Santiam Correctional Institution
Santiam Correctional Institution (SCI) is a prison for male inmates located in Salem, Oregon. It was constructed in 1946 and used as an annex to the Oregon State Hospital for mental health patients. In 1960, the building was acquired by Fairview Home and given the name Frederic Prigg Cottage.
In 1977, Prigg Cottage opened as a minimum custody pre-release center to ease overcrowded conditions at Oregon State Penitentiary, Oregon State Correctional Institution and Oregon Women's Correctional Center.
During the 1980's, Prigg Cottage evolved into Corrections Division Release Center, the Department of Corrections Release Center, and finally, in 1990 became SCI. For efficiency, SCI and Mill Creek Correctional Facility were administratively joined in 1992 under the management of one superintendent.
The prison complex sits on a 12-acre parcel with nine acres inside the perimeter fence.
Prison Insights
Santiam Correctional Institution
Thank you for visiting us to better understand how inmates are treated while incarcerated at this institution. Please be sure to share this website with others so that we can spread the word and help to maintain rights for current and former inmates.
Please note that by checking the box below, you understand we will be contacting you via email to better understand how we can help you and where our data will be used.
After confirming by checking the box below and inputting your email address, please press "submit" and then click on "View Insights" for the area you'd like to reveal.
What Do Inmate Families Think?
What Do Former Inmates Think?
What Do Employees Think?
Visiting Hours and Rules
Visiting hours at Santiam Correctional Institution are as follows:
Mondays and Fridays | 6:00 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. |
Saturdays and Sundays | 12:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. |
6:00 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. | |
Visiting Application
A visitor can also complete and submit a visiting application, and if approved will automatically be added to the AICs visiting list. However, an AIC can choose to remove the visitor from their list at any time. You can email the visiting application to the Inmate Services Unit or fax to (503) 378-3763. You can also mail the form to 2575 Center St NE, Salem, OR 97301.
What to bring to your visit
- Photo Identification
- All visitors 15 and older must bring a driver’s license, passport, state ID card, military ID card, school ID card, or other official government ID card
- Money
- Quarters only for use in the vending machines (no more than $15 in quarters is allowed).
- Metal Detector Medical Exception Form
- If you have a medical condition that makes it unsafe for you to walk through a metal detector, have your doctor complete the Metal Detector Medical Exception Form linked above.
Other Approved Items
- Pictures
- Visitors may bring five non-Polaroid photographs or five sheets of photographs into the visiting room. You must take all pictures with you at the end of the visit.
- Infant items
- Approved items per child include: two diapers, one clear plastic bottle, one single layer blanket, one pacifier, and diaper wipes contained in a clear plastic bag.
- Emergency medications
- Any medications that are prescribed for emergency purposes
What to Leave at Home or in a Institution Locker
- Non-emergency medications, prescribed or non-prescribed, are not allowed in the visiting room.
- Smoking of any kind is not allowed on any State of Oregon property, so please leave any tobacco products, vapes, etc. behind.
- Cash other than $15 in quarters. You cannot bring checkbooks, credit, and/or debit cards into the visiting area.
- No cell phones, pagers, or other electronic devices
- Weapons of any kind are not allowed
- Metal buttons, body piercings, jewelry, underwire bras, and some shoes may activate the metal detector. Avoid wearing metal as much as possible.
Dress Code
DO NOT WEAR BLUE DENIM OR BLUE CLOTHING OF ANY KIND. This is for security purposes, since inmates themselves wear blue and blue denim clothing.
Dress conservatively. Dresses, skirts, jumpers, culottes, and shorts are permitted if they are worn at knee level or lower when standing. Footwear and undergarments are required.
Prohibited clothing:
- Suggestive, revealing, low-cut, or skimpy clothing. Hats, wrap-around skirts, halter tops, and sheer or see-through clothing are not allowed.
- Other types of provocative clothing; camouflage of any kind; and clothing, hairstyles, insignias or other paraphernalia associated with security threat groups or that are inflammatory in nature are not allowed.
- Raincoats, ski jackets, and other garments that are lined are not allowed inside the visiting room.
Physical Address
Santiam Correctional Institution
4005 Aumsville Hwy SE
Salem, OR 97317
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/VMk2ANTUsrNXioXSA
General Phone Number
(503)-378-2144
Inmate Mailing Address(es)
Inmate Name, SID Number
Santiam Correctional Institution
4005 Aumsville Hwy SE
Salem, OR 97317
How to Call an Inmate
Inmates at Santiam Correctional Institution can’t receive incoming phone calls, but they do have access to phones during certain hours. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Oregon, please click here.
