Coastal Transitional Center

The Coastal Transitional Center is a minimum-security facility for adult male felons who are close to completing their sentence with the Georgia Department of Corrections. This facility opened in 2003 and can house a maximum of 262 inmates. It is located in Savannah, Georgia.

The mission of the Coastal Transitional Center is to protect the community while assisting residents to make a successful transition back into society. They do this by providing therapeutic counseling and employment skills.

Many area employers provide a great transition opportunity for inmates at the Coastal Transitional Center. For example, California Cartage Company employs an average of about 25 state inmates or Transitional Center residents.

Housing at the Coastal Transitional Center is an open dormitory and boot camp. The living units range in size from four beds to 12 beds.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting hours at the Coastal Transitional Center are 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays. 

As of the summer of 2021, there are modified visitation procedures due to COVID-19. Approved visitors must request visitation by accessing the Georgia DOC website.

Scheduling requests may be submitted from 5:00 am Monday - 5:00 pm Wednesday only for that week’s visitation.

Inmates with last names beginning A - L will visit on Saturday. Session one is between 9:00 am - 11:00 am and session two is from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm.

Inmates with last names beginning M - Z will visit on Sunday between 9:00 am - 11:00 am, and 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm.

One visit every other month per inmate will be allowed during modified visitation. Visits will be no more than two hours in length.

Two approved visitors will be allowed and must visit at the same time. No visitors under the age of twelve will be permitted.

All visitors must be on the offenders approved visitation list. An email will be sent from [email protected] once your request for visitation has been approved. Offenders on quarantine or medical isolation status will not be allowed visits.

Who Can Visit?

Before you can visit an inmate at Coastal Transitional Center, the inmate must put you on their visiting list and you must be approved by the Georgia Department of Corrections. Visitor applications are available by clicking here. 

Individuals who are not considered “immediate” family members may be allowed to visit by being considered as a significant relationship visitor. The inmate must initiate the request for individuals wanting to visit as a significant relationship visitor.

General Visiting Rules

Visitors are required to present a photo ID prior to their admission for visiting. Your identification will be kept in a secure area outside the actual visitation area and will be returned to you at the conclusion of the visit. 

Visitors can only bring the following items into the visiting room:

• Photo ID
• A maximum of $20.00 in coins for the vending machines, and 
• A set of car keys

You are not allowed to bring food or drink into the facility from the outside. Funds for inmates from visitors are accepted only through the Consolidated Banking Unit, and may not be brought into the Coastal Transitional Center. 

All visitors are subject to a search of their person by electronic surveillance instruments, including a metal detector. All items brought into the facility by a visitor will be searched. 

Personal contact (hand shaking, embracing or kissing) is permitted only at the beginning and end of the visit. Excessive, frequent or prolonged embracing, hand holding, kissing or other inappropriate behavior during the visit is strictly prohibited.

Dress Code

Visitors are required to wear appropriate attire in the visiting room. Shoes are required of all visitors, including children, at all times. 

Male visitors are required to wear shirts and full-length trousers. Female visitors are required to wear foundation type garments such as bras and panties. Any type of clothing that is suggestive or revealing in any way is prohibited.

Inappropriate clothing includes, but is not limited to: 

• Dresses with thin straps which expose shoulders or chest area
• Dresses, skirts or other similar garments that are more than two inches above the knees
• Tops which exposes shoulders or chest area in any manner
• Tube tops or halter tops of any type
• Clothing which reveals the stomach or midriff area
• Clothing that is made of sheer, net, mesh or transparent material
• Shorts of any kind or any kind of slacks that are above the knee 
• Leggings, jeggings, or any other skin tight pants

How to Call an Inmate

You can't call an inmate who is housed at the Coastal Transitional Center. However, the residents do have access to phones during certain hours and are allowed to make outgoing calls.

How to Send Money

You can send money to an inmate housed at the Coastal Transitional Center through JPay (online) or MoneyGram (in person). You also have the option of mailing a money order.

To send money with JPay using a debit or credit card, click here. To find a MoneyGram location so you can send cash, click here. To mail a money order, click here to print the voucher and step-by-step directions.

Food Packages

Programs For Inmates

• Academic: General Education Diploma, Adult Basic Education, Literacy Remedial.
• Counseling: Re-Entry Skills, Motivation for Change, Community Pass, Therapeutic Work Release, Substance Abuse Education, Thinking For A Change, Community Finance, Matrix Module Relapse Prevention, Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous.
• Recreation: General Recreation, Physical Health.
• Religious Activities: Various Worship Services, Bible Study, Community Volunteers

Residents are assigned to the work release program throughout the Chatham County area. Eight residents are assigned to an in-house job detail — long-term maintenance.

Pictures of Coastal Transitional Center

Careers at Coastal Transitional Center

If you are interested in a career with the Georgia Department of Corrections and would like to work at the Coastal Transitional Center, click here.