- Private Facility
- Georgia
- PO Drawer 30, McRae, GA 31055
- 229-868-7778
- Official Website
- Featured
McRae Correctional Institution (CI) – 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: 229-868-7778
This facility is for adult inmates.
The inmates housed at McRae Correctional Institution (CI) – CoreCivic located at 112 Jim Hammock Dr in McRae, 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.
McRae Correctional Institution is a privately managed, low-security prison for men, owned and operated by CoreCivic since 2000 under contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons for federal prisoners.
The maximum capacity of the prison is 2275. It stands in McRae-Helena, Telfair County, Georgia. Inmates are housed in dormitories.
Health Services: CI McRae has a medical unit where physicians, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and medical assistants provide routine check-ups, manage sick calls, and address non-emergency needs. Correctional health care facilities typically include a dental clinic, as well.
Psychology Services: CI McRae has a team of qualified mental health professionals to assist inmates who experience mental health problems, from emotional conflict to mental illness. Inmates are screened upon arrival, and if needed, referred to a psychologist, psychiatrist, or mental health specialist for follow-up evaluation and intervention. Treatment in the form of medication is provided when needed, as well as group and individual counseling. All CoreCivic staff receive training in the identification of mental health crises, and refer inmates to the professional staff whenever they suspect someone is experiencing a problem. Staff constantly monitor the offender population for signs of declining mental health and suicide risk, working actively to assist a troubled offender in his or her time of need.
Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP): A Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) is offered at CI McRae.
Education Services: CI McRae offers GED instruction. CoreCivic has partnered with the National Institute for Adult Education (Instituto Nacional de Educación para los Adultos, or INEA), an entity of the Mexican government, to provide adult education in Spanish. High school diplomas and post-secondary programs are available through paid correspondence programs.
Advanced Occupational Education: CI McRae does not offer any advanced occupational education programs.
Vocational & Apprenticeship Training: CI McRae vocational training programs include Carpentry, Commercial Drivers License (CDL), Computer Applications, Construction, and Building Trades, Culinary Arts, Electrical, Horticulture and Landscaping, HVAC, Masonry, Painting, Plumbing, Workforce Readiness, and Veterinary Technician.
Library Services: The CI McRae library contains many periodicals, newspapers, fiction and nonfiction books, reference materials, and more. The law library also features legal resources and related tools commonly sought by inmates.
Recreational Services: CI McRae offers a variety of sports and activities such as basketball, board games creative writing, knitting, and other activities are available to inmates.
Incarceration affects many lives.
When a loved one goes to jail or prison, we know there are family members who care deeply and want to remain informed. Sometimes incarceration can mean separation from spouses or children. We know maintaining bonds with healthy relationships are so important. Even friends and church or community members often want to stay connected to inmates in our care.
We welcome those relationships and connections. Because when an inmate remains connected to supportive individuals, they are better equipped and motivated to return to society and make positive changes.
At CoreCivic, our mission is to benefit and protect all we serve. We seek to provide the highest-quality correctional services. Our commitment is to operate a safe and secure environment, to offer proven reentry programs that influence change, superior medical services, fair and ethical inmate treatment and oversight, and open and transparent access to our facilities.
While we encourage families to play an active role in an inmate’s life during incarceration, it is also our responsibility to ensure the safety of the inmates in our care, our staff, the community and all facility visitors. We are tirelessly committed to security at each of our facilities, nationwide.
Our security measures may seem overwhelming or intimidating, especially to someone entering a correctional facility for the very first time. So, this section of our website is here to help you become as comfortable and informed as possible.
Inmate Orientation
Within the first two weeks of arrival at a CoreCivic correctional facility, every inmate will attend the facility’s orientation program and receive a copy of the facility’s inmate handbook.
The inmate handbook includes all the information an inmate needs to start a productive life inside the facility and remain connected with family or lawyers.
A few handbook topics include:
• Requesting a medical appointment/available medical services
• Religious services
• Educational programs
• Recreation
• Commissary and creating an account
• Hygiene and grooming expectations
• Facility schedule
• Visitation information and schedule
Orientation and the inmate handbook ensure that inmates in our care can immediately address any concerns or questions and begin to participate in the programs and services offered at our facility.
Operations Concern Center
At all times, we remain committed to the fair and ethical treatment of those individuals entrusted to our care.
CoreCivic has in place clear and accessible processes for inmates and family members to make grievances known that include a dedicated telephone and email hotline. We investigate all allegations fully and cooperate and collaborate with other agencies and law enforcement, as needed.
Protecting Inmate and Detainee Rights
At CoreCivic, we take very seriously our responsibility to respect and uphold the rights and welfare of inmates and detainees in our care. Our employees learn about the company’s longstanding inmate and detainee rights policies in their initial, pre-service training and are refreshed on those commitments every year through in-service training. The information is clearly stated in CoreCivic’s employee handbook, and the policies are also shared with every inmate and detainee who enters one of our facilities. Equally as important, we fully comply with any and all inmate and detainee rights policies our government partners require.
