SCI Dallas
The State Correctional Institution at Dallas is a medium-security prison located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Many of the inmates at this facility are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole.
The State Correctional Institution at Dallas was designed by Clarence Littchfield as a model of the 1960’s. Its concept was based on the educational/school model to stress those aspects that encourage and aid in rehabilitation.
The facility was opened in January 1960 as a facility to house and care for the male, mentally retarded as defined within the Defective Delinquent Act of 1967. The Defective Delinquent Act was challenged in the courts and repealed on July 20, 1968, by the Supreme Court. This same year, SCI Dallas became a facility for sentenced adult felons serving a prison term of two years or more.
Prison Insights
SCI Dallas
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Visiting Hours and Rules
Visiting Days/Times at SCI Dallas:
Monday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Tuesday | Wednesday: CLOSED
MAX Number of Visitors per Inmate: 5 (includes children)
Vending Machine: The visiting room at SCI Dallas features vending machines that use a Vending Card only. The initial purchase of the card must be with a $20 bill. NOTE: There is a $2 charge for the initial purchase of the card. This means the first time your card will have $18 on it to spend. Money can be added to the card with any denomination. The cap amount is $80.
SCI Dallas is committed to providing individuals with a positive experience while they visit inmates. All visits should be successful when all DOC rules and regulations are followed. SCI Dallas appreciates your feedback. Please send your comments to: [email protected].
Visiting Rules
- Vehicles must be locked while on prison property. Windows must be rolled up/closed.
- NEVER bring any gifts or money for the inmate. This must be done through JPay. Prisons will NOT accept money to be placed on an inmate’s account.
- Cell phones and/or pagers are not permitted inside the SCIs.
- Any kind of device that has the capability of audio and/or video/photography recording and/or cell phone capabilities is NOT permitted.
- No purses, bags, diaper bags, etc.
- Unused visits per week may not be carried over into the following week. It’s a, “use them or lose them,” rule.
- At most facilities, lockers are available for use. Some lockers may require a deposit ranging from 25 cents to $10. Items not permitted in the visiting room should either be left in your vehicle or placed in the locker. All vehicles and lockers are subject to search.
Video Visitation
Virtual visitation is available at SCI Dallas and is limited to persons living in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas.
The program uses video conferencing technology to enhance parenting skills; allows an inmate to visit with immediate family members, caregivers of the inmate’s children, and other individuals on the inmate’s approved visiting list; increases the frequency of visits for an inmate; and permits the scheduling of visits at times that are best for the visitors.
Every inmate in general population status, regardless of his custody level, is eligible. Inmates housed in administrative and disciplinary custody are not permitted to participate in the Virtual Visitation Program.
To sign up and schedule a visit, check out the visitation scheduler system.
For complete details, read the Video Visitation Visitors Guide.Physical Address
SCI Dallas
1000 Follies Road
Dallas, PA 18612-0286
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/csAGXmPQFyzGC2kD6
General Phone Number
(570) 675-1101
Inmate Mailing Address(es)
Smart Communications/PADOC
SCI Dallas
Inmate Name, Inmate Number
PO Box 33028
St Petersburg, FL 33733
How to Call an Inmate
Inmates at SCI Dallas 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 Pennsylvania, please click here.
How to Send Money
The Department of Corrections (DOC) uses JPay for the processing of ALL MONEY ORDERS sent to inmates in all Pennsylvania correctional institutions AND all online and over-the-phone credit card transactions.
Family and friends must deposit money into an inmate's account through JPay, either online or through lobby kiosks at each individual state prison.
DO NOT send money to any other individual, website, or Email account. Money orders are NOT accepted at any state correctional institutions.
For JPay information, call 800.574.5729
JPay Frequently Asked Questions Information Sheet (pdf)
Money Orders
A Deposit Slip MUST be filled out and submitted with EVERY money order. Slips are available at the money order section of the JPay website, visiting rooms and the DOC's website.
DEPOSIT SLIP (pdf)
DEPOSIT SLIP (pdf) (Spanish)
Money order deposit slips MUST have the following information CLEARLY TYPED in order for the funds to be posted to the inmate account: Handwritten forms are subject to delay.
• Correct inmate ID #
• Inmate name
• Sender’s name and address
Programs For Inmates
Academic and Vocational Education:
- The Education Department offers Adult Basic Education and GED classes that are individualized to meet each student’s specific needs.
- Vocational Education: Building Trades, Accounting, Barbering, Business Occupation, Welding School and Horticulture.
Family/Relationship Self
- Veterans Affairs Unit
- Reading to your Children
Sex Offenders
- Sex Offender Moderate-High Intensity
- Offender Low Intensity
- Special Needs Sex Offender Booster Program
Re-Entry
- Pre-Vocational Skills Class
- Back on Track Inside
- MoneySmart Program
Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD)
- Therapeutic Community
- Outpatient Therapy Group
- Dual Diagnosis
- AA/NA/SOS Support Meetings
Offense Related
- Thinking for a Change
- Violence Prevention
- Batterer’s Intervention
Mental Health Programs
- MH Education
- MH Management
- MH Peer Group
- MH Community Re-Entry Group
- Dual Diagnosis Group
- MH Support Group for Recent Psychiatric Commitment Returns
Correctional Industries:
SCI Dallas has two Correctional Industries: Mattress Factory and Garment Factory, which employees 82 inmates and six staff. They are responsible for the production of mattresses for all of Pennsylvania DOC and state hospitals. Here, CI manufactures T-shirts, pajamas, sweat shirts, polo shirts and robes for the DOC and state hospitals.
Community Work Program:
The Community Work Program (CWP) had a total of 6,783 hours of community work in 2012 for an estimated savings to the community of $169,575. SCI Dallas has one CWP crew that goes into local communities to provide direct support for communities and non-profit organizations.
This past year the CWP crew did the following: painted churches and co-located church halls, maintained church grounds using weed wackers and lawnmowers, raked leaves, set up and took down items for community picnics and liter pick up.
Pictures of SCI Dallas
Careers at SCI Dallas
If you are interested in a career with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, you can find out more information about available jobs at SCI Dallas by clicking here.
