NCDPS – Marion Correctional Institution

NCDPS – Marion Correctional Institution basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 828-659-7810

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at Marion CI located at 355 Old Glenwood Rd in Marion, NC are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

Marion Correctional Institution currently operates as a combination close/minimum custody facility with 96 segregation beds. This facility houses adult male felons and is operated under the Unit Management concept. Inmates are assigned based on classification, reassignment, demotion in custody, administrative transfer from another close custody prison or segregation housing needs, and program needs.

The computer training center for the Western Region is on site. McDowell Technical Community College provides academic and vocational classes. Courses include adult education and preparation for the GED, and horticulture. Inmates may also participate in the Outreach Program through UNC-Chapel Hill and earn college credits.

In an effort to assist inmates in bettering themselves, Cognitive Behavior Intervention classes are offered. Inmates may participate in courses such as Character Education, Reasoning and Rehabilitation, and Thinking for a Change. These courses offer inmates a different way of thinking their way through problems and offer them alternative thought processes to moral dilemmas.

Minimum custody inmates at can participate in the Father Accountability Program. This program lets inmates see how important the role of a father is to children and in the family. Inmates completing this course should return to their families as a better and more responsible fathers.

Prisoners are afforded the opportunity to work on site or back in the community, where they provide needed services surrounding our prisons. Labor contracts are provided for governmental agencies to secure inmate labor and enhance services for the public. Inmates on work release have the opportunity to earn a wage working at a business in the local community. This allows inmates to develop job skills prior to release while paying any court-mandated fines and providing for their families.

The New Leash on Life Program rescues dogs from the animal shelter that otherwise would be euthanized and puts them through an extensive eight-week obedience training program provided by trained inmates. Once the dogs have “graduated,” they are adopted by families.

Many of the programs are offered with the assistance of community volunteers. These programs include structured recreational activities, Prison Fellowship, Yokefellows, substance abuse counseling, anger management, religions programs/activities, and self-improvement programs. Volunteers undergo training prior to being allowed to work with inmates.

HISTORY

Marion Correctional Institution was established as a result of a $200 million prison construction bond referendum approved by voters in 1990. It was funded in two stages. The first 520 cells were funded in July 1991 and reauthorized in July 1992 as part of a $30 million construction project in the $103 million prison construction program. During the 1994 special session, the General Assembly provided $5,358,900 for construction of a 192-cell housing unit addition.

In 1991, the McDowell County Commissioners purchased 125 acres formerly known as the Carl Holland farm in the Rocky Pass community and donated the property to the state for construction of the prison.

Grading of the site began in March 1992 and construction was completed in January 1995. Inmate housing assignments began in June 1995. Marion was originally designed as a 660-bed medium security adult male prison, but was redesigned as a close and medium security prison with a capacity for 930 inmates because the state needed more high-security prison cells.

NCDPS – Marion Correctional Institution – Inmate Rule Book
NCDPS – Marion Correctional Institution – Offender Family Services
NCDPS – Marion Correctional Institution – Inmate Programs

Local calls will be a flat rate of $1.25
All long distance calls will be a flat rate of $3.40

visitation Info

NCDPS – Marion Correctional Institution – Visitation

Visitation is by appointment only. Appointments may be scheduled by calling (828) 659-8559. Appointments can be made Monday-Friday from 9 – 11 a.m. and 1 – 3 p.m., excluding state-observed holidays. Appointments can be made up to 10 days in advance, but no less than 48 hours prior to the scheduled visitation time. The following schedule will be used:

Monday – 8:30 am Phase 1 Upper D-Unit 1:30 pm Phase 1 Lower D-Unit

Tuesday – 8:30 am SRG & ADMIN 1:30 pm SRG & ADMIN

Wednesday – 8:30 am MSU –  Non-Contact only

Thursday – 8:30 am Phase II Upper F-Unit 1:30pm Phase II Lower F-Unit Upper E-Unit Restrictive Housing 

Friday – 8:15 am Phase III Lower H-Unit 1:30pm Phase III Upper H-Unit and Upper E-Unit  .

Saturday – 1:30pm Regular Population

Sunday – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm MSU – No Appt. needed

Inmates housed at the Minimum Custody Unit will have visits on Sunday from 1-3 p.m. No appointment is necessary to visit at the Minimum Custody Unit.

Visits will not occur on holidays. In the event the scheduled visitation day falls on a holiday, an alternate day will be selected. Adequate notice will be given to inmates and posted throughout the visitation area.

Visitors should arrive at the Gatehouse at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled visitation time, bring proper ID, and will be subjected to a "routine" search of their personal and possessions prior to the visit.

DIRECTIONS – Take Interstate 40 west to N.C. 226 (exit 86 Marion/Shelby) and drive south about one mile. Turn right onto the Old Glenwood Road. The prison access road is one-quarter mile on the left.