South Boise Women's Correctional Center

The South Boise Women's Correctional Center (SBWCC) is a treatment and transition facility for Retained Jurisdiction (Rider) female inmates located south of Boise, Idaho. SBWCC has an operating capacity of 306 inmates in two separate housing units. 

Programming opportunities are based on cognitive and behavioral change through intensive treatment, education, and accountability. 

SBWCC is one of seven facilities in a small area known as the “South Boise Prison Complex.”

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

All visitors must be approved before they can visit an inmate at the South Boise Women's Correctional Center. Please read and be familiar with the Visiting Rules for Offenders and Visitors and complete the visiting application process before visiting.

For questions regarding visiting, please send an email to: [email protected].

Visitors must be on time or they will be turned away. 

The only items visitors are allowed to bring into the visiting room are: Photo identification, money for vending machines, vehicle keys, and if small children are visiting, a diaper bag. (The diaper bag may contain diapers; wipes; a pacifier; two bottles of formula, milk, water, or juice; and a container of baby food or cereal) 

No electronic equipment of any kind (including cell phones) is allowed in the visiting area. The use of tobacco products on IDOC property is not allowed, to include parking areas. No tobacco can be brought into any facility. All tobacco products must be stored in a locked vehicle.

Visitors, 16 and older, must have valid and current photo identification (ID) (specifically a driver’s license, state-issued ID, military ID, or valid/current United States passport). Visitors between the age of 16 and 18 years can also use student ID cards issued by their schools. 

No food or drink from the outside is allowed to be brought into the facility. Visitors may purchase food and drink items in the vending machines for consumption by the visitor and inmate. Visitors must take unopened food and drink items with them at the end of visiting. Visitors must provide their own change or vending card.

Inmates may not give or receive any item from a visitor. Visitors may not give or receive any item from an inmate. 

Visitors must wear garments that are conservative and modest. Proper underclothing must be worn. No bare feet. 

Attire That Is Not Allowed: sleeveless garments, bare midriffs, scrubs, shorts, cutoffs, miniskirts, hats, caps, bandanas, doo-rags, spandex, and low-cut or see-through clothing. 

Multi-layered clothing that could be used to conceal contraband, such as coats and sweatshirts, are also not allowed. Correctional staff will use discretion with young children, normally those under eight years of age. 

The following physical contact is allowed during a visit: holding hands in plain view, and placing one arm around the shoulder with the hand on the shoulder. 

All custody levels allow a brief, closed-mouth kiss and embrace at the beginning and end of the visit. Children age six and younger may sit on the inmate's lap. Goodbyes are said in the assigned visiting area. 

All incoming mail must be clearly addressed with the inmate's committed name (no nicknames), IDOC number, institution, and housing assignment. Incoming mail that presents no procedural problems will be processed and delivered within 24 hours of receipt, Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. 

Junk mail such as direct marketing, mass mailings, sales flyers, credit card applications, coupons, etc. will be destroyed.

Contraband (prohibited mail) is anything that is prohibited by Board, Department, or facility rules, policies, directives, or standard operating procedures. Do not send an inmate contraband.

You can also send an inmate at South Boise Women's Correctional Center an email or videogram using JPay.

How to Call an Inmate

You can’t call an Inmate at the South Boise Women's Correctional Center. However, during assigned times, inmates have access to a phone and can make outgoing calls. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Idaho, please click here.

How to Send Money

You can send money to an inmate at South Boise Women's Correctional Center through Access Corrections. Visit the Deposit and Payment Services FAQ page or www.accesscorrections.com for fees and full details.

Access Corrections will accept deposits for an inmate trust account online, by phone, by mail and through authorized retailers. 

• Online:  www.accesscorrections.com (fees apply)
• Phone:  1-866-345-1884 (fees apply)
• Walk-in Sites: CashPayToday.com (call 1-844-340-2274 to enroll and find a location) and AceCashExpress.com (call 1-877-223-2274 to find a location)
• Mail (free service):                                                

Secure Deposits-Idaho DOC                                              
PO Box 12486                                                                            
St. Louis, MO 63132

​Programs For ​Inmates

Inmates who are sentenced to a Retained Jurisdiction (Rider) are assessed to determine their medical, programmatic, education level and mental health needs. The information from these assessments is used to determine which treatment programs they will be participating in. The programs are as follows:

• Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions for Substance Abuse (CBI-SA): Developed by the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute for the criminal justice population, this program is designed for individuals who are moderate to high need in the area of substance abuse. 

This program helps participants look at the impact drugs and alcohol have had on their lives and develop some tools to make different future choices. Participants meet in small groups (8-10 participants) over 44 sessions. 

