Arizona State Prison Complex - Douglas

Arizona State Prison Complex - Douglas, or ASPC- Douglas, is one of 13 prisons operated by the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC).  It is a modern, medium to high-security prison that is located in Douglas, Cochise County, Arizona.

ASPC-Douglas is adjacent to the Bisbee-Douglas airport, and it was first opened in 1984 as the Cochise Correctional Training Facility. Currently, it consists of six units: Gila, Maricopa, Eggers, Mohave, Papago, and the Complex Detention Unit (CDU).

The Gila unit was built with portable modular housing, and the Papago Unit was purchased from the Desert Inn Motel Company and converted into a prison unit for DUI offenders.

ASPC-Douglas has an inmate capacity of approximately 2,148 in 5 housing units at security levels 1, 2, 3 and 5. The ADC uses a score classification system to assess inmates appropriate custody and security level placement. The scores range from 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest risk or need.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visitation hours are identical for all ASPC-Douglas Units (with the exception of Complex Detention Unit - noted below):

Saturday:

• 8:00 a.m. to 4:00* p.m.

Sunday:

• 8:00 a.m. to 4:00* p.m.

Holiday visits:

• 8:00 a.m. to 4:00* p.m.

*Visitors will not be processed to visit after 3:00 pm on any visitation day.

Complex Detention Unit (CDU) non-contact visitation hours are by scheduled appointment. Visitation hours are scheduled on or before the Monday prior to visitation.

Tuesday:

• 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

How To Get On The Approved Visit List

During intake processing, inmates who choose to have visits must complete and submit a Visitation List. Inmates are permitted to have a maximum of 20 approved visitors on their Visitation List form.

Anyone wishing to visit and/or receive telephone calls from an inmate must complete and submit the Application to Visit an Inmate. You can fill out this form online or have your loved one mail the form to you.

Applications must be mailed to the individual inmate or to the appropriate Gila or Mohave unit visitation office. (ADC has 60 days to process visitation applications).

You must also pay a one-time $25 fee for a background check. This payment can be made online or mailed in via money order with a paper application. If this fee is not paid, the visitor application will not be processed.

Visiting Rules

Inmates may visit, space permitting, with a maximum of six persons at one time, regardless of age, during each visitation. Inmates requesting visitation with more than six persons at one time must complete a Special Visit Request at least 30 calendar days in advance of the visit.

Adult visitors must present acceptable photo identification upon entering and exiting the unit’s visitation processing area.

Visitors are permitted to bring the following items to a visit:

• Personal identification - For security reasons, personal identification shall be held by the visitation office.
• Prescription medication - In the original container and only in a limited amount needed during the visitation period. For safety reasons, prescription medications shall be held by the Visitation office, with exception to inhalers and nitroglycerin medication in case of emergency.
• One unopened package of cigarettes and/or one e-cigarette - A flameless electric cigarette lighter shall be located in the designated smoking sections of the visitation area.E-cigarette accessories are not permitted. Smoking may be prohibited in some visitation areas.
• Coins - Possession of coins totaling a maximum of $40.00 per visitor.
• Jewelry - One wedding/engagement ring, one religious medallion, one wristwatch and one pair of earrings or two observable body piercing adornments. The visitor shall wear all items brought into visitation throughout the visit.
• Keys - Two vehicle keys or one key and a vehicle remote control entry device.
• One handheld baby carrier, per infant - The carrier shall be subjected to a thorough search prior to entry. Strollers or carriers with wheels shall not be permitted.
• One clear plastic diaper bag, per infant – The diaper bag shall be subjected to a thorough search prior to entry. A diaper bag may contain only the following items:
  • Baby bottle - Three clear-plastic baby bottles of milk/formula or equivalent size unopened, commercially sealed containers of juice.
  • Baby food - Four small clear plastic containers (such as, Tupperware container) of soft food or baby food.
  • Diaper - One diaper for each hour of visitation.
  • Sani-wipes - One clear container or Ziploc bag of baby sani-wipes.
  • Blanket - One blanket, measuring no larger than 4' by 4'. The blanket cannot be tan in color.
  • Spoon - One small plastic spoon used to feed an infant.
  • Pacifier - One baby pacifier.
  • Clothing - One change of baby clothing.
  • Bib - One baby bib.
  • Diaper rash medication - One small tube of diaper rash medication.

With the exception of food brought in for food visits, cigarettes, and disposable baby items (diapers, wipes), each visitor shall leave the visitation area with the exact property items possessed at the time the visitor was processed to visit.

