Supervised Visitation for Parents After a Conviction

 Posted on February 18, 2025 in Family Law

For unmarried parents who do not have full custody of their children, visitation can be crucial in maintaining their relationship. However, parents who are convicted of a crime might have limitations imposed on their time with their children. In some cases, the court can order supervised visitation, which allows the parent and child to spend time together but another adult must be present during the visit.

While it may feel like a burden not to be able to enjoy quality time with your child in private, some consider supervised visitation a beneficial compromise that still enables convicted parents to stay involved in their child’s life. To learn more about this, speak with a qualified Texas family law attorney.

When Does a Judge Order Supervised Visitation?

Under certain circumstances, a court will order supervised visitation. Some examples include:

• The parent has a history of violence or abuse.

• There are concerns about substance abuse.

• The parent was absent from the child’s life for a long time.

• The conviction involved a crime that raises concerns about the child’s safety.

• The court wants to ensure that the child adjusts well to being around the parent again.

How Does Supervised Visitation Work?

Supervised visitation means you can only see your child if another person who is considered a responsible adult is present during your time together. This other adult can be a trained supervisor, social worker, or family member. 

The court will decide when, where, and how the visits will take place. Your time with your child has to happen in a preapproved location, such as a relative’s home or a designated family visitation center. If the supervising adult has any concerns about the child’s safety, he or she can report these to the court.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Supervised Visitation

Supervised visitation can be beneficial for both the parent and child, as well as challenging. 

Challenges of Supervised Visitation

It can be extremely frustrating for a parent not to be able to spend time alone with the child. The two cannot share any private conversations, as everything they do and say is monitored. It can also be hard for a child to feel comfortable around their parent when there is another adult there watching and listening the entire time. Scheduling the visits and finding an approved location can also make it seem like the parent and child need to jump through many hoops just to be able to see each other.

Benefits of Supervised Visitation

When a parent is suspected of posing a risk to a child, his or her visitation rights can be taken away. With supervised visitation, the parent and child are still able to maintain their connection in a way that gives the parent a chance to rebuild trust while the court ensures that the child is safe.

Contact a Marble Falls, TX Supervised Visitation Lawyer

If you have been convicted of a crime, speak with a Llano County, TX family law attorney about supervised visitation. While it has its drawbacks, this might be the only way for you to continue seeing your child for now. At Law Office of Russ Alan Baker, PLLC, we are dedicated to helping children and families overcome challenging situations and we will work hard to ensure that your rights are protected. Call us at 325-216-2006 to learn more.