Correctional Institution D. Ray James

Correctional Institution D. Ray James is a privately-owned federal correctional institution that is owned and operated by The Geo Group, under contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the US Marshals Service.

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, contract prisons are secure institutions operated by private corporations, and the majority of inmates are sentenced criminal aliens or federal immigration detainees who might be deported when they complete their sentence.

In August 2016, officials at the Justice Department announced that the Federal Bureau of Prisons would be phasing out the use of private contracted facilities because they were less safe and offered less effective services with no cost savings.

The agency expects to let the current contracts on the thirteen remaining private facilities to expire. This includes the contract with CI D. Ray James.

Inmates are housed in dormitories, and the facility has a capacity of 2,847 inmates, but currently houses around 1,700.

Located in Folkston, Georgia, CI D. Ray James is medium-security facility that houses male prisoners.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

The Geo Group does not publicize their visiting hours or rules. So, if you want to visit an inmate at CI D. Ray James, you need to give them a call directly to get specific visiting information.

Here are some general guidelines for visiting inmates at a federal prison:

Authorized visitors who can visit an inmate include family, friends, and associates. You can't visit an inmate unless he puts you on the visiting list.

Everyone must fill out a visitor form, and they must have a relationship with the inmate prior to incarceration. If a potential visitor does not have a prior relationship with the inmate, their request will be reviewed by the warden.

Once the inmate requests to add someone to their visit list, a correctional counselor will provide them with a visiting form, and the inmate is responsible for mailing these out and letting the potential visitor know that they need to fill out the form and return it to the institution staff.

The unit team will do a background check and determine if a visitor application is approved. They make their decision based on constructive and security factors. The process takes about a week, and the unit staff will notify the inmate when the requested visitor is approved or refused.

It is the inmate’s responsibility to notify the visitor of the decision, and the process is the same for both adult and minor visitors.

All visitors are subject to a visual and pat search by an officer. You will also be scanned by a metal detector.

Any item you bring into the facility will be opened and searched by a staff member, and anyone who refuses a search of themselves or their property will not be allowed to visit with the inmate.

All visitors must be dressed in an appropriate manner. Any visitor who arrives inappropriately dressed will be denied the privilege of visiting.

All visitors must be fully clothed, including shoes. No open-toed shoes and no strapless heels are authorized. All shoes must be strapped to the foot, and you can’t wear slippers, shower shoes, or flip-flops.

Clothing which is similar to and resembles the style or color of that is issued to inmates (for example, khaki colored clothing) is not allowed to be worn inside the Visiting Room.

Visitors can’t wear apparel which is revealing or suggestive, or any clothing that contains sexually suggestive/offensive writing or writing/logos that reference gangs.

You must also bring a photo ID with you to the visit (driver’s license, passport, state ID), and all children must be accompanied by an adult.

There is no limit on the amount of mail that inmates receive, but all correspondence must have the inmate’s complete name, registration number, facility name, and address.

You can only send cards or letters to these addresses. Paperback books, newspapers, and magazines must come directly from the publisher via a subscription or mail order.

Inmates cannot receive packages through the mail, with the exception of a package of release day clothing. You can't send the release day package until 30 days prior to the scheduled release date.

How to Call an Inmate

Federal inmates are not allowed to have cellphones and they can't receive inbound calls. They can make outbound calls during approved hours, and they must pay for them with the money that is on their personal account or call collect.

All phone calls are limited to 15 minutes, and will be monitored and recorded.

How to Send Money

Sending money is one of most important things you can do for an inmate. The prison will issue each prisoner the minimum amount of clothing and hygiene items, and provide them with three meals a day. But, it is extremely difficult for prisoners to have any level of comfort when living with just the items that are prison-issued.

Inmates can receive outside funds while incarcerated that are deposited into their commissary accounts.

Postal Service

For federal prisoners, you can send money through the United States Postal Service by MONEY ORDER to the following address:

Federal Bureau of Prisons
Inmate Name
Eight-Digit Register Number
Post Office Box 474701
Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001

Western Union

If you would like to see a sample Western Union form click here. On their website, they have a special form for sending money to inmates, and you go directly to it by clicking here.

You will need to know the inmate’s full name and number, and you can pay with a debit or credit card at westernunion.com. Remember, any time you send money to an inmate you must always include their name and registration number on everything.

There are a few things that inmates can spend their money on. This includes phone calls, emails, and commissary.  The commissary is the prison store, where inmates can buy things like beverages, meals and snacks, OTC medications, stationary, personal hygiene items, clothing, electronics, or other miscellaneous products.

Please be aware that prisoners have their own economy inside the prison walls just like we do in the real world. Inmates that have a lot of money can do a lot of things both legal and illegal. Prisoners can potentially use the money in their account to buy things for other inmates in exchange for drugs and paraphernalia. This activity is illegal and can get an inmate in a lot of trouble.

Is important to keep track of how much money you are sending your incarcerated loved one, and watch out for any suspicious behavior.

​Programs For ​Inmates

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous
• Pre-GED and GED
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• High School and Post-Secondary Education (Paid Correspondence Courses)
• Life Skills Classes
• Vocational Training in Building Trades, Culinary Arts, Horticulture, Custodial Maintenance, Barbering, Electrical, Auto Mechanics, Upholstery, Weaving, HVAC, Small Engine Repair, Masonry, Plumbing, Computer Repair, Carpentry, and Welding.
• Advanced Occupational Education in smart board technology
• Indoor/Outdoor Recreation
• TAILS Dog Program

Pictures of Correctional Institution D. Ray James

Careers at Correctional Institution D. Ray James

If you are interested in pursuing a career with this private facility, you can find available positions at CI D. Ray James by visiting the Geo Group Website.

Reviews from employees at CI D. Ray James say that working there can be stressful, but the jobs pay well and have excellent benefits. Some of those benefits include:

• Medical, Dental and Vision coverage
• Term life insurance (includes spouse and dependents)
• Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• Flexible spending account
• 401(k)
• Stock purchase program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Legal program – Legal Club of America
• Paid time off
• Direct deposit
• Theme park and attraction discounts