Columbus Transitional Center

The Columbus 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 is located in Columbus, Georgia, and can house a maximum of 182 inmates. The host facility for the Columbus Transitional Center is the Rutledge State Prison.

Housing at this facility consists of open bays for the new arrivals. Inmates in work release are housed in two and four-man rooms.

The mission of the Columbus Transitional Center is to provide community residential services to inmates prior to their discharge. The goal is for inmates to develop self-discipline and for the facility to promote skills required for positive re-entry into the community.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting hours at the Columbus Transitional Center are 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays.  As of July 2021, there are modified visitation procedures at Columbus TC due to COVID-19. Approved visitors must request visitation by accessing the Georgia DOC website.

All visitors must be on their inmate's approved visitation list. An email will be sent from [email protected]gdc.ga.gov once your request for visitation has been approved. Offenders on quarantine or medical isolation status will not be allowed visits.

Scheduling requests must be submitted between 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 for session one and 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm for session two.

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.

Disposable face masks will be provided, and must be worn at all times. Seating will be socially distanced at twelve feet apart, and barriers separating offenders and loved ones will be in place. 

During modified visitation, no physical contact will be allowed. Hand sanitizer will be available, but vending machines will be closed.

Who Can Visit?

Before you can visit an inmate at Columbus 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 have a photo ID to gain access to the visiting room. 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 Columbus 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 expose 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 Columbus 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 Columbus 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

Family and friends of inmates at the Columbus Transitional Center are allowed to order food packages which are delivered to the facility. For more information, click here.

Programs For Inmates

• Academic: General Education Diploma, Workforce Readiness
• Counseling: Individual/Group Counseling, Re-Entry, Moral Recognition Therapy, Matrix Model Early Recovery, Fatherhood Initiative
• Recreation: General Recreation
• Religious Activities: Worship Services (center and Local church/temples), Bible Study, Spiritual Counseling
• Vocational/OJT:Re-Entry, Job Readiness, World Of Works, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Veterans Administr

Pictures of Columbus Transitional Center

Careers at Columbus Transitional Center

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