Why are there so many visiting rules?
Visits are an important way for the youth in our custody to stay connected with family. We want to make sure that you, your young person, our staff, and all the youth in our facility are safe. We are trying to create a positive, family-friendly environment at visitation. These rules help us keep everyone safe while allowing you to have your visit without disruption.
Visiting Information
- Fill out a “Request to Visit” form. Turn it in to your youth’s case coordinator. Please turn in the form at least two weeks before you visit, so that we have time to process your request.
Request to Visit - English
Solicitud de Visita - español
- OYA uses the information on the form to do a criminal background check. If you have an arrest or conviction, it does not always mean you cannot come into the facility — it depends on your situation. If you have an active warrant, we will not let you inside.
If you are approved, we will put you on your youth’s OYA Approved Visitor List. We cannot let anyone visit who is not on this list. Once you’re approved, you can schedule a visit.
If you are already on your youth's OYA Approved Visitor List, you are ready to schedule a visit.
Who May Visit Youth?
- All visitors must get approval to visit first.
- Typically, family members and other supportive people may visit once they are approved.
- For youth living in Noble and Maple: Only parents or guardians may visit.
- Visitors younger than 18 may visit with approval. They must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
- Youth may have up to five visitors at a time.
Once you are approved to visit and placed on your youth's OYA Approved Visitor List, visits must be scheduled in advance. Contact your youth's case coordinator to schedule a visit.
- Visits may only be scheduled one week in advance. At this time, we cannot allow visits outside of the times listed in the schedule.
- The deadline for scheduling Wednesday visits is 4 p.m. on the Tuesday before the visit.
- The deadline for scheduling Sunday visits is 4 p.m. on the Friday before the visit.
- Priority for each visiting time is given to youth who have not had visits yet. If space remains, families who have already visited may schedule another visit.
Please review our clothing rules to make sure your clothing is appropriate before you arrive. This will save you time at check-in and allow you to start your visit quicker.
If we think your clothing is disruptive or inappropriate, we will not let you inside MacLaren. We are trying to create a positive, family-friendly environment for youth, families, and other visitors.
If you wear these items, you will not be allowed inside:
- Low-cut shirts or shirts that reveal your lower back or undergarments
- Short skirts
- Short shorts
- Sleeveless shirts, spaghetti strap shirts, and tank tops
- Clothing that is torn in inappropriate places
- Bras with an underwire or metal parts (these may set off the metal detector)
- Watches
- Fanny packs, money belts, or belts with compartments
- Hats, beanies, or other headwear (if you need a religious head covering, talk with your youth’s case coordinator before coming to visit)
- Professional or college sports team logos (sometimes these can be gang-related)
- Messages that promote drugs, tobacco, alcohol, violence, pornography, nudity, gangs, or prejudice, or are demeaning to others
These are the only items you may bring inside:
- Current photo ID (required if you are 13 or older)
- Automobile key and remote
- One debit or credit card (for the vending machines inside; no cash allowed)
- Feminine hygiene products (no more than 5)
- Life-sustaining medicine for yourself, such as an inhaler (must be in original container or box with prescription label)
- Basic items for an infant, such as diapers or a bottle with formula
- Nursing mothers: talk with visitation staff about options
You may not bring these items inside our facility. They may cause safety and security issues, and they can potentially harm a youth's treatment.
- Weapons or potential weapons
- Cell phones and mp3 players
- Purses, briefcases, or backpacks
- Wallets
- Cameras or audio/video recorders
- Laptops, flash drives, or anything that connects to the internet
- Illegal drugs or paraphernalia
- Cash or coins
- Food or drinks (you may buy food or drinks inside from our vending machines)
- Water bottles
- Prescription drugs, unless they are life-sustaining
- Tobacco, marijuana, and vaping products (not allowed anywhere on the MacLaren grounds)
- Packages or pictures (must be mailed; not allowed at all for youth in Maple, Noble, and Summit)
- Money for youth (must be mailed or added to your youth’s account at the gatehouse)
Consequences for Contraband
It is a Class C felony to provide contraband items to youth in custody or to bring those items into an OYA facility without authorization. (ORS 162.185)
- You will have to clear a metal detector before going inside. Any items you bring will go through an X-ray machine. This is to make sure that you, your youth, and everyone inside is safe.
- You may not give anything to youth during your visit except food or drinks you buy at our facility.
- All personal items you bring into our facility are subject to search by our staff.
- Check in at the gatehouse. Check-in starts 10 minutes before your scheduled visit time.
- Wash your hands, check for COVID symptoms, and take your temperature. If you have symptoms of illness (cough, fever, muscle pain, shortness of breath, chills, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell), we cannot let you inside.
- You will have to show a photo ID and clear a metal detector before going inside. Any items you bring will go through an x-ray machine. This is to make sure that you, your youth, and everyone inside is safe.
NOTE: You may be required to wear a face covering. If face coverings are required on the day you visit, we will not be able to let you inside without one. This is to protect all youth living inside from getting COVID-19.
More about Visits
- Most visits happen in MacLaren's visitation center. Visitors and youth sit together at tables.
- We have vending machines with snacks and drinks. You may purchase items from these machines for you and your youth to have during the visits. The machines only accept debit or credit cards.
- We have a small play area available for children. The child's parent or guardian needs to be with them and supervising them at all times.
Other Important Things to Remember
- Be respectful to staff, youth, and other visitors. This includes following staff directions, using appropriate language, and not talking with other youth or families, other than a casual greeting. We work hard to create a positive, family-friendly environment at visitation. We want everyone to feel that they are safe, their privacy is respected, and they can enjoy their visit without disruptions.
- Please limit physical contact with your youth to a short embrace at the beginning and end of the visit. Again, this is to make sure visiting is a positive, family-friendly experience for everyone.
You also can sign up for a video visit. Youth may only have video visits with people who are on their approved visitors list.
We use Microsoft Teams for video visits. These visits must be scheduled in advance through your youth's case coordinator.