Arizona State Prison Complex - Florence

Arizona State Prison Complex - Florence, or ASPC- Florence, is also known as Florence State Prison, and it houses male inmates in every custody level (between two and five).

This prison was built in 1908, and originally featured a death chamber for inmate hangings. However, in 1933, they replaced hanging with the gas chamber because of an incident during a hanging.

Florence State Prison has been the site for state executions in Arizona since 1910, and the death house is located near Housing Unit 8. Arizona currently uses lethal injection and the gas chamber for executions.

Currently, ASPC Florence has a maximum capacity of 3,946, and inmates are housed separately between custody levels 2, 3, and 5.

Central Unit and Kasson Unit house level five prisoners, East Unit and South Unit are for level three offenders, and the North Unit and Globe Unit are for level two. Tempe St. Luke’s is for all custody levels.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting days and times at ASPC-Florence are constantly changing, and they depend on the unit the inmate is housed in, plus their custody level. Visits are by appointment only.

Visits can be scheduled Monday-Thursday by calling the Visitation Office at (520) 868-4011, and you must be on the inmate’s approved visit list to make an appointment.

How To Get On The Approved Visit List

When an inmate first arrives at Arizona State Prison Complex-Florence, those who want to have visits must submit a Visitation List. Inmates can have a maximum of 20 approved visitors on their list.

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.

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 and you can’t visit an inmate.

Visiting Rules

An inmate can have a maximum of six visitors at one time, regardless of age, during each visit. All adult visitors must have a current photo identification to visit with an inmate.

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

• Photo ID
• Prescription medication
• One unopened package of cigarettes and/or one e-cigarette - Smoking may be prohibited in some visitation areas.
• Money - 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 piercings. You must 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 must leave the visitation area with the exact property items possessed at the time the visitor was processed to visit.

All clothing that you wear to a visit must be clean, worn in good repair, non-offensive, and within the bounds of common decency.

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

• Shorts must be knee length, when standing.
• No jogging shorts, cut-offs, or hip huggers.
• Skirts and dresses must be knee length, when standing. Slits in skirts and dresses can’t extend above mid-thigh when seated.
• No 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.
• Tops of clothing shall be no lower than the person’s collarbone in the front and back. No cleavage shall be exposed.
• Undergarments must be worn at all times.
• Shoes must be worn at all times.

The specific 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 must be worn at all times. Muscle shirts; sleeveless shirts; tank-style shirts; mesh shirts; or shirts that display bare midriff are prohibited.
• Undershorts must be worn at all times.
• Shoes must be worn at all times.

For the Holiday and Food Visit Schedule at ASPC-Florence click here.

How to Call an Inmate

Prisoners at Arizona State Prison Complex - Florence 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.  

Anyone wishing to receive telephone calls from an inmate must complete and submit the Application to Visit an Inmate and select the phone-only option. You can fill out this form online or have your loved one mail the form to you. 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 put money on an inmate’s book either online, on the phone, or in the lobby of USPC-Florence using the kiosk.  There are three companies that process inmate funds in Arizona:

• 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.

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

The mission of ASPC-Florence Education is to provide inmates with educational opportunities through instruction and modeling of positive behaviors that motivates and empowers students towards pathways leading to integrity and rehabilitation for a successful reintegration into society.

The vision is to reduce recidivism through education and empowering students to be productive members of society through effective instruction.  

The complex provides:

Adult Basic Education (grades K- 8) TABE

GED/High School Equivalency (grades 9 – 12)

Career Technical Educational programming for all qualified inmates at the Florence Complex. Courses include Welding, Carpentry, HVAC, Horticulture, Automotive Mechanic and Auto Body, and Upholstery. Career Technical Educational programming (CTE) classes are provided in partnership with Central Arizona College.  

USPC-Florence facilitates correspondence courses with at least 3 colleges, mainly Rio Salado and other universities that offer correspondence opportunities for Incarcerated Individuals.  