How to Send Money
The Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) has contracts with JPay, CenturyLink (CenturyLink uses the vendor Access Corrections for Trust deposits), and Telmate. All accept electronic payments through their website, by telephone, and at walk up locations.
Adults in custody have two main types of accounts: a phone account and a commissary (trust) account.
- Phone account funds can be used for phone calls, electronic messaging, and computer tablet services.
- Commissary account funds can be used for items from the Institution like snacks, toiletries, and other goods and services. The DOC Rule on Trust Accounts has more detailed information on commissary accounts.
JPay
With JPay, you can place money on an AICs commissary (trust) account:
- JPay website: Visit the JPay website to create an account and send money with a credit or debit card.
- Phone: Call (800) 574-5729 to deposit money with a credit or debit card.
- In person: Visit Wal-Mart, 7-Eleven, or CVS to purchase a MoneyGram with cash or card. Once purchased, call (800) 574-5729 and use receive code, 7813.
Century Link
CenturyLink uses a vendor called Access Corrections, so you can place money on an AIC's commissary (trust) account:
- Visit the Access Corrections website to create an account and send money with a credit or debit card.
- Phone: Call (866) 345-1884 to send money with a credit or debit card.
- In person: Visit any Western Union Agent to send money with cash or card.
Telmate
With Telmate, you can place money on an AIC's commissary (trust) account.
- Telmate website or app: Visit the Telmate website or download the app to deposit using a credit or debit card
- Phone: Call Telmate customer service at (866) 516-0115.
US Mail
The Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) will ONLY accept money orders and cashier's checks through the mail. Make the money order or cashier’s check payable to “DOC” with the adult in custody's name and SID number. (Example: DOC for John Doe, SID #1234567)
Write the name and mailing address of the purchaser on the money order or cashier's check AND in the return address area of the mailing envelope. This information must be current and legible or your item will be returned.
Mail the money order or cashier’s check to:
Central Trust, AICs Name and SID Number
Oregon Department of Corrections
PO Box 14400
Salem, OR 97309-5077
Programs For Inmates
The institution places inmates in a full range of jobs and programs. Many of the labor-type jobs are in the form of crews contracting with state agencies, local organizations, and private industry within a 60-mile radius of Salem, Oregon. A variety of cognitive, substance abuse, transition and education programs are available to inmates housed at SCI.
- Cognitive Programs
- Substance Abuse Program
- Education
- Transition Programs
- Health Services
- Work Assignments (Measure 17)
- Religious Services
Parenting Inside Out
Parenting Inside Out (PIO) is an Oregon-grown skills training program that is the highest rated parenting service for criminal justice-involved adults (National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices). PIO is an evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral parent management skills training program created for incarcerated parents through a six-year collaboration of scientists, policy makers, practitioners, and instructional designers. Topics covered in the coursework include:
- Communications skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Emotion regulation (anger management)
- Child development
- Nurturing children through reading and play
- Family dynamics
- Giving effective directions and using positive reinforcement
- Child guidance and non-violent discipline techniques
- Adult development and the parenting role
- Transition planning and family reintegration
GED
The General Education Development (GED) course is a continuation of the functional literacy program where inmates who have not received a high school degree can earn their GED certificate. Participating inmates take five exams demonstrating satisfactory skill achievement in writing, social studies, science, literature and the arts, and math. Upon successful completion, the student will have earned their GED certificate.
Functional Literacy
The Functional Literacy program targets inmates with very limited functional skills and/or limited English language development. It is designed to develop reading, writing, computing, communicating, problem solving, and others skills deemed necessary to function in a work setting.
Vocational Job Training
The Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) offers various programs to inmates to develop specific skills and assist them in finding a job upon their release from prison. Many of the programs include training and production components that benefit the institution or provide a service for pay.
Job Training Programs include Automotive Technology, Construction Technology, and Welding. There are also apprenticeships available in cabinet making, painting, and sheet metal fabrication.
Social Activities
Athletic Club, Music Program, Capital Toastmasters, and Veteran's Association Club
Pictures of Santiam Correctional Institution
Careers at Santiam Correctional Institution
If you are interested in a career with the Oregon Department of Corrections, you can find out more information about available jobs at Santiam Correctional Institution by clicking here.