This program places heavy emphasis on skill-building activities to assist with cognitive, social, emotional, and coping skills development. The program is divided into six modules including: Motivational Engagement, Cognitive Restructuring, Emotional Regulation, Social Skills, Problem Solving, and Success Planning.  Participants will spend a significant amount of time in this group learning and practicing new methods of handling risky situations.

• Thinking for a Change (T4C): – is an integrated cognitive-behavioral change curriculum developed by the National Institute of Corrections specifically for justice-involved inmates. T4C concentrates on changing the criminogenic thinking of inmates, and includes skill development and training in cognitive restructuring, social skills development, and development of problem-solving skills. 

T4C is comprised of 25 lessons delivered to small groups of inmates (8-10) that build upon each other and can be used to craft an aftercare program to meet the ongoing individual needs of each participant following release back into the community.

• Advanced Practices (AP): Inmates sent on a retained jurisdiction who have already completed core IDOC programming (ART, CBI-SA, CBI-SO and/or T4C) will be placed in an Advanced Practices Group (AP). 

The Advanced Practice Curriculum provides a structured method to assist in practicing the skills learned in the core programming (ART, CBI-SA, CBI-SO and/or T4C) in a progressively more challenging way through the use of more difficult situations with increased pressure. These open-ended groups allow participants to continue practicing cognitive restructuring, emotion regulation, social skills, and problem-solving in increasingly complex and challenging scenarios. Once the learning objectives are achieved, inmates will graduate from the group. 

• Aggression Replacement Training (ART): The Aggression Replacement Training program, which is designed to be delivered over the course of 12 weeks, targets the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional components of aggression to reduce aggressive behavior. 

The program integrates Skill Development (a behavioral component) with Anger Control Training (emotional) and Moral Reasoning Training (values). Participants develop an understanding of aggression and its connection to criminal behavior and the “angry behavior cycle.” Through the integration of the three core components (skill streaming, anger control, and moral reasoning), inmates are taught an array of prosocial skills to develop better self-control and to learn to redirect and reduce their anger and aggression.

• Pre-release: This 40 to 60-hour program is designed to increase understanding of the rules and expectations of community supervision and restorative justice principles. Inmates are required to complete a computer literacy course, a personal portfolio, and the Pre-release workbook, as well as attend several short, standardized group sessions related to education and career planning.  

The Pre-release curriculum includes information and training in the following categories: job search skills, money management, goal setting, education, employment, communication, housing, transportation, health, relationships, and supervision.

Alternative Treatment

In addition to programming, offenders are provided opportunities to engage in additional educational and/or treatment groups: Education, Building Healthy Relationships, Workforce Readiness, Seeking Safety, Mindfulness, Stress Management and Grief and Loss.

• Education: Education programs are designed to prepare incarcerated offenders to live successful, crime-free lives. These educational services include Literacy, Secondary Education, Professional Technical Education, and Special Education based on assessed individual student needs. 

Educational programs recognize offenders' achievements through certifications and diplomas that are also recognized by employers and other educational entities. Programs are based on the needs of the students (through assessments), the needs of employers and the ability of the institutions to provide the training. Educational case plans drive the educational programs that are offered to offenders.

• Building Healthy Relationships: This domestic violence support group provides education to help recognize domestic violence risk factors and the harm caused for themselves and their children by remaining in abusive relationships. Women learn how to identify abuse, select healthy partners and how to nurture their children in a manner that could stop the cycle of abuse.
• Workforce Readiness: These educational classes enhance workforce development and life skills.
•  Beyond Trauma: Beyond Trauma addresses past abuse that women have experienced. Through the curriculum women address the responses/reactions that they have experienced in regards to their trauma such as engaging in drug and alcohol use to manage emotions. The curriculum moves from an attempt to normalize the emotions and responses that women have experienced and then to develop strategies to manage anxiety and responses to triggers of past trauma.
• Mindfulness: This is a 20-session group that combines cognitive and behavioral therapy. It consists of four components: Basic Mindfulness Skills, Emotion Regulation, Interpersonal Effectiveness, and Distress Tolerance.
• Stress Management: Participants learn skills to help manage emotions, including anger. The group is designed for delivery in 12 sessions. Each group consists of a period of physical exercise, an educational process topic and relaxation techniques.
• Grief and Loss: This is an eight session group which addresses issues associated with losses in our lives. Participants develop an understanding of how these issues relate to decisions we make such as using alcohol and other drugs.

Pictures of South Boise Women's Correctional Center

Careers at South Boise Women's Correctional Center

South Boise Women's Correctional Center is run by the Idaho Department of Corrections. If you are interested in a job at the facility, click here.