The dress code for visits is as follows:

• All clothing shall be clean, worn in good repair, non-offensive, and within the bounds of common decency.
• Visitors shall not wear any article of clothing fabricated with spandex-like material or clothing that is orange in color.
• Sheer, see through and/or open-netted clothing is prohibited.
• Visitors are prohibited from wearing medical scrub clothing to visitation.
• Visitors requesting to visit in military uniforms shall be permitted to visit in dress uniforms only. Visitors are prohibited from wearing camouflage clothing to visitation.
• Visitors are prohibited from wearing any brown-colored clothing that resembles the clothing worn by Department security staff, including any shade of brown, tan, or khaki-colored clothing; solid light tan or light brown-colored shirts; or dark brown-colored pants or slacks.

If a visitor, upon initial registration, is not in compliance with the Visitor Dress Code, visitation staff shall notify the On-site Duty Officer after normal business hours or the Chief of Security during normal business hours, who will determine if the visitor will be given an opportunity to leave the prison grounds and return dressed appropriately.

The dress code for female visitors (age eight and over) is:

• Shorts shall be knee length, when standing.
• Jogging shorts, cut-offs, or hip huggers are prohibited.
• Skirts and dresses shall be knee length, when standing. Slits in skirts and dresses shall not extend above mid-thigh when seated.
• Sleeveless tops or dresses; tank, tube, and halter tops; tops that are strapless; tops that allow display of bare midriff; mesh clothing; bodysuits; and swimsuits are prohibited.
• Tops of clothing shall be no lower than the person’s collarbone in the front and back. No cleavage shall be exposed.
• Undergarments shall be worn at all times.
• Shoes shall be worn at all times.
• A wig or clip-on hair piece may be worn if medical documentation is provided and justifies the need.

The dress code for male visitors (age eight and over) is:

• Shorts shall be knee length, when standing.
• Jogging shorts, cut-offs, or hip huggers are prohibited.
• Shirts shall be worn at all times. Muscle shirts; sleeveless shirts; tank-style shirts; mesh shirts; or shirts that display bare midriff are prohibited.
• Undershorts shall be worn at all times.
• Shoes shall be worn at all times.
• A wig or clip-on hair piece may be worn if medical documentation is provided and justifies the need.

Special food visits are scheduled throughout the year. To get details about the food visitation schedule click here. For food visit guidelines click here.

How to Call an Inmate

Prisoners at Arizona State Prison Complex- Douglas have reasonable access to a telephone, but they can’t receive inbound calls. Inmates can make collect calls and prepaid calls through approved third party vendors only.  

In order to talk to an inmate on the phone, you must be an approved visitor. There is also the option of filling out the visiting application and selecting the phone-only option.  You will not have to pay the $25 fee if you are applying for phone privileges only.

Once your visiting application is approved, or you have submitted the visiting application with the phone section completed, the inmate will be allowed to call you. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Arizona, please click here.

How to Send Money

You can only send money to an inmate at Arizona State Prison Complex - Douglas electronically. You are no longer allowed to send a money order or check through the mail.

Friends and family members of inmates can send funds to an inmate's account online, over the phone, or in the lobby of any facility using the kiosk.  The three companies that process inmate funds in Arizona are:

• JPAY
• Access Corrections
• GTL

When you send money to an inmate using one of these methods, there is a fee charged for each transaction based on the amount, company, and method. To find a fee breakdown for each company, click here.

​Programs For ​Inmates

Work Crews

Many prisoners have job assignments with Arizona Correctional Industries working within the local and surrounding communities.  

Other job opportunities include food service, building maintenance, vehicle maintenance, and general labor crews for the upkeep and maintenance of its institutional grounds.  

Mohave Unit inmates are employed solely within the confines of its perimeter.  Papago, Gila, and Eggers Unit inmates work both on and off complex grounds.

Douglas work crews are sent out daily within the local and surrounding communities for community betterment and beautification projects.  Along with working off complex grounds, many inmate crews are assigned to work within the complex perimeter.

Additional crews provided by Douglas include: Wildland Fire Crew, ACI (which includes producing inmate clothing which is used throughout the state and year-round and seasonal inmate employment with Fiesta Canning, Inc. and  Southeast Arizona Medical Center).

Employed inmates work an average of six hours per day, five days per week.

Education

• Adult Basic Education (ABE)
• General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
• Mandated Adult Education and Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE)
• Work-Based Education (WBE) programs in conjunction with Cochise College which include: Building Construction Technology, Computer Technology, Automotive Technology, and AC Refrigeration certification, Electronics
•  Inmates may work towards an Associates Degree through classes offered by Cochise College.

Treatment & Self Improvement Programs

• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Moderate Treatment (Substance Abuse)
• Cultural Diversity
• Cognitive restructuring
• Merging Two Worlds - prepares inmates for reentry through training in a variety of life skills

Pictures of Arizona State Prison Complex - Douglas

Careers at Arizona State Prison Complex - Douglas

If you are interested in pursuing a career with the Arizona Department of Corrections, you can find available positions at Arizona State Prison Complex- Douglas by visiting their website.

Benefits include health insurance, plus paid leave and holidays.