If so, please post the details and your experience in this thread. The Prison Weddings Team is working hard to provide information for each state. Your help is needed to make this project a success!

Mrs. Dragon
Prison Weddings Moderator

http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31554

Hello, Sorry I've been away for awhile. The 'IS' Dept. at work blocked my connection.
anyway, Kendall and I will be getting married the 9th of January, at DCCC.
I will keep you posted and include pictures after.
Kim

Kendall and I got married on the 16th of January. I had to be at the courthouse when they opened 9:00 a.m. They didn't get him there until 11:30 a.m. but, they were nice enough to call at 10:00 a.m. to tell me that they were running late.
After we signed our marriage license, they transported him back for count, and I had to be there at 1:00p.m. Our ceremony lasted 10 minutes if that long. Then we got a 30 minute visit. He got to keep his ring until our visit was over and then it had to go through property, so he didn't get it back until the following Wednesday.
At first we were told we could bring a disposable camera, but the night before, we were told that we couldn't because the couple before us, had taken some naughty pictures.
That was about it, if you have any more questions pm me and I will try to answer them.

MY husband and i got married March 30th, 1999 in Davis Correctional Center, I arrived at the Hughes County Courthouse and there he sit waiting for me to get there, we signed out Marriage license and they took him back to the prison and we followed him and got ready to get married around 10:30 in the morning. I had my maid of honor and our daughter and he had some friends including his best man. We had 3 other couples that were married when we did. Afterwards the prison had made a beautiful cake and we took pictures and we even had someone take a video of us and our guests. It was wonderful wedding despite all of the horror stories i had heard in the past and we had about an hour or so and then we had to leave . That is what happened when Steve and i got married. Its been a wonderful 5 years of marriage but since steve and i have been together for the last 13 we have always said we were married.

We will be getting married on March 6, 2004 at the James Crabtree Correctional Center. The chaplin just now sent me the application for marriage to sign and mail back to him. He told me that I have to go buy the license and get a reciept that I bought it and bring it to the chaplin's office, then they will transport Raymond to the courthouse to sign the book and the license. We can't meet at the courthouse and do it. We are getting married on a regular visiting day so we get to visit for up to 8 hours after the wedding, at least that is what the counselor told Raymond, he is the one who approves the special visits for my guests. The new deputy warden changed the policy about letting other inmates attend a wedding. I still don't know what time we have to be at the chapel, but probably 8:00 or 10:00. Will keep you posted on new developments. :)

I haven't been married through the system, but thought the official DOC policy talk might help others :)

:heart: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx :heart:

Section - 09 Programs
OP-090128
Page: 1
Effective Date: 01/13/04

Inmate Marriages
ACA Standards: None

Ron J. Ward, Director
Signature on File
Oklahoma Department of Corrections


Inmate Marriages

I. Policy

Although the agency does not encourage marriage while incarcerated, reasonable accommodations will be made to assist inmates who are legally competent to become married in accordance with Oklahoma law.

II. Procedures for the Initiation of Inmate Marriages

A. All inmates may request to marry while incarcerated. Formerly married inmates (common law or civil marriage) must submit a copy of a valid divorce decree with their request for marriage.

A “Marriage Request Application” (Attachment A, attached) must be completed and submitted to the chaplain (case manager supervisor at community corrections centers) by the inmate, at least 60 days prior to the desired wedding date. Upon receiving the “Marriage Request Application”, the “Procedures for Inmate Marriages” (Attachment B, attached) will be sent to the inmate and fiancé(e).

B. Staff Assistance

At institutions, the inmate will be assisted in meeting the prerequisites for acquiring a marriage license. At community corrections centers, work centers, and halfway houses the inmate will be assisted as needed in acquiring a marriage license.

III. Prerequisite

It is the responsibility of the inmate to ensure all documentation is completed prior to the marriage ceremony.

A. Documentation


1. Divorce decree, where inmate jacket indicates a previous marriage (licensed or common law)

2. Approval of request by facility head or designee

3. Blood test (Inmate’s blood test will be administered by medical, paid for with a $5.00 disbursement. Fiancee’s blood test will be administered by outside agency at fiancee’s expense.)