Our dedicated employees – including chaplains, nurses, teachers and officers – are committed to ensuring that every individual in our CoreCivic facilities has:
Safety and Security
• Protection from personal abuse and injury, verbal abuse, corporal punishment, property damage and harassment. For example, CoreCivic has a robust sexual abuse prevention program in place
• Freedom from unreasonable searches.
• Protection from an inmate or detainee having power or authority over another.
• Separate housing for males and females when both sexes are housed in the same facility.
Inmate Wellness
Corrections provides inmates and detainees with the opportunity to pause and assess their lifestyles. For many, incarceration marks the first time in their adult lives when they will have seen a medical professional or received a regular and balanced diet. At CoreCivic, we are proud to offer life-changing services that will enable men and women to find healthy paths toward wellness. We do this through a wide array of options, including:
Nutrition Services
Mealtime is very important in our everyday lives. Food is known as such an important aspect of correctional operations that it is often directly tied to inmate behavior and morale. Not only do breakfast, lunch and dinner help provide daily structure and routines, they also have an impact on overall health and wellness.
Nutrition service is a vital aspect of CoreCivic operations. Guided by our individual government partners, CoreCivic takes great care to offers meals that support specialized diets and cultural preferences, while conforming to rigorous nutritional guidelines. Our team of culinary experts relies on a library of nearly 700 recipes to meet the dietary needs of those in our care. All meals provided at CoreCivic facilities are reviewed and approved by registered dietitians. On a daily basis, we provide meals that support religious diets and more than a dozen therapeutic diets. In fact, seven percent of those is our care receive specialized therapeutic diets that serve to support wellness for a wide array of medical conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, pregnancy, and autoimmune diseases.
For many, incarceration serves as a much-needed opportunity to receive consistent access to quality nutrition services. When people have access to sufficient food, they are able to make better choices, increase learning abilities, and combat various health issues. Through something as fundamental as food, we are able to help guide inmates down a path toward health and wellness, both while in our care and after their release.
Health Care
All too often, for many offenders, the first time they receive comprehensive health care is upon becoming incarcerated.
Upon intake at a CoreCivic facility, inmates are screened so that our medical professionals may manage existing concerns and address any new diagnoses. A typical CoreCivic facility has a medical unit where physicians, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and medical assistants can provide routine check-ups, manage sick calls and address non-emergency needs. Our correctional health care facilities typically include a dental clinic, too.
For offenders who experience mental health problems, from emotional conflict to mental illness, we have a team of qualified mental health professionals to assist them with their needs. Offenders are screened upon arrival at each facility, and if needed, they're referred to a psychologist, psychiatrist or mental health specialist for follow-up evaluation and intervention. We provide treatment in the form of medication, when needed, as well as group and individual counseling. All CoreCivic staff receive training in the identification of mental health crises, and they refer offenders to the professional staff whenever they suspect someone is experiencing a problem. We constantly monitor the offender population for signs of declining mental health and suicide risk, working actively to assist a troubled offender in his or her time of need.
CoreCivic adheres to standardized regulations and/or are certified by the American Correctional Association, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and/or the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. These organizations work to improve the quality of health care provided in jails and prisons by developing and maintaining nationally recognized standards for correctional health care.
Our correctional health care teams are supported by a regional network of medical professionals across the country and are led by a talented team at the company's headquarters. Additionally, CoreCivic facilities leverage medical technology to securely automate medical records, scheduling, medication administration, pill call and pharmacy services.
Wellness Activities
Recreational opportunities help provide relief and respite to those in our care. At CoreCivic facilities, recreational outlets are designed to help inmates stay active, get fit and interact with fellow offenders in positive, collaborative ways. Sports like basketball, activities like board games and hobbies like creative writing or knitting help inmates tap into their creativity while learning valuable lessons in teamwork, communication and mutual respect.
Within CoreCivic correctional facilities, recreational activities are managed and overseen by CoreCivic professionals, not limited to but including chaplains, unit managers, recreational supervisors and others. Our devoted and trained volunteers also contribute valuable recreational programs like crafts, reading groups and other enjoyable pastimes to offenders in our correctional centers.
Staying in Touch
Staying in touch with an inmate can be challenging due to time limitations, especially when your loved one is located a considerable distance away.
Sometimes frequent visitation simply isn’t possible. Even so, staying in touch can make all the difference.
We believe that maintaining connections with friends and family makes a positive impact on the inmates in our care – behaviorally, emotionally and academically – and increases their success rate upon release. Success stories make our day.
• We invite you to visit.
• We invite you to write and call.
• We invite you to be involved and connected.
• Telephone Calls and Phone Cards
• Hearing the sounds of a familiar voice can lift an inmate’s spirits. Typically, our correctional facilities allow inmates to make collect calls.
