Parnall Correctional Facility

The Parnall Correctional Facility is a Level I minimum-security state prison for male inmates that is located in Jackson, Michigan. This prison opened in 1926 and was created out of the minimum-security section of the former State Prison of Southern Michigan. 

Parnall Correctional Facility sits on approximately 45 acres of land with five housing units, as well as an additional 21 buildings. SMT houses nearly 1,700 level one adult male prisoners ranging from 18 years of age and older.

The weatherized pole buildings have sealed concrete slab flooring and plaster board covered walls. The bricked structures are built of brick, mortar, steel, and glass.

The facility serves as an in-reach site for the entire state of Michigan as they parole returning citizens to all 83 counties within Michigan. As an in-reach facility, they are charged with the task of preparing prisoners for a successful transition to their community.

The perimeter of the facility consists of a double chain link fence with sensor alarms, concertina wire, security cameras, and a response vehicle.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting Hours at Parnall Correctional Facility are on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 2:00 pm to 8:30 pm. They also have weekend visiting hours on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am to 8:30 pm.

General Visiting Rules

Before you can visit an inmate at Parnall Correctional Facility, you must first complete a Visiting Application to request approval. You must submit the Visiting Application in advance of your visit to allow for review of the Application. Your inmate must also place you on the visitor list.

Be prepared to be searched by officers when you arrive for your visit. Any visitor who fails to clear the metal detector after two attempts will be screened by use of a handheld metal detector. The facility will also use the black light hand marking system for visitors. The black light will be used to check the hand marking on exit from the visiting room. 

A maximum of five people are allowed to visit with a prisoner at one time. Children under the age of two will not be counted in that number. 

A detailed list of visiting rules at Parnall Correctional Facility can be found by clicking here. You can also find a complete Family Information Packet by clicking here.

Personal Property Allowed in the Visiting Room

You are allowed to bring the following items into the visiting room:

• 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.
• For visitors with infants: 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 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. 
• 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. 

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 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. 
• Visitors 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 not allowed. 
• 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 into the visiting room, but they are subject to search and inspection.
• Footwear is required. 
• 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.

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

All inmate mail sent to the Parnall Correctional Facility 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).

Prisoners may receive publications ordered by members of the public from the following Internet vendors, provided the publication is not used and is sent directly to the prisoner from the Internet vendor:

• Amazon.com
• BarnesandNoble.com
• EdwardRHamilton.com and HamiltonBooks.com
• prisonlegalnews.org/humanrightsdefensecenter.org/action/publishing/
• Schulerbooks.com
• Walmart.com

FFP Program

The FFP Program is an approved customized package program that allows loved ones to send authorized items to inmates.The spend limit is $100, not including tax and shipping, per FFP order placed. Only one FFP order is allowed per prisoner per quarter (i.e., Jan-Mar; Apr-Jun; Jul-Sep; Oct-Dec). 

For additional information, please 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 Parnall Correctional Facility via the GTL ConnectNetwork by using their Trust Fund service. 

You must create a ConnectNetwork account and then select Parnall Correctional Facility and your inmate before you can deposit money into the Trust Fund (commissary) account.

While using this website is the easiest and fastest way to make a Trust Fund deposit, there are several different payment options available. Note: all Trust Fund deposits are final; there are no refunds issued.

Programs For Inmates

Education

The Education Department offers Adult Basic Education with the emphasis on achieving General Education Diploma (GED). Michigan Law requires prisoners to achieve their GED prior to paroling.

Parnall Correctional Facility also offer Special Education and Vocational Programs through the Vocational Village, as follows: auto mechanics, concrete, masonry, truck driving, fork-lift, building trades, CNC and robotics. The Education Department also offers employment readiness programs.

Vocational Village

The Vocational Village site at Parnall Correctional Facility has the capacity for 240 vocational trade students and 32 trade tutors. Prisoners participating in Vocational Village programming are housed together in one unit that acts as a therapeutic learning environment that supports their success.

By housing prisoners together who share a common goal of improving their lives through education, a positive and productive environment has been created. Housing the prisoners together offers many advantages such as the opportunity to discuss educational topics during non-class time, eating together, and attending other programs and leisure time activities.

Prisoners have full days of training and classroom instruction intended to mimic a typical workday outside prison walls, and will receive state and nationally-recognized certifications in their trade.

Other Programming

There is an extensive range of self-help programs available at Parnall Correctional Facility: AA/NA, Substance Abuse (Phase II), and a number of cognitive restructuring programs including Michigan Sex Offender Programming, Thinking for a Change and Violence Prevention to assist with anger management and decision making in all areas of one’s life. There is also MiDVP (Michigan Domestic Violence Programing).

With the current prison population, almost every faith is represented, and the facility has a separate building which serves as the Chapel for all religious faiths.

The Facility has on-site health care services. More serious cases are referred to Duane L. Waters Hospital, local hospitals, and health care providers. Mental health services are provided by an integrated team of psychologists, psychiatrists, and licensed counseling staff.

Food Service, maintenance, yard crews, and regional store operations serve major employment for the prisoner population. Prisoners are required to work unless prohibited for health reasons.

The following leisure time activities are offered: recreation, hobby craft, music, writing, poetry and art programs. Prisoners also have access to a general and law library.

Pictures of Parnall Correctional Facility

Careers at Parnall Correctional Facility

If you are interested in a career with the Michigan Department of Corrections at the Parnall Correctional Facility, you can find job listings by clicking here.