Gus Harrison Correctional Facility

The Gus Harrison Correctional Facility is named after the Michigan Department of Correction’s first director.  It is a multi-security prison on the eastern border of the city of Adrian, Michigan. It consists of 14 housing units and can house 2,362 prisoners.

The facility operates a dog program with Assistance Dogs for Achieving Independence (ADAI). The dogs are trained at the facility and once they have completed the program, ADAI places the dog in a home to serve as a service companion. The facility can train up to 20 dogs at one time.

The Gus Harrison Correctional Facility protects its perimeter with double chain-link fences, buffer fences, razor-ribbon wire, electronic detection systems, video surveillance, two gun towers and patrol vehicles.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting Hours at Gus Harrison Correctional Facility are as follows:

Level I
Monday          2:30pm to 8:30pm
Thursday        2:30pm to 8:30pm
Friday              2:30pm to 8:30pm
Saturday         10:00am to 8:00pm
Sunday           10:00am to 8:00pm

Level I inmates are permitted a total of 8 visits per month; any/all may occur on the weekend.

Level II
Monday         2:30pm to 9:00pm
Friday            2:30pm to 9:00pm
Sunday          8:30am to 9:00pm

Level II inmates are permitted a total of 7 visits per month; only 2 may occur on the weekend 

IV/RTP
Thursday     2:30pm to 9:00pm
Saturday      8:30am to 9:00pm

IV/RTP inmates are permitted a total of 5 visits per month; only 2 may occur on the weekend 

SSRTP
Thursday    2:30pm to 9:00pm
Saturday     2:30pm to 9:00pm

SSRTP inmates are permitted a total of 5 visits per month; only 2 may occur on the weekend 

Segregation
Saturday     8:30am to 1:30pm

Inmates in segregation are permitted a total of 4 visits per month; only 2 may occur on the same weekend; non-contact visits only

General Visiting Rules

Anyone who wishes to visit an inmate must be placed on the inmate’s visiting list, and they also must complete a Visiting Application to request approval to visit. The Visiting Application must be submitted in advance to allow for review of the Application.

A maximum of five persons are allowed to visit with a prisoner at one time. Children less than two years of age will not be counted in that number. 

For a complete list of visiting rules at Gus Harrison Correctional Facility, click here. You can also find a complete Family Information Packet by clicking here.

Visitors may arrive up to 30 minutes prior to visiting hours but will not be processed until visiting hours begin. Visitors may use the restroom and store their personal items in the visitor lockers at this time. 

Please note that cellular devices are not permitted inside of the facility. Visitors may not wait in their vehicles on state grounds. All vehicle windows and doors must be secured. Visitors must comply with dress codes and remove prohibited personal items before entering the gates. 

Please plan to bring $0.25 to be used as a deposit for storing your personal items in the lockers. Cell phones, cameras, and other recording devices are not allowed inside of the facility and should remain locked in your vehicle. Other personal items, such as a purse, wallet or keys can be secured in a locker. 

Visitors may purchase photo tickets for $2.50 (on prepaid card) in the visiting room. These photos may be taken home by the visitor or remain with the prisoner. All photographs taken of prisoners will be supervised by the staff and approved by staff prior to distribution to the prisoner or visitor. All photographs will be limited to one prisoner per photograph. All persons in photographs must be completely clothes, i.e. no shirtless pictures. 

