How to Visit Someone at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility

Step 1. Get on the Approved Visitor List

Before you can schedule anything, the person you want to visit must request CDCR Form 106, the Visitor Questionnaire, and send it to you. They have to sign it themselves, confirming they agree to add you to their visitor list.

Step 2. Fill Out the Questionnaire Completely

The form asks for every arrest and conviction you’ve ever had, even ones that never led to charges. CDCR runs a background check against California’s law enforcement records system, and an unlisted arrest or conviction that turns up in that check is a common reason for denial. If you’re unsure of exact dates, give your best approximate answer instead of leaving it blank.

Step 3. Mail the Questionnaire to RJD

Send the completed form to the Visiting Sergeant or Lieutenant at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, using the institution’s address, 480 Alta Road, San Diego, CA 92179. Processing time varies by how many applications the institution is working through at a given time.

Step 4. Wait for Approval or Denial

If approved, both you and the incarcerated person are notified, and you’re added to the system as an approved visitor. You don’t need to carry proof of approval with you. If denied, you’ll get a letter explaining why. You can resubmit a corrected questionnaire, or appeal in writing to the Warden, and then to CDCR’s Division of Adult Institutions if you disagree with the outcome.

Step 5. Schedule Your Visit Through VSA

Once approved, book your actual visit date and time through CDCR’s Visitation Scheduling Application (VSA) at cdcr.gtlvisitme.com/app. In-person visiting runs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The scheduling window opens 8 days before your desired visit date at 7:00am: for a Friday visit, the window opens the previous Thursday at 7:00am and closes the previous Sunday at 11:59pm; for a Saturday visit, it opens the previous Friday at 7:00am and closes the previous Tuesday at 11:59pm; for a Sunday visit, it opens the previous Saturday at 7:00am and closes the previous Wednesday at 11:59pm.

RJD’s Visiting Hours

• Friday: 12:00pm to 6:30pm
• Saturday: 8:00am to 2:30pm
• Sunday: 8:00am to 2:30pm

Visitors who don’t arrive at the start of their scheduled contact visit won’t be processed until walk-in time. Processing cuts off at 5:30pm on Friday and 1:30pm on Saturday and Sunday. Schedules can change without notice due to prison operations or emergencies, so check RJD’s visiting status page before you travel.

Walk-In Visits

RJD accepts walk-in visits Friday 2:30pm-5:30pm and Saturday/Sunday 11:00am-1:30pm, on a first come, first served basis as capacity allows. Walk-ins aren’t guaranteed, and they’re not permitted at all for incarcerated people on non-contact or Restricted Housing Unit (RHU) status. Scheduling ahead through VSA is the more reliable option.

Visitor Limits and Screening

RJD allows a maximum of 5 visitors per visit for contact visits, or 3 visitors for non-contact visits, counting children of all ages. All visitors go through metal detection and a search of personal items, and staff may require a clothed or unclothed body search in some circumstances; you can decline a body search, but your visit will be denied for that day if you do. You’ll be asked to sign a CDCR 888, Notice of Request for Search, giving consent for the standard search.

What to Bring

Every adult visitor needs valid, unexpired photo ID: a driver’s license with a photo, a DMV ID card with a photo, a picture passport, an armed forces ID with a photo, a picture ID card issued by USCIS, or a picture ID issued by the Mexican Consulate, per CCR Title 15 Section 3173. You don’t need to bring proof of your visitor approval since it’s tracked electronically.

Bringing Children

Minors under 18 must be accompanied by an approved adult visitor. If a parent brings their own child, you only need a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate. If a legal guardian brings the child, bring the birth certificate plus proof of guardianship. If someone other than a parent or legal guardian brings the child, you additionally need a notarized written consent form signed by the parent or guardian, naming the incarcerated person, the adult authorized to bring the child, and the visit dates. This consent form has to be renewed every year.

Dress Code

RJD updated its visiting attire supplement in June 2025, and it’s stricter than the general CDCR rules on a few specific points. Four general rules apply: don’t wear anything resembling what incarcerated people wear, don’t wear anything resembling custodial staff uniforms, dress conservatively and modestly (no excess jewelry, layered outfits, or heeled or platform footwear), and don’t wear anything that can’t come off and won’t clear a metal detector, like an underwire bra or metal buttons. Specific restrictions include no strapless, halter, bare midriff, sheer, or transparent clothing, no plain white or gray t-shirts, no camouflage of any color, no bandana-pattern clothing of any color, no skirts, dresses, or shorts exposing more than two inches above the knee, and biker shorts are no longer allowed at all. Clothing that exposes the breast, genitals, or buttocks area means you’ll be asked to change, refused entry, or have your visit terminated. Wigs, hairpieces, extensions, and other headpieces need prior approval and are only allowed for medical reasons.

Family Visiting

RJD’s Family Visiting program has specific check-in times split by group. For Thursday visits, Group 1 must arrive by 9:00am and Group 2 by 11:00am. For Sunday visits, Group 1 must arrive by 9:00am; RJD’s own posted schedule lists Group 2’s Sunday arrival as 11:00pm, which appears to be a typo since it doesn’t match the Thursday pattern. Confirm the exact arrival time for your group with the Visiting Sergeant before you plan a Sunday Family Visit. Ongoing construction affecting the Family Visiting units means applications are being processed carefully to avoid cancellations, and some previously cancelled visits are being rescheduled, so check RJD’s visiting status page for the latest updates before you travel.

What’s Not Allowed

Visitors can be turned away for clothing that doesn’t meet the dress code, for being under the influence, or for bringing prohibited items into the visiting area. If an officer says your outfit isn’t acceptable and you believe it complies with the rules, you can ask to speak with the Visiting Sergeant or Lieutenant, who has the final say. Many CDCR institutions run a Visitor Center that lends clean, appropriate clothing if yours is rejected, though funding for these centers isn’t always consistent, so it’s smart to keep a backup outfit in your car in case.

Emergency and Hardship Visits

If you’re traveling a long distance and haven’t been approved yet, RJD staff may allow an emergency or hardship visit at their discretion. This isn’t guaranteed, so plan ahead and submit your Form 106 well before any trip that includes a visit.

About RJD’s Population

RJD is a multi-mission institution housing Level I through IV general population and Sensitive Needs Yard (SNY) inmates. It’s also a designated facility for inmates with severe mental illness or developmental disabilities. If you’re visiting someone housed in a specialized unit, ask the institution directly about any additional scheduling steps.