SCI Waymart
On October 26, 1989, the State Correctional Institution at Waymart opened its doors approximately one year ahead of schedule to help deal with the aftermath of the riots that destroyed a major portion of the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill.
At the time, the facility, which had been operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare as Farview State Hospital, had ample unused building space that immediately could be utilized for inmate housing. On October 29, 1989, 239 inmates displaced by the riots at SCI Camp Hill were moved to SCI Waymart.
From 1989 to 1995, Farview State Hospital and SCI Waymart operated as separate entities under the jurisdiction of two state agencies. In October 1995, Farview State Hospital, a maximum-security forensic psychiatric hospital, was placed under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and designated as a Forensic Treatment Center.
The Forensic Treatment Center (FTC) at SCI Waymart serves as the focal point for the treatment of all psychiatric inmates within the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Inmates from surrounding county correctional facilities who require intensive psychiatric care and treatment also can be committed to the FTC by court order.
In 1999, SCI Waymart opened a 50-bed Intermediate Care Unit (ICU). This unit is a non-court committed mental health unit that provides extended treatment to inmates who no longer need in-patient treatment at the FTC but continue to need psychiatric care to help deal with the stress of the general population.
The construction of Farview State Hospital for the Criminally Insane was completed in 1911 and the facility opened one year later. Over the years, the facility has undergone a series of construction projects and internal modifications to augment security, to provide additional work space, and to improve both the working and living conditions of staff and inmates.
The inner perimeter of the institution consists of 33 buildings interconnected by a series of corridors. In addition, the institution utilizes a number of buildings outside its perimeter for various purposes including a garage, utility plant, warehouse, staff residences, administrative offices, and housing for inmates with outside clearance status.
Prison Insights
SCI Waymart
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 Days/Times at SCI Waymart are as follows:
Monday | Thursday | Friday: 11:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday | Wednesday: CLOSED
Saturday | Sunday: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
MAX Number of Visitors per Inmate: 5
Vending Machines are cash and coin only. Visitors may bring coins, $1 and $5 bills. The limit is $50. All cash must be contained in a clear, plastic bag or small, clear change purse.
Visiting Rules
- Vehicles must be locked while on prison property. Windows must be rolled up/closed. All equipment must be secured in or on your vehicle (such as ladders, tool boxes).
- 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. They must be properly secured in your locked vehicle prior to entering the SCI.
- Any kind of device, whether worn or hand held, that has the capability of audio and/or video/photography recording and/or cell phone capabilities is NOT permitted. This could include, but is not limited to, eye glasses, tie tacks, lapel pins, wrist watches, pens, etc.
- No purses, bags, diaper bags, etc., are permitted.
- Due to space restrictions, visits may be terminated on a first in, first out basis, to make room for visitors that may be waiting.
- Visiting room officers may assign specific seating locations for visitors and inmates, especially for those who are suspected of or have displayed problems with obeying procedures.
- 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
Video visitation is a free service offered to inmates and authorized visitors, and all inmates are eligible to participate. The visiting rules for Video Visitation are generally the same as those for visiting in the facility.
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 Waymart
11 Fairview Drive
Waymart, PA 18472
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/rLRt4KmYrfzzXomG7
General Phone Number
(570) 488-5811
Inmate Mailing Address(es)
Smart Communications/PADOC
SCI Waymart
Inmate Name, Inmate Number
PO Box 33028
St Petersburg, FL 33733
The Department of Corrections (DOC) uses services provided by GTL, so emails may be sent to inmates. ALL emails inmates receive are subject to review for appropriate content.
Learn more about the email service on the GTL website
ConnectNetwork is the access portal to create an account and to use as the login for your account after it has been created. You can also obtain message credit information at this location. GTL also provides a question and answer page about the email service.
How to Call an Inmate
Inmates at SCI Waymart 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)
ALL 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
A variety of educational, vocational and treatment programs are offered to the inmate population at SCI Waymart. The institution operates a Drug and Alcohol Unit, Sex Offender Treatment Program and a Personal Care Unit for inmates with a variety of medical problems.
Correctional Industries:
SCI Waymart operates a garment plant that employs 120 inmates. This plant produces officers, maintenance and food service staff uniforms and rain gear for the state prisons, as well as rain gear for the PA Department of Transportation.
Listen to this episode of Lockup Lowdown to learn more about PCI. Lockup Lowdown is the official podcast of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.Pictures of SCI Waymart
Careers at SCI Waymart
If you are interested in a career with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, you can find out more information about available jobs at SCI Waymart by clicking here.