Dress Code

• Visitors must be fully dressed in clean clothes that do not have holes
• Undergarments must be worn, including underpants/panties; adult females must wear a brassiere. 
• Clothing which exposes excessive skin (e.g., abdomen, breast, chest, back, thigh, etc.) is prohibited. This clothing includes, but is not limited to, see-through clothing, tube/halter tops, and shorts or skirts/dresses that are more than 3” above the knee. 
• A visitor who is fourteen years of age or younger must be attired in clothing which covers his/her body from the base of the neck to the top of the knees. T-Shirt and shorts/trousers are acceptable, but a sundress is not acceptable. 
• Clothing which exposes undergarments is prohibited. 
• Extreme form-fitting clothing, including but not limited to yoga pants, running tights, jeggings, unitards, etc. may not be worn as outer garments. 
• Clothing which displays words, symbols, gestures, or pictures that may be perceived as obscene or inflammatory are prohibited. 
• Outer garments such as shawls/ponchos/lightweight coats/jackets (including denim and jogging suit jackets), winter coats/jackets, shrugs, vests, headgear, gloves, or outer boots that slip over a shoe are not allowed in the visiting room. Blazers, suit coats, and sweaters are permissible. Note: Hooded garments are prohibited. 
• Visitors are permitted to wear religious clothing and headgear (e.g., Hijab, yarmulke, turban, habit, etc.), into the visiting room; they are subject to search and inspection. It may be necessary for MDOC staff to search/inspect these items at any time during the visiting process. 
• Footwear must be worn at all times. 
• Jewelry worn by visitors will be itemized on entry and on leaving the visiting area. Jewelry is limited to no more than ten pieces. Note: Jewelry which includes an open compartment or space designed to contain photographs, hair, ashes, etc. is prohibited (e.g., lockets, rings, charms, vials, etc.). 

Also prohibited are watches, including electronic wristbands, pendants, eyeglasses, and other similar items containing a camera, GPS, wireless, or electronic functions. 

Personal Property Allowed in the Visiting Room

The following list is all-inclusive: 

• Locker key
• Visitor pass
• Identification card
• Money for vending machines - a maximum amount of $25.00 per visitor or no more than $60 per group visit.
• When an infant is on the visit: Two clear plastic bottles, one pacifier, and one single-layered baby blanket (no quilt or comforter style). A clear, plastic spill-proof cup “sippy cup” is permitted when a toddler is a member of the visiting party. 
• Medications and/or medical equipment (e.g., wheelchair, cane, walker, oxygen equipment, prosthesis, etc.) which may be needed by a visitor during a visit are permitted with the approval of the shift commander.
• A service animal which provides service for a disabled visitor is permitted to accompany the visitor while in the visiting room. A service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. 
• Photo tickets - Visitors may purchase photo tickets from the lobby vending machine. All photographs of prisoners will be supervised by staff and approved prior to distribution to prisoner or visitor. All photographs will be limited to one prisoner per photograph. 
• Immediate family members may bring legal documents in on a visit for review only with the prisoner. The documents cannot be left with the prisoner nor left at the front desk for the prisoner. These items are subject to search before being taken into the visiting room. 

When writing to a prisoner at Gus Harrison Correctional Facility using the US mail system, the envelope must include the address of the facility as well as the offender’s name and MDOC number. If you do not know this information, you can search the OTIS Database located on the MDOC’s website (www.michigan.gov/mdoc).

FFP Program

The FFP Program is a Department-approved customized package program that allows family members and others to send authorized items to prisoners while safeguarding against the introduction of contraband.  

There is a limit of $100, not including tax and shipping, per FFP order placed. Only one FFP order may be placed by or for a prisoner per quarter (i.e., Jan-Mar; Apr-Jun; Jul-Sep; Oct-Dec). Only the first order placed by or for a prisoner each quarter will be processed, regardless of who placed the order or the value of the order.

For additional information about this program, visit the FFP website at www.michiganpackages.com.

How to Call an Inmate

How to Send Money

You can send money to an inmate at Gus Harrison Correctional Facility via the GTL ConnectNetwork with their Trust Fund service. 

After creating a ConnectNetwork account and selecting Gus Harrison Correctional Facility and your inmate to add to your account, you can deposit money into the Trust Fund (commissary) account at any time. Deposit amounts vary, but the most common denominations are between $10 and $100. All funds appear on the inmate’s account quickly, efficiently, and accurately.

