Superintendent for approval.
The Superintendent of a transitional center may, at their discretion, require prospective visitors to sign a GCIC/NCIC Consent Form (SOP 215.06, Attachment 3) authorizing a criminal and driver history background check before approval.
When an offender transfers to another facility, their previously approved visitation list transfers with them and "shall be honored unless extenuating circumstances come to light that would threaten the security and orderly operating of the receiving facility" (SOP 204.10; see also Board Rule 125-3-4-.02).
Visitor Identification and Sign-In Requirements
Board Rule 125-3-4-.06 requires correctional officers to determine the identity of each visitor and verify identity by "examining his personal credentials" before confirming their name appears on the authorized visitor list (or that prior Warden approval exists for a special visit). All visitors must sign in and out on a visitor's register, which is dated, countersigned by the officer in charge, and retained on file. Each page of the register must carry a statutory warning that furnishing weapons, liquor, drugs, or contraband to an offender is a felony punishable by one to five years imprisonment.
Inmates must inform their visitors that giving a false name when signing the register is a criminal offense (Board Rule 125-3-4-.06).
All visitors must wear "appropriate attire to be determined by the Georgia Department of Corrections" (Board Rule 125-3-4-.06). SOP 229.01 separately prohibits all visitors from possessing or using tobacco products or tobacco-related items (including electronic cigarettes) anywhere on facility grounds.
Visiting Hours and Schedule
Board Rule 125-3-4-.05 sets the minimum visiting schedule: at least four hours of visitation on Saturdays, Sundays, and days proclaimed by the Governor as legal holidays. The Commissioner may authorize the Warden/Superintendent to modify visiting days and hours at specific institutions based on special circumstances (e.g., small inmate population, high privilege usage, infirm inmates). Any changes to visiting schedules must be published to the inmate population.
By contrast, transitional centers operate under a lower minimum: SOP 215.06 requires "a minimum of two hours visiting time (preferably, four hours)" on Saturdays, Sundays, and observed state holidays. The Superintendent may expand hours if they do not interfere with center operations.
A visiting schedule must be "posted permanently and conspicuously" at transitional centers (SOP 215.06).
Out-of-state or long-distance visitors may be permitted by the Warden to visit at times outside normal visiting hours (Board Rule 125-3-4-.05). Special visiting privileges for such visits must be requested by the inmate prior to the expected visit date.
Diagnostic inmates face a stricter rule: Board Rule 125-3-4-.05 prohibits visitation privileges during the first six weeks of assignment to a designated diagnostic program. After six weeks, visitation may be permitted with Superintendent approval.
Supervision of Visits and Conduct
Board Rule 125-3-4-.06 requires all visits to be supervised by correctional officers "who shall be held responsible for assuring the maintenance of good order." Officers in visiting areas must maintain "particular vigilance in preventing contraband from entering the institution."
An officer in charge of a visiting area must exclude any visitor who is under — or reasonably appears to be under — the influence of any intoxicant (alcohol or drug). Officers shall also exclude any visitor who "creates a disturbance whether by fighting, unruly behavior, behavior which seriously infringes on the rights of other visitors, or acts prejudicial to the operation of the institution" (Board Rule 125-3-4-.06).
Visitors may be searched prior to being permitted visiting privileges (Board Rule 125-3-4-.06).
In the event of an institutional emergency, Board Rule 125-3-4-.09 authorizes barring all visitors from the institution.
Restrictions on Visitors with Sexual Offense Convictions
Multiple overlapping SOPs and rules address visitors where the offender has a current or prior conviction for a sexual offense: SOP 227.05, Board Rule 125-3-4-.02, SOP 222.09, SOP 215.06, and SOP 213.04 all carry substantially identical language.
The rule: an offender with a sexual offense conviction shall not be allowed visitation with any person under age 18 unless that person is the offender's spouse, son, daughter, brother, sister, grandson, or granddaughter — and that person is not the victim of a sexual offense for which the offender was convicted.
If visitation with a minor is restricted by court order, "permission for special visitation with the minor may be granted only by the court issuing such order" (Board Rule 125-3-4-.02; SOP 222.09; SOP 213.04).
Attorney Visits
Board Rule 125-3-4-.07 provides distinct and stronger protections for attorney visits. Attorneys — defined to include "an inmate's attorney of record or another attorney licensed to practice in State or United States Courts, Court of Appeals, or the Supreme Courts with whom the inmate has or is attempting to establish an attorney-client relationship" — shall be permitted to visit during prescribed visiting periods. Beyond that, "reasonable flexibility shall be exercised" in permitting attorneys to visit during normal business hours by prior appointment, and in special circumstances during non-business hours. Appointments outside normal visiting hours require 24-hour advance notice except in "bona fide emergencies."
