Arizona State Prison Complex - Safford

Arizona State Prison Complex - Safford, or ASPC- Safford, is located in Safford, Arizona, and it houses a maximum of 1,717 male inmates at security level two or three. The complex is divided into four units: Fort Grant Unit, Graham Unit, Miles Detention Unit, and the Tonto Unit.

This facility has an interesting history. In 1968, the Fort Grant State Industrial School became part of the Arizona Department of Corrections, and in 1970 it became a minimum-security work camp for male inmates. They were housed in tents and quonset huts before the permanent buildings were built.

ASPC - Safford was singled out by Amnesty International because of its human rights violations. In August 1995 at the Graham Unit, 600 prisoners were "forced by guards to remain outdoors, handcuffed, for 96 hours, and required to defecate and urinate in their clothes.

Many of the inmates suffered heat exhaustion, dehydration, and severe sunburns because of the Arizona heat.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visitation days are Saturday, Sunday, and State holidays, and the hours are from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. No visitors are accepted after 2:00 p.m.

Visitation for detention inmates is Non-Contact and By Appointment Only. Appointments can be scheduled through the visitation office, and must be made at least 24 hours in advance.

How To Get On The Approved Visit List

When an inmate first arrives at Arizona State Prison Complex-Safford, 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.

All visitation applications should be mailed to:

ASPC-Safford/Administration
896 S. Cook Rd.
Safford, AZ, 85546

Graham Unit Visitation
896 S. Cook Rd.
Safford, AZ, 85546

Tonto Unit Visitation
896 S. Cook Rd.
Safford, AZ, 85546

Fort Grant Unit Visitation
896 S. Cook Rd.
Safford, AZ, 85546

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

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, non-offensive, and within the bounds of common decency.

• 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.
• Muscle shirts; sleeveless shirts; tank-style shirts; mesh shirts; or shirts that display bare midriff are prohibited.

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

How to Call an Inmate

Prisoners at Arizona State Prison Complex - Safford have access to telephones, but they can’t receive inbound calls. Inmates can only make collect calls or prepaid calls.

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 background check fee if you are applying for phone privileges only.

Whether applying online or by mail, it is critical that all information fields and both sides are completed prior to submitting the form. By completing and submitting the form, you are attesting to the truthfulness and accuracy of the information. 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-Safford 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

Safford has a number of valuable services available to inmates at each of their sites.  Each of the units provide basic medical and dental care, re-entry services (including Merging Two Worlds), and general education services. The facility also has a work program.

Education Programs

FUNCTIONAL LITERACY

This program targets offenders with very limited functional skills and/or limited English language development. It is designed to develop reading, writing, mathematics and others skills necessary to function in a working environment.

GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT (GED)

The GED Preparation Program provides instruction for those offenders who do not have a high school diploma or GED to assist them in successfully passing the GED test. The GED test is the same test given to the general public.

Any offender who achieves the 8th grade Functional Literacy standard, or an incoming offender who tests above the 8th grade standard, but who does not have a high school diploma or GED, may enroll in the GED Preparation Program.

Upon successful completion of the GED testing procedure, an official diploma is prepared by the Arizona Department of Education.  Obtaining this diploma is an important achievement and can lead to other educational and career opportunities within ADC and in the community when released.

WORK-BASED EDUCATION

The Work-Based Education (WBE) programs are designed to assist offenders in gaining marketable employment skills.  ADC provides Work-Based Education instruction to offenders who possess a high school diploma or GED, but have no identifiable work or employment skills.  

Programs range from six months to two years in duration.  The skills gained though these programs may assist offenders in obtaining work within the prison setting, as well as upon release.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

ADC provides educational services to minors adjudicated as adults and sentenced to prison, as well as to offenders less than 22 years of age without a high school diploma or GED who are found to be eligible for services.  Inmates are evaluated upon enrollment in education programs.

Treatment Programs

Graham

• Thinking for a Change
• Cultural Diversity
• Self-Improvement Classes
• Alcoholics Anonymous

Tonto

• Alcoholics Anonymous (English and Spanish)
• Thinking for a Change

Fort Grant

• Cognitive Restructuring
• Conflict Resolution
• Domestic Violence
• Cultural Diversity
• Alcoholics Anonymous & Narcotics Anonymous (English and Spanish)

Pictures of Arizona State Prison Complex - Safford

Careers at Arizona State Prison Complex - Safford

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

Benefits include health insurance, plus paid leave and holidays.