Wells Conservation Camp

Wells Conservation Camp is a minimum-security state prison for male inmates that is located outside of Wells, Nevada. It has the capacity to house 150 inmates. 

Wells Conservation Camp is located at exit 365 on interstate 80 in Independence Valley, approximately 14 miles east of Wells, Nevada. Construction of the facility began in the fall of 1984 with the utilization of inmate labor and the official opening of the camp was in March of 1985. 

WCC houses minimum custody offenders and operates under a cooperative partnership with the Nevada Division of Forestry. NDF operates seven inmate work crews at WCC providing wildland firefighting support as well as working on a variety of projects locally including, but not limited to, wildland conservation, community projects, senior citizen assistance and highway beautification and cleanup projects with the Nevada Department of Transportation.

Day to day operations at WCC are managed by a Correctional Lieutenant with Administrative supervision and support provided by Ely State Prison. 

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting hours at the Wells Conservation Camp are on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 am to 11:00 am. If you have any questions about visitation, call (775) 478-5120 and ask for Visiting.

General Rules

Each inmate is allowed a maximum of four approved visitors per visiting session (including children). All visitors are subject to a search when they arrive at WCC, and they must present a photo ID to get permission to enter the visiting room.

Before visiting your inmate, you must first get approval from the Nevada Department of Corrections.

Dress Code

The dress code at Wells Conservation Camp is strictly enforced. Visitors are not allowed to wear clothing similar to inmate clothing (i.e., blue denim shirts and/or pants). It is a Nevada DOC requirement to wear sensible, conservative attire as interpreted by the Visitation Officer or Supervisor.  Ladies must wear undergarments (bras, panties, slip, etc.) at all times. 

Visitors are not allowed to wear plain white T-shirts, sleeveless tops or dresses, midriff shirts, low cut tops or dresses, plunging necklines, or tops with a zipper the total length of the garment. 

Hooded jackets, shirts, or sweaters are not allowed.

Visitors can’t wear culottes or shorts, leggings or spandex, extreme baggy pants, or sweat pants. The Nevada DOC does allow skirts, but they must cover the entire knee while sitting and standing. Dresses must be at least mid-calf in length, and capri pants must be at least four inches below the knee.

Floor-length dresses and wrap around skirts and dresses are not allowed. Stretchy or tight-fitting fabric is prohibited, and slits in skirts and dresses must be no longer than three inches.

All shoes/sandals must have a back or heel strap to secure the shoe/sandal to the foot, and heels can be no more than two inches high.

Other dress code rules to remember:

• No see-through clothing
• Must not be able to see under garments
• No clothing depicting any athletic sports team or activity
• No gloves or scarves
• No nursing or medical uniforms/scrubs
• No tight fitting clothing
• No hats, headbands, scarves, or bandanas 
• Wigs, toupees, and hairpieces are allowed but are subject to search
• Jewelry allowed: One ring per hand, one set of earrings, one watch, and one necklace of religious nature (medical bracelets are allowed)

Items Allowed In The Visiting Room

The only items you are allowed to bring into the visiting room are a photo ID, a maximum of $40 in quarters or dollar coins (in a clear bag), medical equipment (wheel chairs, canes, walkers), and oxygen items.

The following baby items are allowed if you bring an infant, and they must be in a clear bag:

• Diapers  
• One change of clothing for the infant  
• Formula (not dry, MUST be mixed)
• Bottles  
• Wipes  
• Clearly marked baby food in a sealed container 

How to Call an Inmate

How to Send Money

The three options you have when it comes to sending money to an inmate at Wells Conservation Camp are: money by snail mail with a Lockbox Deposit Coupon (cashier's check or money order), online with a credit or debit card at the Access Corrections website, or by calling Access Corrections at 1-866-345-1884.

Coupons for mail-in lockbox deposits must be either printed or obtained from the inmate. The inmate is responsible for sending coupons to persons wishing to send the inmate money.

Please make sure the money order is payable to “ACCESS SECURE DEPOSITS” and mail the deposit slip and money order to:

Secure Deposits - Nevada DOC
P.O. Box 12486
St. Louis, MO 63132

Be aware that mailing a money order is an extremely slow process. Because of increased counterfeit activity, funds from ALL money orders and cashier's checks received directly by the Nevada Department of Corrections will not be available to the inmate until fourteen calendar days after receipt. 

If you use the Access Corrections website or phone number, the money will get to the inmate’s account much faster.

Programs For Inmates

WCC is a working camp with the majority of inmates being assigned to Nevada Division of forestry fire crews. Due to the remote location, the availability of program volunteers is limited. 

Currently WCC offers G.E.D. preparation and testing through Great Basin College of Elko, Nevada. Inmates can receive their High School Diploma, from Elko County School District and New Beginnings is another program that is offered. 

Efforts to expand on programming at WCC are ongoing.

Pictures of Wells Conservation Camp

Careers at Wells Conservation Camp

If you are interested in a career with the Nevada Department of Corrections and would like to work at the Wells Conservation Camp, you can find out more information by clicking here.