Privacy is explicitly protected: the officer supervising an attorney visit "shall so position himself as to permit the attorney and his client to converse privately and maintain the privileged nature of their relationship."
Board Rule 125-3-4-.07 also permits para-legals, investigators, or law assistants to visit by prior arrangement with the Warden, provided the attorney contacts the Warden in advance and the visitor presents a letter signed by the attorney dated no more than one week prior to the visit.
Critically, Board Rule 125-3-4-.05 states that the general visitation privilege may be revoked or suspended as a disciplinary measure — but expressly exempts attorney-client visits from that suspension authority.
Clergy and Volunteer Visits
Visiting clergy are governed by Board Rule 125-4-7-.03, which requires Warden/Superintendent concurrence and clearly defined parameters for the visit. Religious literature proposed for distribution must be submitted to the institution in advance. Visiting clergy are subject to all GDC rules and regulations.
SOP 106.01 (Chaplaincy Program) confirms that "offenders may have special visits with clergy per SOP 227.05." Clergy visits occur "through established visiting procedures."
Volunteer visitors are managed under SOP 109.01. Certified volunteers must complete background checks, PREA training, and certification before being approved. A "visiting volunteer" — a one-time, non-recurring visitor authorized by the Warden for a single day — must execute a Visiting Volunteer Waiver of Liability.
Compassionate Visits
SOP 222.09 governs temporary release for funeral attendance or visits to critically ill immediate family members. Under Board Rule 125-2-4-.15, such programs exist at the Commissioner's discretion via SOP. The offender must be released into the custody of a sheriff, deputy sheriff, or designated correctional officer. Offenders under a death sentence are excluded from this program. Sex offenders convicted of qualifying offenses face the same minor-visitation restrictions described above. Visits for sex offenders, murderers, and out-of-state reprieves require approval from the State Board of Pardons and Parole.
Common-Law Marriage and Visitation
SOP 220.06 establishes a specific process for offenders who claim a common-law marriage (which must have been established before January 1, 1997, under Georgia law). During the diagnostic phase, the offender and the claimed spouse each sign notarized affidavits. Once both notarized affidavits are received, the common-law spouse is added to the offender's visitation list per SOP 227.05. An offender cannot claim both a common-law marriage and a conventional marriage simultaneously.
Removal of Visitors and Suspension of Privileges
Board Rule 125-3-4-.02 allows removal of an approved visitor for "creating a disturbance, fighting, unruly behavior, behavior which seriously infringes on the rights of other visitors, or acts prejudicial to the operation of the institution."
Board Rule 125-3-4-.03 requires institutions to notify both the removed visitor and the inmate in writing when a name is removed from the authorized visitor list, along with the reason. When an inmate loses visitation privileges for a period exceeding two weeks, the institution must provide the inmate with a form letter to notify potential visitors "so that potential visitors may avoid the inconvenience and frustrations associated with an unproductive trip."
Board Rule 125-3-4-.05 confirms that the visitation privilege may be revoked or suspended in whole or in part as a disciplinary measure, and points to Board Rule Chapter 125-3-2 for authorized disciplinary circumstances. Board Rule 125-3-4-.01 additionally gives Wardens authority to "modify or limit the visiting privileges if it appears that the institution cannot accommodate the quantity of visitors entering the institution."
Visitation Area Requirements
Board Rule 125-3-4-.04 requires each correctional institution to maintain a visiting area for authorized visitors, with toilet facilities available for visitors.
Video and Electronic Visitation
SOP 204.10 establishes video visitation through the JPay Kiosk system as a 30-minute electronic interactive visit between an offender and a person on the offender's approved visitation list. Video grams are 30-second messages. Both are restricted to persons already on the approved twelve-person visitation list. All communications through GOAL Devices and Kiosks "are subject to inspection and review for security reasons, and neither the sender, nor receiver, has an expectation of privacy."
Packages and Letters During Visits
Board Rule 125-3-4-.10 addresses items passed to visitors during visits: an inmate may pre-arrange with the mail room to have items or letters given to specific visitors during visits, provided those items would be acceptable for mailing. Privileged mail may only be given to the addressee or their official representative. Such packages must be processed through the mail room, inspected, and delivered by an institutional employee — they cannot return to the inmate's control.
Other (Non-Family) Visitors and Groups
Board Rule 125-3-4-.08 gives Wardens discretionary authority to authorize individuals or groups — such as civic groups, church committees, and students — to visit the institution, establishing procedures as required. News media access is separately governed by Board Rule 125-1-2-.09(a) and is not covered by the general visitation rules.
SOP 205.17 governs public access for free-speech and organizational activities, requiring 24-hour written notice, Regional Director approval, and confining activity to areas outside the secured fence.