4. Proof of age - both parties must be a minimum of 18 years old, according to a certified birth certificate. If under age, the party not incarcerated must have permission of both parents or legal guardian(s).

5. Payment of license fee (costs to be paid by inmate’s fiancé(e).

6. Appearance of inmate and spouse “in person” to sign the Marriage Record Book at the county clerk’s office in the county where the facility is located, if required.

7. The inmate is responsible for paying to the facility all costs incurred in transporting the inmate to the county clerk’s office. All costs will be paid prior to the trip.

8. Counseling conducted by the chaplain or a qualified party authorized by the facility head is required prior to approval. The “Outline of Topics for Marriage Counseling” (Attachment C, attached) will be used to conduct the counseling session. Counseling by individuals outside the Oklahoma Department of Corrections must be approved by the warden and the inmate’s fiancé(e) will be responsible for fees.

9. Both parties must have the mental capacity to enter a marriage contract.

10. The fiancé(e) must be on the offender’s approved visitors list 6 months prior to the application for marriage.

B. Marriage Ceremony


1. When the prerequisites have been met, the marriage ceremony will be scheduled and conducted in accordance with the security needs of the facility. Marriage ceremonies will be conducted only twice a year.

2. The institutional chaplain may perform the ceremony, or another legally authorized person, who must present proof of their registered credentials from an Oklahoma courthouse, may conduct the services consistent with institutional security needs. No inmate may officiate at the wedding of another inmate, regardless of the credentials possessed.

3. Clothes worn by inmates during the ceremony will be regular state issued clothing. At community corrections centers, halfway houses, or work centers clothing will be authorized by the facility head.

4. The visiting policy, OP-030118 entitled “Visitation” will apply for guests at all weddings. No inmates will be allowed as guests of the wedding.

5. The newly married couple will be allowed a 30 minute monitored visit with each other following the ceremony if the ceremony does not take place during regular visitation or holiday.

IV. References

Policy Statement No. P-090100 entitled "Provision of Programs"

OP-030118 entitled “Visitation”

V. Action

The deputy director will be responsible for compliance with this procedure.

The deputy director of Operations Support will be responsible for the annual review revisions.

Any exceptions to this procedure will require prior written approval from the director.

This procedure will be effective as indicated.

Replaced: Operations Memorandum No. OP-090128 entitled “Inmate Marriages” dated May 02, 2002

Distribution: Policy and Operations Manual

Department Website

Please see the ODOC website for attachments http://www.doc.state.ok.us/offtech/op090128.htm

Wow.....I'm getting married in June at Lexington, I'm told that I can bring a snapshot camera and an unopened roll of film. I will wear a nice dress but he has to wear his state issued clothes, I will mail his ring to him early so it will already be processed and he will have it. The wedding will be done on a Monday, it will be done between 2 and 4, we get about an hour or so after that to visit, the only guests allowed are those on his approved visiting list. It really sucks but it's okay because at least we will be married. When he gets out we will have a real wedding and do it up right, the main thing now is just to make our union legal. Any ideas of how to make it even a little bit special would be nice though.........lol

I think that's great news and it sounds like you're set :)

It seems like to me that you are doing everything you can to make it special. The only other things I can think of are saying your own vows or maybe just saying some prepared words of love to each other. Make sure to get a good picture of you two holding hands with your wedding bands on that way you can send him the pic and let him know that you'll hold his hand always no matter how far apart. I don't know if this is possible budget wise for you, but you could maybe go and have some professional pics taken in your dress just like wedding pics and send those to him.

And if you're a bit naughty, you could send him vacation ideas for the honeymoon. You guys pick a spot and then you send him all the info on that area. Then you both write your honeymoon naughty letters to each other and mail them. It's not the same, but it's a start :D

Very awesome ideas girl. I will have to do that!!! It's too bad Oklahoma doesn't have conjugal visits.........lol

I hope they help, but I still say just making it official is going to be so special to begin with :)

And I totally feel ya on the conjugal thang :D