Phillips Transitional Center

The Phillips Transitional Center is a minimum-security facility for adult male felons who are nearing the end of their sentence with the Georgia Department of Corrections. This facility is located in Buford, Georgia and can house a maximum of 204 inmates. The host facility for Phillips Transitional Center is Phillips State Prison.

There are four dormitory housing units at Phillips Transitional Center. Dorms 1, 3, and 4 each have 48 beds, and Dorm 2 has 60 beds. The mission of the center is to help the residents make a successful transition back to society by providing both social and employment skills.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

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

COVID 19 Modified Visitation

As of July 2021, there are still modified visitation procedures at Phillips TC due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Approved visitors must request visitation by accessing the Georgia DOC website.

All visitors must be on their inmate's approved visitation list. Once your request for visitation has been approved, an email will be sent from [email protected]. Inmates who are 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 for that week’s visitation ONLY.

• 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.

During modified visitation, inmates are allowed one visit every other month. Visits can last a maximum of two hours. Two approved visitors will be allowed and must visit at the same time. No visitors under the age of twelve are allowed.

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

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

Who Can Visit?

The inmate must put you on their visiting list first, and then you must be approved by the Georgia Department of Corrections. Visitor applications are available by clicking here. Members of an inmate's immediate family (parents, brothers, sisters, spouse, grandparents, grandchildren, and children) are eligible for visitation approval. 

If you are not considered an “immediate” family member, you still may be allowed to visit as a significant relationship visitor. The inmate must initiate the request for anyone wanting to visit as a significant relationship visitor.

General Visiting Rules

All visitors must 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 can't bring food or drink into the facility from the outside, and you can't bring items to give to an inmate. 

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 clothing 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 pants. 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
• Tube tops or halter tops
• Clothing which reveals the stomach or midriff area
• Clothing that is made of sheer, net, mesh, or transparent material
• Shorts 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 Phillips Transitional Center, but 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 Phillips Transitional Center through JPay (online or phone) or MoneyGram (in person). You also have the option of mailing a money order. You must be on a recipient’s approved visitor list to use any payment method.

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

All residents at the Phillips Transitional Center are assigned as work release residents in the local community. The inmate programs are as follows:

• Academic: General Education Diploma, Adult Basic Education
• Counseling: Pre-Release, Work Adjustment, Health Awareness, Employment & Job Readiness, Work Adjustment
• Recreation: General Recreation
• Religious Activities: Various Worship Services and Bible Study

Pictures of Phillips Transitional Center

Careers at Phillips Transitional Center

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