Sussex Correctional Institution

The Sussex Correctional Institution (SCI) is a state facility for male inmates located in Georgetown, Delaware. Opened in 1931, SCI is one of Delaware's oldest correctional facilities. SCI houses maximum, medium, and minimum security inmates. SCI also houses the Youthful Criminal Offenders Program YCOP.

Between April 1997 and April 2000, 760 beds were added to the facility for a total capacity of 1,109 beds. The expansion brought the total capacity of the institution to 1,206. SCI is also home to the nationally recognized substance abuse treatment program called KEY. 

In an effort to reduce crime and recidivism, Governor Thomas R. Carper and the Department of Correction unveiled the program at SCI on February 10, 1998. SCI's program is called KEY South. The KEY program is an intense, discipline-based, therapeutic, substance abuse treatment program for 180 offenders at SCI.

Several programs designed to facilitate rehabilitative efforts are in place at SCI. These programs include educational opportunities, vocational training, work assignments, spiritual/religious opportunity and a variety of other classes and programming.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visits must be scheduled by the visitor one week in advance by telephone. Visits are by appointment only and the visitor must report to the front door thirty minutes prior to the scheduled visiting time. 

You can call to make an appointment at (302) 856-5545 on Monday through Friday, between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm.

Any person requesting visitation privileges that has served time at SCI as an inmate or worked for the DOC as an officer or any other service contractor may be denied entry to the institution for the purpose of visiting. Each case is subject to review by the Warden. The inmate being visited is responsible for confirming his scheduled visiting time with their visitor. 

Once a visit is scheduled it will not be changed.

Inmates are permitted three visitors at each visit. Visitors under the age of eighteen must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or an adult 21 years of age or older. All visitors are subject to a metal detector and pat down search along with an x-ray scan at the time of each visit. At times, a K-9 drug scan will be conducted. 

When deemed necessary, the security staff may request a more intense physical search. If you refuse to comply, you will be denied entrance and ordered off of the property.

There are two types of visits available: Open visits are relaxed and informal, physical contact is possible. Closed visits are formal, for security reasons, and physical contact is not allowed. The institution determines which type of visits inmates may have.

Any visitor carrying an infant into the visiting room will be permitted to carry one diaper, one bottle, wipes in a clear plastic baggie, and one pacifier for the infant.

Only the following items are allowed into the institution: photo identification, including DMV vehicle IDs, passports, government issued IDs; two car keys, wedding band/engagement ring, medical alert necklace/bracelet, and life-saving medication. If an item is not on this list, it will not be allowed in.

Your attire should be in good taste and you should have proper grooming when entering the institution. Correctional staff will determine whether your clothing is appropriate based on the following guidelines: 

• Bathing suits, bodysuits, strapless or low cut, revealing tops; sleeveless shirts, tube tops, and any type of revealing clothing not adhering to the normal standards of decency, including bare midriffs, will not be permitted.
• Dresses, skirts, culottes, and/or walking shorts must be no shorter than two inches above the knee, as measured from the bend in the back of the knee with the waistband in the normal position. 
• Spandex pants, shorts, and leggings are not permitted alone. Leggings may be worn under a skirt. Any see-through material is not permitted. 

Money orders (only) for the inmates must be placed in the green mailbox at the front door or mailed. No cash or personal checks are accepted through the mail. The inmate's identification number (SBI number) and Name and Purchaser's Name and Address must be on the money order.

All visitors will place hats, gloves, belts, coats, jackets, shoes, IDs, keys, and any other carried items in the designated container to be sent through the x-ray machine.

The visitor and inmate will sit in a place designated by the Visiting Room Officer. No change in location is permitted. Meeting outside is not permitted.

The inmate may briefly embrace and kiss his visitor(s) at the beginning and end of the visit. They will then be seated. If the visitor is alone, they are required to sit across the table. The holding of hands is permissible so long as the hands are kept on top of the table and near the center at all times. 

Any actions or gestures beyond the established policy will necessitate disciplinary action for the inmate and/or loss of visitation privileges for the visitor.

No property may be exchanged between an inmate and his visitors.

Visitors are not permitted to leave the Visiting Room during a visit except for an emergency or illness, and they may not return to the visit.

You should show respect for others visiting and keep all conversations in a low tone. Loud conversations, foul language, arguments, or fighting will result in cancellation of the visit and disciplinary action for the inmate. 

Officers reserve the right to turn away any visitor due to intoxication, failing to obey direction, or generally misbehaving. This is to include control of the behavior of all minor children on the grounds of SCI by their accompanying parent or guardian. Any violation of this may result in suspension and/or termination of visiting privileges.

Special visits are limited to those who meet one of the following criteria:

• Special visits will be given to those who have a truly special need, such as the death of a family member or a sick relative which must be substantiated by letter or phone call by the person who wants to visit.
• If a visitor has traveled 150 miles or more, they may be eligible for a special visit. This special visit will only be permitted every six (6) months, unless a serious emergency arises that can be substantiated with documentation.

Sentenced inmates on the compound are granted one and a half (1.5) hours visiting time a week. This is used in one visit or broken into two forty-five minute visits.

Inmates housed in Pre-Trial are granted one forty-five minute visit per week.

Public transportation to and from SCI is available via the DART bus which has a bus stop (route 206) on SCI grounds near the facility entrance.

Mail should be limited to letters, cards, written correspondence, non-Polaroid pictures, and money orders.

Do NOT mail offenders packages, pornography, cash, stamps, tobacco, or illegal substances.

How to Call an Inmate

You can’t call an inmate at Sussex Correctional Institution, but they can make collect calls during approved daytime hours. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Delaware, please click here.

How to Send Money

In order to get money to an offender at Sussex, please adhere to these guidelines:

• Personal checks will not be accepted.
• It is unwise to send cash in the mail.
• Money orders may be sent by mail or dropped off during scheduled visits with the offender to whom the money is going. 

All money orders must include the following information:

• Offender's full name
• Offender's SBI number
• Assigned institution
• Name of the remitter

Money sent to an inmate will be credited to the offender's account within 24 hours of receipt (during normal business hours).

Programs For Inmates

Sussex Correctional Institution (SCI) Education serves as many as 500 enrolled adult male students annually in multiple academic and vocational areas. The program is supported by 22 inmate tutors who work with teachers to provide tutoring to students in the classrooms and perform recordkeeping/office tasks that support instructional efforts. 

The Youthful Criminal Offenders Program (YCOP) is a housing unit/program that accommodates a juvenile male population between ages 16-18. This housing unit is segregated from the adult male population at SCI. Education is mandatory for juveniles without a high school diploma. Offenders attend classes five days a week.

Academic offerings include:

• Adult Basic Education, ESL, and GED
• James H. Groves High School Diploma
• Special Education Services

Vocational offerings include:

• Life Skills: Coursework covering a plethora of transitional skills including, but not limited to Moral Reconation Therapy, Interpersonal Skills, Anger & Stress Management, Financial Management, and Employment skills.
• Computers: Computer labs are available for offenders to learn a wide range of computer literacy skills. Students are able to attain completion certificates in Keyboarding, Windows OS, MS Excel, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Publisher.
• Masonry: Courses are provided through industry recommended curriculum including hands-on and classroom learning activities. Successful completion of these courses leads to National Center for Construction Education Research (NCCER) certification.

Pictures of Sussex Correctional Institution

Careers at Sussex Correctional Institution

The Delaware Department of Correction is the state's largest law enforcement agency. If you are interested in a career at Sussex Correctional Institution, click here.