Southern Ohio Correctional Facility
Southern Ohio Correctional Facility is a maximum-security prison for male inmates that is located in Lucasville, Ohio. Operated by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, this facility has a population of approximately 1,300 inmates.
This facility houses some of the most violent and dangerous inmates in the state of Ohio, some of which have severe mental health issues.
Southern Ohio Correctional Facility had one of the largest crises in Ohio prison history and one of the longest prison sieges in U.S. history. On Easter Sunday, April 11, 1993, a total of 450 prisoners rioted, including an unlikely alliance between the prison gangs: Gangster Disciples, Black Muslims, and Aryan Brotherhood.
The riot resulted in an 11-day standoff with law enforcement. One corrections officer and nine inmates were killed. The main causes for the riot were serious overcrowding and mismanagement of the facility, plus Muslim frustration with mandated tuberculosis testing.
In the Netflix documentary series, Captive, inmate Siddique Abdullah Hasan (Carlos Sanders) claimed that Muslim prisoners refused the test because it contained phenol, and therefore went against Islamic restrictions concerning the handling and consumption of alcohol.
Prison Insights
Southern Ohio Correctional Facility
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Visiting Hours and Rules
Visitation is from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays through Saturdays. Visitors will not be processed into the visiting area after 4:00 p.m. Visiting is closed Sundays through Tuesday 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 reservations are required for all visiting sessions. Reservations are accepted up to 30 days in advance but no less than 72 hours prior to the visit. With the exception of state holidays, approved visitors may make a reservation by calling 740-259-5544, ext. 3208, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.
Click here for additional information.
Dress Code
Appropriate clothing and undergarments must be worn to visit an inmate. Inappropriate clothing 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, and backpacks are not permitted. Diaper bags and infant carriers are allowed, but clear plastic bags are preferred. 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 Southern Ohio Correctional Facility offers video visitation to level 4A inmates only; it is not available to level 4B inmates or inmates being held in restrictive housing. Reservations are accepted up to 30 days in advance but no less than 72 hours prior to the visit. Visitation is from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and closed Sunday through Tuesday, as well as all state holidays.
The video visits are 30 minutes in length but may be scheduled for additional time if within the visitation hours set for SOCF. Video visits are for approved visitors only who have registered with JPay.
Physical Address
Southern Ohio Correctional Facility
1724 St. Rt. 728
Lucasville, OH 45699
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/WW6p4LBVM96TgSgq6
General Phone Number
740-259-5544
Inmate Mailing Address(es)
Inmate Name, DOC Number
Southern Ohio Correctional Facility
PO Box 45699
Lucasville, OH 45699
You must clearly write your inmate’s name and DOC number on the envelope of all inmate mail. You can find their DOC number by calling Central Inmate Records at 614-752-1076, or you can use the online tool.
JPay Email Option
Please visit JPay for additional information about sending an email to your inmate.
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 Southern Ohio Correctional Facility 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
If you are an approved visitor, you can send money to your inmate at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility through JPay or the ConnectNetwork.
- MAIL - You can make deposits by U.S. Mail through JPay by sending a money order. 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 using credit or debit cards. OffenderConnect charges a transaction fee for using this service.
- TELEPHONE - Call 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
ADAPT
This Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Program was developed and designed for inmates while incarcerated to receive intensive outpatient care for drug/alcohol abuse. The 12 week program focuses on the implementation of cognitive and behavioral therapy through education to abolish dependency.
Reading Room
The reading rooms encourage family literacy by providing a pleasant and comfortable setting for both child and incarcerated parent. Each room is stocked with a wide variety of children’s books and has an inmate narrator who reads to the visiting children twice a day.
Community Services
- Scioto County Domestic Violence Shelter
- Teaching Aids
- Nursing Home Crafts/Decorations
- Christmas Card Recycling
Academic
- Adult Basic Education (ABLE)
- GED
Pictures of Southern Ohio Correctional Facility
Careers at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility
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 Southern Ohio Correctional Facility — you can find out more information about available jobs by clicking here.
