Franklin Medical Center
Franklin Medical Center (FMC) is a medical treatment prison for male and female inmates that is located in Columbus, Ohio. This facility is operated by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections and can house approximately 500 inmates.
Prison Insights
Franklin Medical Center
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Visiting Hours and Rules
Visits in FMC Zone A and B are by reservation only. Reservations can be made by calling 614-445-5960 and pressing #3 for visiting.
Zone A Information
1. Each inmate will be allowed a maximum of 4 visits per month.
2. Each inmate’s approved visitor will be allowed to schedule only two visits per month (once the maximum of 4 is reached, no other visits will be scheduled for the month).
3. Cancellation of visits must be done within 72 hours prior to the scheduled visit.
4. Two (2) no shows for scheduled visits will result in forfeiture of scheduling for 30 days.
5. All scheduled visits will count as one visit toward the 4 monthly visits (all day visits will count as two (2) visits).
Morning session 7:00am – 10:00am (visitors must arrive no later than 9:00am to be permitted in for this session). Afternoon Session 11:00am – 2:00pm (visitors must arrive no later than 1:00pm to be permitted in for this session).
Sunday - 7:00 am to 10:00 am - Females; 11:00 am to 2:00 pm - Males.
Monday - 7:00 am to 10:00 am - Males; 11:00 am to 2:00 pm - Males; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Males.
Tuesday - 7:00 am to 10:00 am - Females; 11:00 am to 2:00 pm - Females; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Females.
Wednesday - 8:30 am to 10:30 am - Bedside visits; 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm - Bedside visits; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Bedside visits.
Thursday - 7:00 am to 10:00 am - Females; 11:00 am to 2:00 pm - Females; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Females.
Friday - 7:00 am to 10:00 am - Males; 11:00 am to 2:00 pm - Females.
Saturday - 7:00 am to 11:00 am - Females; 11:00 am to 2:00 pm - Females
Zone B Information
Zone B visiting is available Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 8am - 11am (must arrive by 10am to be permitted) and also 11:30am - 2:30pm (must arrive by 1:30pm to be permitted). Visiting is closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and all state holidays. Visiting hours are subject to change without notice. Please call the institution to verify visiting hours before planning a visit.
Visiting Applications
Each potential visitor must complete a Visiting Application and have it approved before visiting an inmate. This application may be sent through the U.S. Mail, emailed, faxed, or dropped off in person. Visitation will not be allowed until your application has been processed and you have been approved and notified. For complete details, click here.
Dress Code
Modest clothing is required during a visit Appropriate undergarments must be worn (i.e., bra, slip, and underwear).
Inappropriate attire includes, but is not limited to:
- See-through clothing of any kind.
- Tops or dresses that expose the midriff or have open backs or open sides (such as any sleeveless clothing such as halter tops, tube tops, cropped tops, tank tops, and muscle shirts).
- Low-cut clothing cut in a manner that exposes the chest.
- Any clothing that inappropriately exposes undergarments.
- Skirts, dresses, shorts, skorts, or culottes with the hem or slit above the mid-knee.
- Wrap-around skirts/dresses or break-away type pants.
- Clothing with any gang related markings.
- Clothing with obscene and/or offensive pictures, slogans, language, and/or gestures.
- Form-fitted clothing made from Spandex or Lycra or other similar knit material such as leotards, unitards, bicycle shorts, tight jeans, or tight pants.
- Clothing with inappropriate holes/rips, including shoulder cut-outs.
- No smartwatches or fitness monitors (such as fitbits).
Purses, handbags, backpacks, or similar items are not permitted. Diaper bags and infant carriers are permitted, but are subject to regular search procedures. Clear plastic bags are preferred, and you may bring:
- A reasonable number of diapers and baby wipes
- Three plastic baby bottles
- Three plastic containers of baby food
- One pacifier
Video Visitation
The Franklin Medical Center is equipped with video visiting kiosks in every general population housing unit. The hours of availability for video visits are as follows: 8:30 am – 10:00am; 11:30am – 3:30am; and 5:30Ppm – 8:30pm and days are Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Visits are 30 minutes in duration; however, an additional 30 minutes can be requested if there is no one scheduled at the same kiosk immediately after the conclusion of the initial video visit.
Only approved visitors are permitted to schedule video visits. Individuals must verify with the respective offender their visiting status. Once approved, individuals may contact JPay to create an account. JPay will then give instructions on how to proceed in setting up the video visit. Video visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance of the time that they are requested.
Visiting is a privilege we want all to enjoy and the expectation is that all institutional rules that apply to in-house visits will apply to video visits. The institution does have the ability to monitor all video visits.
Physical Address
Franklin Medical Center
1990 Harmon Avenue
Columbus, OH 43223
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/fTW3HhDbmv1QjRE69
General Phone Number
614-445-5960
Inmate Mailing Address(es)
Inmate Name, DOC Number
Franklin Medical Center
PO Box 23658
Columbus, OH 43223
All inmate mail must include the offender’s name and DOC number on the envelope. You can find your inmate’s DOC number by calling Central Inmate Records at 614-752-1076, or you can use the online tool.
