Wildwood Correctional Complex

The Wildwood Correctional Complex consists of the Wildwood Correctional Center (a long-term sentenced facility), a pre-trial facility, and a transitional program facility. The complex houses a total of approximately 470 prisoners and is located three miles north of Kenai.

The Wildwood Correctional Center is a medium-custody long-term sentenced facility with an operating capacity of 264 beds. It houses adult male felon and misdemeanor prisoners of medium and minimum custody levels.

The Wildwood Pretrial (WPT) is a multiple use facility with an operating capacity of 115 beds. It houses male and female, felon, and misdemeanor prisoners of all custody levels. The population includes: pre-trial detainees for the Kenai Peninsula, short-term sentenced prisoners, long-term sentenced prisoners awaiting bed space at other institutions, and non-criminal remands.

The Wildwood Transitional Program consists of a short-term sentenced facility that houses minimum-custody male inmates. The complex houses approximately 94 prisoners and is located next to the Wildwood Pretrial and sentenced facilities. This facility houses the Work Release Program, the SPOT (Special Pet Obedience Training) Program and the Public Service Projects program that benefits local communities.

Wildwood was originally known as Wildwood Army Station, and was constructed by the U.S. Army as a military communications base in 1951 (completed 1953). In 1965, it was transferred to the U.S. Air Force and became known as Wildwood Air Force Station. In 1974, after briefly being considered as the site for a Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school, it was turned over to the Kenai Native Association as part of the Alaska Native land claims settlement.

In 1983, the State of Alaska leased a portion of the facility for use as a correctional and pre-trial facility. They had an option to buy at the end of three years, a the purchase took place in December 1992.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting Hours for General Population Prisoners at Wildwood Correctional Center are:

• Monday, Wednesday, and Friday — 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
• Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays — 10:30 AM to 9:30 PM

Prisoners at Wildwood Correctional Center must submit for approval the names of all visitors, including children, with whom they wish to have contact visits. Contact visiting will be denied and secure visits may be allowed, space available, if:

• A prisoner forgets to submit someone's name;
• A prisoner's visitor is not on the approved list; or
• A visitor who isn't on an individual prisoner's list but is on another prisoner's list.

Contact Visiting Approval requests submitted by prisoners early in the week are usually approved by the weekend.

Visiting Hours at the Pre-Trial Facility for general population are:

• Weekdays - 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 7:00 pm, 10:00 pm
• Weekends/Holidays - 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 7:00 pm, 10:00 pm

Pre-trial visitors may sign up for a visit no more than 30 minutes ahead of the visiting time.

Visiting Hours for the general population at Wildwood Transitional are:

• Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday — 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
• Monday (ADULTS ONLY) — 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
• Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays — 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
• Saturday (ADULTS ONLY) — 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Prisoners at Wildwood Transitional must submit for approval the names of all visitors, including children, with whom they wish to have contact visits.

Visiting Rules for All Facilities at Wildwood Correctional Complex

All visitors to the complex must present proper picture identification to establish identity: i.e., State driver's license or identification card, professional ID, or personal recognition by a staff member.

The dress code is as follows: A shirt and trousers for men; a shirt and skirt, shirt and slacks, or dress for women.

Shorts, cut-offs, beach-type clothing, and provocative or revealing clothing such as mini-skirts, low-cut blouses, tube tops, low-cut pants, and see-through blouses are not acceptable.

Sleeveless shirts, tank tops, hats, or sweatpants are also not allowed. Proper footwear must be worn; however, no sandals, flip-flops or thong-type shoes are allowed in visiting.

Visitors wearing attire that is considered inappropriate either because it does not meet the criteria set out above, or because it is deemed unacceptably tight or low cut and revealing, may have their visits denied.

Visitors to this institution may not have in their possession or use any cameras, tape recorders, or any other sound or visual recorders, cell phones or ANY communication or recording devices without the prior approval of the Superintendent.

Only money will be received during visiting hours, nothing else. Prisoners must have prior approval from the WCC Property Officer for disbursing property items to a visitor.

As provided by Statute, every visitor may be searched. Refusal to be searched and/or screened with a metal detector will result in denial of the request for a secure or contact visit at that time and for the remainder of the day. Purses, coats, and hats will be secured outside the visiting area.

Visitors and prisoners are given every opportunity to enjoy the privilege of using the visiting area. Safety and security are paramount. Any visiting rule and/or privilege are subject to modification without notice.

Visitors and prisoners are required to conduct themselves in a manner which is not disruptive for others in the area. This includes controlling children so that others may enjoy their visitations.

Prisoners may receive through the mail:

• Correspondence
• Photos
• Money orders, cashier’s checks, and certified checks for $500 or less

Only approved visitors may send funds to be deposited on a prisoners account. Cash may only be accepted from approved visitors in person, not through the mail.

Prisoners may only receive books, newspapers, and books through the publisher. The prisoner must make the order for books, newspapers and books.

How to Call an Inmate

Prisoners at SCCC have reasonable access to a telephone, but can’t receive inbound calls. SCCC may limit, monitor, or record prisoners' telephone calls to preserve security and order in the institution and to protect the public.

The Alaska Department of Corrections currently contracts with SECURUS Technologies for telephone services with family, friends, and loved ones (FFL). SECURUS is required to meet federal requirements as imposed by the Federal Communication Commission and the local requirements required by the Alaska Regulatory Commission for services and fees.

Inmates may only place outgoing calls and cannot receive incoming calls to their facility. In order for inmates to place calls, a billing account needs to be established by FFL’s with SECURUS Technologies. The following billing accounts are currently available:

ADVANCE Connect: Allows family, friends and loved ones to receive collect calls from inmates and have the charges deducted automatically from the F.F.L's prepaid account.