• Each facility has a bank of phones that are provided for inmate calls. Inmates may use these phones to make collect calls or use their pre-paid calling card.
• Detailed information on how your loved one can apply money to their calling card is provided in the inmate handbook and will vary by facility.
Mail
Written mail through the U.S. Postal Service is perhaps one of the easiest ways for friends and family to stay in touch with their loved one. Every facility provides mail service for the inmate population.
Guidelines for addressing mail correctly can be found on the webpage for each specific facility.
While standard letters and cards are generally acceptable at every facility, all other allowable mail will vary from facility to facility.
The majority of our facilities will not allow packages (anything larger than a standard letter or card) from friends and family into the facility. Unapproved mail may result in an expense to the inmate if the item has to be shipped back, destroyed or donated.
Some facilities will allow friends and family members to purchase items from an approved vendor (such as Amazon). The package can be mailed directly from the approved vendor to the facility.
Email access is not available at this time.
Inmate Accounts and Commissary
Inmates may need or receive money for various facility life activities, such as a calling card, medical co-pays, items from the commissary, or even a paying job. Inmate money is managed through inmate accounts.
Generally, all our facilities have a commissary, which is an in-facility storehouse where food items, hygiene items, and writing materials can be purchased. This is in addition to the meals and standard-issue clothing and hygiene products already supplied by and paid for by the facility. Inmates use the money in their inmate account to purchase these items.
Typically, friends and family may contribute money to an inmate’s account. Many of the facility profiles have instructions for contributing to an inmate account.
McRae Correctional Institution (CI) – CoreCivic – Visitation and Inmate Information
visitation Info
McRae Correctional Institution (CI) – CoreCivic – Visitation
Visiting Hours
- Sunday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Monday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Tuesday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Wednesday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Thursday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Friday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Holidays 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Who can visit? Adults and children are allowed to visit, however, due to space limitations only two (2) adults and two (2) minor children (ages seventeen (17) and under) will be allowed to visit at a time.
How do I get approved for visitation?
Prior approval is not required.
How do minors get approved to visit?
Prior approval is not required.
What are the days and times of visitation?
Visitation is held Monday through Thursday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. However visitors will not be processed after 2:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. No visitors will be processed after 6:30 p.m. Visitation days include all designated federal holidays.
How long can I visit?
Visits are limited to one hour, once per week.
Where do I park when I arrive at the facility?
Upon arriving at the facility, please park in any marked parking spaces that are not reserved by the facility. Reserved parking spaces are noted with signs.
Will I be searched?
Visitors should only enter the facility with a Picture ID and no other property. Items such as purses, cell phones, money and wallets should be left secured in a vehicle. Visitors will be required to go through a metal detector.
What is the dress code for visitation?
Visitors must be in appropriate and socially acceptable attire. The following clothing is PROHIBITED: SHORTS, ABOVE MID-THIGH MINI-SKIRT, SHORT DRESSES, TANK TOPS, SLEEVELESS SHIRTS, OFFENSIVE LOGOS, CAPS AND HATS, GANG RELATED CLOTHING, OR ANY SEE-THROUGH CLOTHING.
What type of identification do I need to be allowed into the facility?
Visitors should bring a valid photo ID in order to be allowed into the facility for visitation.
What items am I allowed to bring to visitation?
Visitors should only enter the facility with a Picture ID and no other property. Items such as purses, Cell phones, money and wallets should be left secured in a vehicle. Visitors will be required to go through metal detector.
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 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.
While we understand that some of these rules may be inconvenient or difficult for our visitors, it is our responsibility to keep all of our inmates, staff and visitors safe. These strict safety procedures are very important and are just one of the many ways we maintain a safe and secure environment.
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 noncontact 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.
Video Visitation
A small number of CoreCivic correctional facilities provide video visitation. Video visitation is especially useful for those inmates incarcerated in another state.
To participate in a video visitation session, the inmate must schedule a specific visitation time. CoreCivic will partner with a local church or other organization to provide the video visitation equipment and session for the visitor.
For specific information on video visitation, please contact the facility directly.
Preparing for Visitation
At CoreCivic, our dedicated team of corrections professionals goes to prison or jail every day. Uniforms, metal detectors, security measures, policies and procedures, closed doors and locked gates – it’s all second nature to us.
But if you’re not accustomed to correctional facility life, you may have some questions or concerns, maybe even nervousness, about what to expect if you are planning a visit.
Being well prepared for your visit to one of our correctional facilities can help alleviate the stress and anxiety that sometimes accompanies visitation.
From what to wear to what to leave behind, here are a few tips and instructions to help you prepare for your upcoming facility visit.
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.
Some CoreCivic facilities require that all visitations be scheduled in advance of the visitation appointment. Or there may be special requirements if an individual is in restricted housing. You may wish to contact the facility directly if you are unsure.
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
Understandably, many of our visitors do not realize that what they are wearing can impact their ability to visit with their loved one.
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-though 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.
