Back to Division of Juvenile Justice

Guidelines for Visitors to Division of Juvenile Justice Facilities

The Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) encourages visiting at each of its facilities. Family members are encouraged to visit. Family visits help maintain family ties and assist the ward in making plans for his or her parole.

When the youth arrives at an institution he/she meets with a treatment team member to develop an approved visiting list. The list initially is approved for immediate family members only but other family members can be added when the appropriate clearances are obtained.

Families can expect to receive an information packet from the institution shortly after the youth arrives. This packet will contain the facility’s rules and regulations for visiting. Visitors from the middle school age level and up will need a current picture identification card to enter the visiting area. Acceptable forms of identification include a current school identification card, current military identification card, a valid California identification card, or a valid California Drivers license.

Questions regarding visiting should be directed to the youth’s parole agent or youth correctional counselor. To learn more about the Division of Juvenile Justice, click this link to visit the DJJ Home Page.

Visiting During COVID-19

In person family visitation has resumed under the Reopening plan.  The Visiting Program is subject to suspension without advanced notice.

Visitors are required to schedule all visits via email using the same system we are using for video visits.  To ensure ample time for DJJ staff to schedule visits and notify families, the timeframe to request a weekend visit will begin Monday at 8:00 am and close down Tuesday at 5:00 pm.

In-person visiting will be conducted on Saturday and Sunday in sessions to allow for cleaning between sessions. 

Visitation at Pine Grove is on Sundays only 8:30-11:30 and 12:30-3:30.

At N. A. Chaderjian, session one will be from 8:30-11:30 am and session two from 12:00-3:00 pm. 

At O.H. Close, two hour visitation will be conducted in two sessions; 8:30-11:30 am and 12:00-3:00 pm. 

At Ventura, there are three two hour sessions, 8:30 -10:30 am, 11:00 am -1:00 pm and 1:30 -3:30 pm.

Please specify whether you are scheduling an in-person or video visit and send an email to the appropriate facility for processing at the following email address:

Youth will be subject to the COVID-19 screening process prior to leaving their living unit, and shall not be allowed to visit should they display symptoms of COVID-19 or are on quarantine or isolation status.

Both youth and visitors will require a negative test before visitation is allowed.  Children under age 2 do not require a COVID test.

Visitors must provide proof of a negative test taken no longer than 72 hours prior to to the visit.  We ask that the visitors bring a copy of the negative test results when processing for the visit. A negative PCR COVID-19 test is required. An over-the-counter test from a retail pharmacy is not acceptable.

Fully vaccinated visitors must provide a copy of their vaccination card indicating they are two weeks past the final injection of their vaccination series.

Visitors are required to arrive at least one hour before their scheduled visit. Visitors will be subject to a COVID-19 screening including touchless temperature screening and a verbal questionnaire.

Four visitors from the same household are allowed per youth for the in-person visit.

Visitors will be spaced apart from the youth by a minimum of six feet.

Visitors will be provided a procedure mask  which shall be worn at all times during visiting.  Masks must cover the nose and mouth.

Hand sanitizer will be made available in the visiting area for use by visitors and youth.

Vending machines will be available.

Water bottles shall be made available to visitors and youth when vending machines are not available.

Due to the limited timeframe for visiting during these phases, no time for photographs will be available.

All tables, chairs, doorknobs, counters, and other “high touch” surfaces will be cleaned/disinfected at the beginning and end of visiting hours, and in between visitors.

Important Testing Information

Visitors must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no longer than 72 hours prior to the visit. Tests must be a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. Antibody tests will not be accepted. Visitors will not be allowed into the facility without proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Find a testing location near you, including free resources through the California Department of Public Health website. Fully vaccinated visitors do not have to show a negative test if they can provide their vaccination card indicating they are two weeks past the final injection of their vaccination series.

Additionally, these COVID-19 testing resources may be helpful:

Symptoms and Screening Protocol

The following symptom questions will be asked verbally of all individuals prior to being permitted to enter a facility.

  • Do you currently have any of the following new or worsening symptoms not caused by an underlying health care condition?
    • Fever of 100.4 or greater and chills?
    • Cough?
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing?
    • Loss of taste or smell?
    • Sore throat?
    • Congestion or runny nose?
    • Nausea or vomiting?
    • Diarrhea (3 or more loose stools within 24 hours)?
    • Unexplained or unusual fatigue?
    • Muscle or body aches?
    • Headache?

Within the past 14 days, have you, while not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, been in close physical contact (six feet or closer for at least 15 minutes) with a person who is known to have laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, or with anyone who has any symptoms consistent with COVID-19?

If visitors answered “Yes” to any of the above questions or have any of the above-listed symptoms, they will not be allowed to visit in person.

If visitors answered “No” to the above questions, they will be required to submit a negative PCR COVID-19 test result from a test taken no longer than 72 hours prior to admission into the facility.

Video Visitation and JPay Continues

As an alternative to in person, you may continue to be able to video visit with your loved one using Microsoft Teams. Visit this page for more details. (En Espanol) Cards, letter writing and phone calls are encouraged.

JPay, an online fee-for-service electronic messaging option, is now available to increase contract opportunities for families and support systems.