GDC - Augusta Transitional Center - CoreCivic

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GDC – Augusta Transitional Center – CoreCivic basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 706-721-1650

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at GDC – Augusta Transitional Center – CoreCivic located at 601 Taylor St in Augusta, GA are placed according to their custody level and are incarcerated by a private company contracted by a government agency and are paid a per diem or monthly rate, either for each inmate in the facility or for each bed available. The facility is well-trained and well-staffed. This doesn't come without some controversy as the "price of incarceration" is big business and critics claim there is a monetary benefit to keeping people locked up. The flip side is this facility undergoes rigorous inspections and are some of the be maintained in the US.

For inmates that show a willingness to learn new things, there are educational and vocational training programs here that will prepare them for a successful reentry when released.

After serving time within the state's prisons, selected offenders are slowly reintegrated back into society with a job and enhanced prospects for stability through placement within one of the state's Transitional Centers. Research has shown that offenders who have the opportunity to reenter the community after a stay in a Transitional Center are up to 1/3 more likely to succeed in maintaining a crime-free life.

There are 13 Transitional Centers in operation statewide, two of which are designated to house female offenders. A total of 2,674 transitional beds are available, of which 346 are designated for female offenders. To have the opportunity to transfer to a Transitional Center, an offender must receive a referral from either the Board of Pardons of Paroles or the Classification Committee within a state prison. The decision about which offenders are selected is based on criminal history, behavior while incarcerated, release date, and a number of other factors.

One function of Transitional Centers is to provide "work release", allowing the offender to obtain and maintain a paying job in the community while requiring him or her to conform to the structure of the program. The offender lives in the center, participate in a number of programs and completes assignments to contribute to the upkeep of the center. The wages earned by work release offenders are sent directly to the center.

Employers are required to deduct taxes as appropriate. A portion of the wages is applied to room and board and another portion to any outstanding fines or fees. If the offender has minor children, he or she is required to provide family support for them. The offender may have a small allowance for transportation and incidentals, but all other funds are placed in an account until he or she is released from the center. Most offenders stay in a work release program for approximately six months and are then released on parole. Those who are not eligible for parole will be released when the entirety of their sentence has been fulfilled.

Transitional Centers also provide housing for low-risk maintenance workers. These residents are not participants in the work release program although they may have access to the other programs in the centers. The maintenance residents are assigned full-time to maintain the facility or other state facilities in the area. For example, approximately half of the residents assigned to the Atlanta Transitional Center are maintenance workers who provide details to the Governor's Mansion, the State Capitol Complex, and the State Highway Patrol Headquarters. These residents are not paid any wages. They may stay at the facility for longer periods of time than work release residents.

HOUSING – A single floor with two, four and eight-man rooms. The two-man rooms are handicapped accessible.

PROGRAMS –

Academic: General Education Diploma, Adult Basic Education, Literacy
Counseling:Moral Recognition Therapy, Personal Budgets, Personal Budgeting, Parole Pre- Release, Parenting Skills, LE Of Ex-Offenders, Choices For Good Health, Housing Services, Victim Impact, The Five Deterrents, Five Steps To Problem Solving, How To Change Your Thinking, Is It Being Assertive Or Aggressive, Goal Setting, Human Reproductive Anatomy & Physiology- Contraceptive, STD, HIV & Risk Reduction, Stress Management, Male Health Care, 12-Step Group, BASIC World Of Works, Job Readiness, Work Adjustment
Recreation: General Recreation, Community Volunteer Work
Religious Activities: Various Worship Services, Bible Study, Taleem, Gospel Choir
Vocational/OJT: Food Services, Maintenance, Laundry, Barbering

GDC Inmate Services
The Inmate Services division is comprised of seven units:
Education
Voluntary participation for offenders who do not have a high school diploma or GED

Daily enrollment is 4,500 – 5,000
Academic Education is comprised of one to three courses of study and is available in all State and Private Prisons, Probation Detention Centers, Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Centers, and most Transitional Centers (85 GDC sites)

General education and special education courses of study:

Literacy (L/RR)
Adult Basic Education (ABE)
General Education Diploma Preparation (GED Prep)
Charter High School Program (HS diploma)
ESL and Braille available at select facilities
2,500-3,000 GED examinations annually; 70% passing rate

Classroom-based instruction delivered by part-time and full-time GDC staff, supplemented by instructors from local area Technical colleges. Charter School teachers are staffed by Foothills Education Charter High School.
Post-secondary academic study available providing that the recipient has approval and pays all post-secondary costs
Overview The Education & Programs division is comprised of four units:

