SCI Chester

SCI Chester opened in April 1998 as the state's first facility designed to treat inmates with substance abuse problems. It also is the state's first tobacco-free facility.

Visiting Information

Hours: The Visiting Room is open from 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. To be assured of at least a one-hour visit, visitors should arrive no later than 7 p.m. Visitors will not be admitted if they arrive later than 7:30 p.m.

Rules:

To be eligible to visit an inmate, an individual must be on the inmate's approved visiting list. No more than four adults and four minors will be permitted per visit. Anyone over the age of 18 will need photo ID. Visitors under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Minors must be pre-approved by their parent or guardian to visit an inmate (except immediate family).

All inmates will be permitted one visit each week. A week is defined as running from Monday through Sunday. If a visit is not used one week, it may not be carried over to the next. Each visit will be for a minimum of one hour, providing that the visitor arrives no later than 7 p.m. However, if space permits, the visit may extend to a maximum of two hours on a weekend (Saturday or Sunday) and a maximum of four hours during weekdays (Monday, Thursday and Friday). Special visits, which meet all of the above noted requirements, may be requested for extraordinary circumstances. Inmates are responsible to request special visit approval. The request must originate with the inmate's counselors.

It should be noted that visits cannot be split up. For instance, a visitor cannot come on Monday for one-half hour and then return on Tuesday for another half-hour. Similarly, if an inmate or visitor terminates a visit for dinner, the visit may not be continued after dinner.

The parking lot is considered part of SCI Chester. Loitering, littering, consumption of alcoholic beverages, or leaving children unattended in vehicles is not permissible. While we would not want to be placed in the position of contacting law enforcement authorities, that is what will occur if necessary in order to provide public safety.

General visiting information

All visitors must be on the approved visiting list. It is recommended that you arrive no earlier than 2 p.m. Visits begin at 2:30 p.m. It may take time to locate an individual for a visit, so please be patient.

Any visitor 18 or older must have proper identification such as a driver's license, employee or school ID, photo welfare card, or other photo ID. You will not be permitted to visit without proper ID. Expired photo ID will not be accepted.

You are required to sign in upon your arrival and sign out before you leave. If you travel by private vehicle, you will be asked to register the year, make, model and license number.

All visitors are subject to search upon entering the institution, while at the institution and before leaving the institution. Visitors may be selected for scanning by Electronic Drug Detection equipment officers. These devices detect the presence of drug traces on persons, property and clothing. A K-9 crew – dogs and handlers – may also be present. If you refuse to be searched before entering the institution, your visiting privileges may be denied. If you refuse to be searched while in the institution or upon leaving the institution, appropriate law enforcement authorities will be immediately contacted.

Cameras, tape recorders, radios and handbags are not permitted in the visiting area.

Visits are a minimum of one hour in length; however, this may be decreased or increased depending upon the number of visits scheduled for that day.

Inmates placed in disciplinary custody status may have their visiting privileges restricted. The status of an inmate can change quickly without notice to visitors. Exceptions will not be made to permit visits to inmates in Disciplinary Custody status. It is the inmate's responsibility to inform his visitors of any changes regarding visiting.

Please use good judgment and discretion in dress and behavior so as not to embarrass others in the visiting area. The institution reserves the right to deny a visit to any visitors wearing apparel that is revealing, too short, see through, worn without foundation, or considered inappropriate, any of which may result in visitation restriction or denial.

An ex-offender must have prior approval from the Superintendent and his current parole agent. If parole supervision has expired, official documentation must be provided to the Deputy Superintendent for Centralized Services prior to visiting.

Do not bring any kind of gifts to the institution. All monetary gifts must be mailed to the facility. Only certified checks or money orders will be accepted. Remember, inmates are not permitted to take anything from the visiting area. Upon leaving the facility, visitors are not permitted to take anything from an inmate and/or visiting room without prior authorization.

Visitors are prohibited from bringing food or beverages into the institution. Sandwiches, snacks and soft drinks may be purchased and consumed in the visiting room. A token machine is available in the lobby in order to make vending machine purchases. No other exchanges are permitted and can be considered attempts to introduce contraband into the institution.

Any visitor appearing to be under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance will not be permitted into the institution. SCI Chester is a tobacco free/smoke free facility. All tobacco products must be left in vehicles or placed in the lockers available in the lobby.

Please ensure that any minor visitors (under 18) are authorized to visit and on the appropriate inmate?s visiting list. Children must be supervised at all times.

Please remember that any violation of visiting regulations will likely result in the suspension of visiting privileges.

The Department of Corrections encourages you to put money on inmate accounts electronically using one of the two following options:

JPay

Western Union

Please remember:  If your friend or family member owes fines, costs or restitution, a percentage of any money you deposit (regardless if it is electronically deposited) may go to paying his or her debt in accordance with DC-ADM-005    

How To Email an Inmate

1. Go to the vendor website that services the institution where the inmate is housed.

2. Establish an account with that vendor and follow their instructions to create an email.

3. All emails are subject to review for appropriate content.  After review, the email will be printed on paper and delivered to the inmate.

4. Any response from the inmate will be mailed out using regular U.S. Postal Service mail.  Inmates do NOT have access to any outgoing email programs.