JPay Email Option
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction uses JPay to allow family and friends to email their incarcerated loved one. Please visit JPay for additional information.
The Inmate Food and Sundry Package Program
Family, friends, and inmates may order food and sundry packages from approved vendors Keefe Group/Access Securepak, Union Supply Direct, and Walkenhorsts. Inmates have access to catalogs, flyers, and order forms for these programs.
How to Call an Inmate
Inmates at Franklin Medical Center do have access to phones, but they can’t receive incoming calls. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Ohio, please click here.
How to Send Money
You can send money to your inmate at Franklin Medical Center through JPay or the ConnectNetwork only if you are an approved (or tentatively approved) visitor.
Up to $200 per transaction and a maximum of $400 per calendar month from an approved visitor may be deposited into an inmate's personal account through any of the following ways:
- MAIL - Approved (or tentatively approved) visitors may make deposits by U.S. Mail through JPay. Each money order must be accompanied by the Money Order Deposit form, found on the JPay Website and a copy of your driver's license (or state ID or passport). This will be used to match your name to the visiting list. The name on the money order must exactly match:
- the name on the driver's license, state ID, or passport; AND
- the name and date of birth used to register as a visitor with DRC
- Money orders may not exceed $200, unless approved in advance by the institution Warden.
- You will not be able to send any letters to the inmate with the money order. Any letters sent to inmates with the money order will be discarded.
- Please visit the JPay website for additional information.
- ONLINE - Send money through the ConnectNetwork website with deposits using credit or debit cards. OffenderConnect charges a transaction fee for using this service.
- TELEPHONE - Deposit funds by calling toll-free 1-888-988-4PMT (4768), reference Site ID 86 when prompted by the automated attendant. Deposits can be made through the toll-free number using credit or debit cards. There is a transaction fee for using this service.
Programs For Inmates
Three Medical Units
Three Medical Units provide inpatient medical services to inmate-patients in need of intensive skilled medical and nursing care. Two units house patients with short-term needs. The third unit provides specialized care for those patients with significant long-term medical needs and/or with significant physical disabilities.
The CARE
The CARE (Creating A Responsive Environment for the Terminally Ill) program provides palliative and holistic end-of-life care for inmates suffering from advanced terminal illness. A multidisciplinary team addresses the medical, mental health, spiritual and daily assistance needs of each inmate-patient. The involvement of family members and Stephen Ministry community volunteers and inmate companions also support the program's goal of providing the inmate the opportunity to die with dignity.
The Family Reunification Program
The Family Reunification Programs encompasses various special events that are designed to strengthen family bonds behind and beyond the bars to include annual Mother’s and Father’s Day dinners, Family Night, Inside Outside Dads, and Love One of Prisoners (LOOP).
Stephen Ministries
Stephen Ministry is a program that affords trained volunteers and offenders to serve as compassionate caregivers to terminally ill patients housed in the C.A.R.E. (Creating A Responsive Environment for the Terminally Ill) Unit located on 2 North. Stephen Ministry is a place where people with special gifts for the caring ministry can use those gifts to bring support and comfort to those in need with the goal of no one having to transition alone.
Community Services
- Purebred Rescue Organization of Ohio
- Pilot Dogs
- Crayons to Computers
- Tandana Foundation
- Touching Little Lives
- Vineyard of Columbus
Academic
- Adult Basic Education (ABLE)
- Pre-GED
- GED
- High School Options
Apprenticeship Programs
- Alteration Tailor
- Animal Trainer
- Cook (any industry)
- Electrical Maintenance
- Healthcare Sanitation Technician
- Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
- Landscape Management Technician
- Maintenance Repairer, Building
- Materials Coordinator
- Recovery Operator
Education Services
- Computer Aided Instructional Laboratories (CAIL)
- Correctional Education Association (CEA) Tutor Training
- Ohio Reentry Connections
- Special Education Services
- Library Services
Career-Technical (Vocational) Programs
- Administrative Professional Support (APS)
- Graduation, Reality and Dual Role Skills (GRADS)
Social Service
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- Religious Programming
- Narcotics Anonymous
- Mental Health Programming
- Reentry
- Victim Awareness
- Release Preparation
- Thinking for Change
- Responsible Family Life Skills
- Bonds Beyond Bars
- Girl Scouts
- Money Smart
- T.O.P.C.U. (The Only Person You Cheat Is You)
- Current Events
- CleanTurn
- Mother Matters
- Inside Outside Dads
- Celebrate Recovery-Life Healing Choices
- Brother and Sisters in Recovery
- Roots for Success
- N2Work
- Citizen Circle
- Otterbein University Writing and Ethics Classes
- Restoration the New You
- LOOP (Loved Ones of Prisoners)
- Inmate Community Affairs Committee
- Father Factor
Pictures of Franklin Medical Center
Careers at Franklin Medical Center
If you are interested in a career with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections — and would like to apply for a job at the Franklin Medical Center — you can find out more information about available jobs by clicking here.