The facility has 14 teachers including two special education teachers, and one testing coordinator. They provide testing in State GED and Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) for academic placement and growth to all qualified inmates every 30 – 45 days.  

Florence Complex Education is currently in partnership with ASU, providing elective non-credit courses for eligible inmates.

Work and Self-Improvement Programs by Unit:

Central

Self-Improvement Programs

• Core Skills
• Substance Abuse
• Successful Living
• Self Control
• Social Values
• Peer Relationships
• Feelings
• Employment Skills
• Responsible Thinking

East

Self-Improvement Programs

• Merging Two Worlds
• Thinking for a Change
• Money Management
• Employment Skills
• Transition Skills
• Skills for Successful Living
• Responsible Thinking
• Toastmaster
• InsideOut Dad; Workshop; Self Study
• Cultural Diversity
• Book in a Month
• Abused Boys, Wounded Men
• Freedom From Drugs
• Financial Management
• ASU Inside Out Prison Exchange
• Parenting Alumni
• C2C (stopping abuse for everyone)
• Self Control
• Relapse Prevention

North

Work Programs

• Arizona Correctional Industries
  • Statewide; Warehouse; Packing; Bobbin; Packaging; Hickman’s; ACI Ranch Irrigation; ACI Ranch Tractor driver; Fish Farm; Wild Horse Crew; Wild Horse BLM
• Inter-Governmental Agreement
  • Whitfield Nursery; Pinal Energy; Cargill Animal; Town of Florence; Florence Bus Barn; National Guard; Wildland Fire Crew; RAD (recycling) ; Pinal Animal Control; Pinal County Streets (Florence, Coolidge, Apache Junction); City of Apache Jct.; Casa Grande Sanitation, Garage; Airport, City Streets, Landfill; Parks & Rec.; ADOT; AZ City Streets; Arizona Training Center; CAC Main Campus, SanTan, Apache Jct.; Coolidge Wastewater; Unified Schools; City of Coolidge Parks & Rec.
• Florence Complex
  • Fire Bay; Education TV; Crew 3; Tractor Operator; Warden’s Row; Trailer Park; East Unit Crew; On Complex Crew; Eyman Paint Crew; K-9 Construction; Staff Apartments; Electrician; Cooler Crew; HVAC; Plumber; Carpenter; Welder; Kasson Maintenance
• Eyman Complex
  • Garage/Car Wash
  • Garage/Mechanic
  • Wastewater

Self-Improvement Programs

• Thinking for a Change
• Merging Two Worlds
• Substance Abuse
• Skills for Successful Living
• Transition Skills
• Living With Others

South

Work Programs (Arizona Correctional Industries)

• Wood Shop
• Metal Fabrication.

Self-Improvement Programs

• Thinking For a Change
• Merging Two Worlds
• Hazelden’s Attitudes and Beliefs
• Twelve Steps
• InsideOut Dad

Globe

Work Programs (Inter-Governmental Agreement)

• City of Globe
  • Parks and Rec.
  • Auto Shop
  • Beshba-Gowah Archaeological Park
  • Globe Senior Center
  • Public Works Department
• Town of Miami
  • Public Works Department
  • Auto Shop
  • Senior Center
  • Miami Schools
• Town of Kearney
  • Public Works Department
• Town of Superior
  • Public Works Department
  • Senior Center
• Town of Hayden
  • Public Works Department
  • Senior Center
  • Hayden Schools
• Gila Community College (Groundskeeper)
• Gila County
  • Fairgrounds
  • Road Department
  • Landfill
• U.S. Forest Service
  • Visitor Center
  • Rest Area/Campgrounds
  • Roosevelt Lake
  • Apache Lake

Self-Improvement Programs

• Thinking For a Change
• Merging Two Worlds
• Hazelden’s Attitudes and Beliefs
• Twelve Steps
• InsideOut Dad

Pictures of Arizona State Prison Complex - Florence

Careers at Arizona State Prison Complex - Florence

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

Benefits include health insurance, plus paid leave and holidays.