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

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting hours at Santiam Correctional Institution are as follows:

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.

How to Call an Inmate

How to Send Money

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.