DIRECT Bill: Allows family, friends and loved ones to receive collect calls from inmates and have the charges billed directly to the F.F.L's through SECURUS Correctional Billing Services. Credit check required.

Billing Accounts may be set up through the SECURUS website or by calling 1-800-844-6591.

The rate for prepaid and collect local calls is .07 per minute. Long-distance prepaid calls are .21 per minute and collect calls are .25 per minute.

When a prisoner places a call, he states his name and a recorded message is played. The recipient is advised who is calling and it is an inmate in a correctional facility. The recipient is then provided with the option to accept or reject the call. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Alaska, please click here.

How to Send Money

There are two methods family/friends can deposit money to a prisoner's account. Money orders or cashier's checks with prisoner's name and offender number can be mailed into the institution. The sender's name and address must be on the money order or cashier's check as well the envelope or it will be treated as unacceptable mail.

Personal checks and cash will not be accepted and will be returned to the sender at the prisoner's expense or destroyed.

The second method is to have a family member/friend drop off cash, money order or cashier's check at the facility. A copy of the receipt will be given to that person for their records.

Deposits on a prisoner's account may not exceed $500 in a single month. Prisoners may only receive money from verifiable immediate family members and persons on their approved visiting list.

Inmates are allowed to spend money on phone calls and commissary.  The commissary (or canteen) is the prison store, where inmates can buy a variety of items like food and beverages, OTC medications, stationary, stamps, hygiene items, clothing, and electronics.

​Programs For ​Inmates

Unless otherwise noted, these programs are available to inmates at all facilities in the Wildwood Correctional Complex.

Several group programs are offered at WCC. Anger Management is offered continuously. A rotation of three additional courses (Criminal Thinking Errors, Moral Reasoning, and Criminal Relapse Prevention Planning) completes the 48-Week Offender Treatment Program.

Rehabilitation opportunities for short-term prisoners are available through weekly Healthy Living classes on various topics. Finally, three one-day seminars are provided on a regular basis: Understanding Loss, Thriving After a Head Injury, and The Challenge and Opportunity of ADHD.

• Life Success Substance Abuse Treatment (LSSAT)

The Life Success Substance Abuse Treatment (LSSAT) Program is a 90 day intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment program. The program serves 25 inmates per quarter and is open to all inmates who are assessed as appropriate for this level of services. The program is a Cognitive Behavioral treatment process and is evidence-based. The program teaches life skills that allow the inmate to make the choice to become addiction free and a productive member of society.

The Wildwood Correctional Center has a full-size gymnasium for basketball and handball; it also houses a universal gym set for working out. The facility's outdoor recreation yard contains areas for softball, volleyball, basketball, exercise bars, and an oval track for jogging or walking.

The institution has a hobby craft shop area where prisoners are allowed to participate in the carving of ivory or fossilized ivory, beading, jewelry making, acrylic painting, and drawing, etc.

• Education

The mission of corrections education at Wildwood Correctional Complex is to provide adult basic education, GED, life skills, and vocational education so that individuals can improve interpersonal and academic skills to successfully function within the institution, and to enhance community integration and economic self-sufficiency upon release.

Common needs are addressed in classes, including the ability to read, write, and compute at a literate level, social skills such as communication and anger management, basic living skills including budgeting, finding resources, and job finding and keeping skills. Responsibility and self-control are additional common needs.

The Education Department offers classes in basic literacy, ABE/GED, parenting skills, basic computer applications and certifications, Criminal Attitudes Program, Alaska Re-Entry class, and apprenticeship programs in building maintenance, cooking and baking, and computer repair.

Also, vocational training classes are offered in Hazardous Waste Operations, Confined Space Entry, Industrial Health and Safety, and Part 46 Mining Safety. Inside/Out Dad is a class dedicated to helping interested inmates become better fathers, by aiding them in improving their parenting skills.

Wildwood has a high school equivalency and Adult Basic Education program available to all prisoners, free of charge. The Wildwood Education Program is an official General Education Development (GED) Testing site.

Each year several inmates earn their diploma and are rewarded with personal satisfaction and opportunities that often lead to better paying jobs and admission to advanced vocational schooling.

• Jobs

Wildwood Pretrial Facility has approximately 25-30 job positions which include janitorial, laundry, food service, and seasonal or temporary jobs. Inmates are monetarily compensated for hours worked to pay restitution, bills, or purchase commissary items.

• Anger Management

This 12 week program works to develop alternatives to violence through education, problem solving, conflict resolution, assertiveness, communication and practical skills to reduce violence. Program offered to men and women at WPT.

• Healthy Living

This 12 week program includes various topics to develop life skills in a variety of areas, including stress management, coping with incarceration, communication skills, developing/maintaining health relationships, conflict resolution/problem solving and coping with anxiety/depression and other mental health issues. Program offered to men and women at WPT.

• Relapse Prevention

This 12 week program works to identify level of addiction, nature of addiction, factors contributing to addiction, triggers, relapse warning signs, developing positive support systems, identifying community resources for help with ongoing sobriety after release and relapse prevention planning. Program offered men and women at WPT.

• Parenting

The 12 week "Active Parenting" Program works to help parents strengthen families by developing skills to build self esteem, courage, responsibility and character in their children, develop effective and non violent discipline skills, redirect misbehavior, communication skills between parents and children, develop problem solving skills and cope with parenting stress. Program offered to women at WPT.

Pictures of Wildwood Correctional Complex

Careers at Wildwood Correctional Complex

If you are interested in pursuing a career with the Alaska Department of Corrections, you can find available positions at Wildwood Correctional Center by visiting their website. Correction Officers in Alaska start at $21.34 per hour.

Benefits include health insurance, plus paid leave and holidays.