Chaplaincy
Education
Risk Reduction Services
Vocational

visitation Info

GDC – Augusta Transitional Center – Visitation

Time of Visits 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, Sunday & State Holidays

Entering a Facility for Visitation
Visiting a correctional facility can feel intimidating, especially for the first-time visitor.
We have our own specific processes and rules, strict security measures, uniformed staff and words and terminology you may not be familiar with. Ultimately, those security features are in place to protect you and your loved one although we understand the potential for concern or confusion.
Our goal is for visitors to be comfortable, even impressed, by our facility environment during your visit. We simply ask that you help us maintain safety and security by following our important guidelines.
Contraband and Personal Items
When entering one of our facilities, typically, visitors are only permitted to bring in an ID and a small amount of cash ($10 or less) or a vending card for use at the facility’s vending machines during visitation. Please check with the facility prior to visitation for specific information on the use of vending cards or cash.
Proper identification must be a valid driver’s license or a government-issued ID. Some facilities require a birth certificate to be presented for children attending the visitation, so check the requirement of the specific facility you are visiting.
For security reasons, visitors will not be allowed to take any personal items or gifts into the facility – including cell phones, wallets, purses, food, gifts, magazines or books.
Attempting to pass any of these unapproved items through security, even if accidentally, is illegal. Please leave all personal items in your vehicle. Some facilities offer lockers in the facility lobby for storing these items.
Additionally, attempting to introduce illegal contraband, such as cigarettes, drugs and alcohol, weapons and cell phones, to a facility inmate is considered a security threat and will result in immediate legal action.
Visitation and Inmate Contact
There are different types of visitation, depending on the facility and the inmate’s classification – contact visitation, noncontact visitation and, occasionally, video visitation.
Most of our facilities have both contact and non-contact visitation. Appropriate contact with your loved one – such as hugging – varies. Our staff will help you understand the appropriate contact rules for your time with your loved one.
Typically contact visitation will be held in a large room with tables. Some facilities have a designated visitation room. Others may use educational rooms for visitation.
Noncontact visitation includes the use of individual booths with telephones for speaking with inmates.
Visitation List and Approval
During the inmate orientation process, inmates will mail a visitation application form to the friends and family members who want to visit.
It is the inmate’s responsibility to mail the applications. Individuals who receive the application must complete the form and mail it back to the specific CoreCivic facility to initiate the approval process. All facility visitors must be approved through a background check prior to visiting an inmate.
Once the background checks are completed, the inmate is responsible for informing friends and family members that they are approved for visitation. Please ensure that, as a visitor, you have been approved before planning your visit.
An inmate can change or update their list over time. If an inmate is transferred to another correctional facility, please check with the facility before visiting to ensure all records were transferred at the time of the move.
Passing Security
Every visitor who enters our correctional facilities must pass through our security measures before proceeding to a visitation area.
Visitors will be screened through a metal detector, much like what you would experience in an airport. However, our metal detector settings are much more sensitive than typical metal detectors. When preparing for your visit, please be sure to consider any metal on your clothing, including underwear and shoes.
Visitation Dress Code
Every facility has a strict dress code for visitors, and each facility’s dress code may vary, sometimes depending on the specific requirements of our government partner. Please review the specific dress code requirements for the facility you are visiting prior to your visit.
A few general guidelines that apply at every facility include:

Skirts and shorts must be knee-length or longer.
Only closed-toe shoes are permitted. No sandals or flip-flops.
No revealing or low cut shirts. No tank tops or halter tops.
No see-through or extremely tight clothing.
No strapless dresses. No swimsuits.
No gang or obscene messages or designs.
No hats or hoodies on shirts
No sunglasses or excessive jewelry.
Underwear must be worn at all times, but not visible.
Everyone must clear the metal detector.

Visiting from Out of State
If you must travel a great distance to visit your loved one, you want your limited visitation time to go smoothly. To help ensure you are prepared, we’ve assembled our most important advice for a successful visit.
Inmate Visitation Checklist
Before arriving at a correctional facility, think through the following checklist to ensure that you are prepared for visitation.
___ I am on my inmate’s approved visitation list.
___ I have returned my paperwork and passed the visitation background check.
___ I have my driver’s license or government ID.
___ I have planned my visit during the facility’s visitation hours.
___ I have packed facility dress code approved clothes and shoes.
___ I will clear the metal detector.
___ I have ensured that my car, purse and pockets are clear of any inappropriate items before entering the facility grounds.
___ I have checked to see if there are special visitation requirements, such as a scheduled appointment.