Programs For Inmates

The academic programs at Gus Harrison Correctional Facility offer a range of educational opportunities including General Education Development, Special Education courses for prisoners with learning disabilities, and College courses. Vocational training is available in Optical, Culinary Arts, and License Plate Production.

Other programs include Substance Abuse, MiDVP (Domestic Violence Prevention), Violence Prevention Program, a cognitive restructuring effort called Thinking for a Change, Employment Readiness/Pre-Release, English as a second language and general and law library services. 

The prison offers group counseling and religious services. For prisoners with mental health problems, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers are available. An outpatient mental health team provides additional therapy. Referrals to outside medical facilities are made when necessary.

Prisoners are provided on-site routine medical and dental care. Serious problems are treated at the department’s Duane L. Waters Healthcare in Jackson. Emergencies are referred to a local hospital. 

Employment Readiness/Pre-Release

Employment readiness programming prior to release. Areas included are prisoner education, vocational education, and job placement.

Academic Classes

These classes improve students’ basic skills and prepare them to take the General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Classes offered at MDOC facilities include: Adult Basic Education (ABE) and GED, English as a Second Language (ESL), and Special Education programming.

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

CTE programs provide prisoners with specific trades instruction, technical skills and soft skill competencies critical to finding and maintaining employment. These skills are transferable into community employment or community college programming through state and/or federally recognized certifications upon completion. Correctional Education provides CTE programming in a flexible schedule offering open entry and open exit enrolment. School principals ensure classroom enrollment is maximized and waiting lists are kept to a minimum so each prisoner can achieve educational goals as efficiently and economically as possible.

Special institutional and community projects provide prisoners the opportunity to demonstrate hands-on skills through job-related programming and restorative justice opportunities.

Career and Technical Counseling (CTC) (Formerly Vocational Counseling)

Career interest and aptitude assessment is provided to prisoners. The counseling, which accompanies the test administration, assists the prisoner in selecting CTE programming within the prisons and in determining career paths upon release.

Chance for Life (CFL)

CFL is a voluntary program offered at select facilities intended to support workforce entry, job readiness skills, life skills, and behavior modification to provide positive adjustment of prisoners upon their release from prison.

College (Post-Secondary Programs)

Prisoners are allowed to participate in post-secondary classes geared towards college credit or enrichment at their own expense. The correspondence course Policy Directive allows prisoners to take college classes through the mail from a number of colleges and universities, including Ohio University, Delta College, and Montcalm Community College, to name a few.

Some colleges also offer courses face to face inside the prison. Jackson Community College (JCC) and the University of Michigan Dearborn are currently providing credit-barring classes inside correctional facilities. 

The VERA Grant allows the expansion of these classes through JCC, Kalamazoo Community College, and Oakland Community College. 

Routine Work Assignment (RWA)

The Department is committed to providing prisoners with an opportunity to acquire job skills and develop positive and constructive work habits to improve their employment readiness, opportunities, and potential wages both in the institution and upon their return to the community. Therefore, whenever possible, prisoners should be placed in Routine Work Assignments that will provide work experience relevant to the current job market. In addition, when feasible, the prisoner’s work day should simulate the work day in the community.

State Correctional Opportunities for Rehabilitation and Education (SCORE)/Prison Build

This program, formerly called Prison Build, allows prisoners to gain valuable work experience producing various items for non-profit organizations and state agencies. The MDOC collaborates with numerous organizations including Habitat for Humanity, The Children’s Trust Fund, the Ionia Free Fair, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Human Services, Goodwill Industries, and various Food Banks and Homeless Shelters. 

Items produced include: house walls, cabinets, beds, countertops, picnic tables, landscaping plants, trees, and native grasses. Prisoners that participate in this program are trained in MDOC Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes and earn state and/or national certifications. Under the umbrella of SCORE, prisoners participate in restorative justice projects while contributing to the community.

Pictures of Gus Harrison Correctional Facility

Careers at Gus Harrison Correctional Facility