State Correctional Institution – SCI Dallas

State Correctional Institution – SCI Dallas basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 570-675-1101

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at SCI Dallas located at 1000 Follies Rd in Dallas, PA 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.

SCI Dallas is a medium-security state prison that houses about 2,150 adult male inmates. A majority of the offenders here are serving life sentences with no possibility of parole. The facility is comprised of 51 buildings, 17 of which are housing units. The majority of housing units are multi-occupancy cells, but the facility does have a single dormitory-style housing unit, a special needs unit, and a Restrictive housing unit for inmates who have become difficult to manage and require extra security measures.

Inmates at SCI Dallas may receive sex offender and substance abuse treatment. This facility also has a large number of mental health programs to treat mentally ill offenders. Re-entry programs are available here and help inmates prepare for discharge who are nearing release. Vocational training includes accounting, horticulture, barbering, various construction disciplines, and welding. GED classes and adult basic education courses are also available to inmates who do not possess a diploma.

This facility was designed by Clarence Littchfield as a model of the 1960s. 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. This same year, SCI Dallas became a facility for sentenced adult felons serving a prison term of two years or more.

Number of Acres Inside Perimeter: 26

Number of Acres Outside Perimeter: 1,307

Number of Operational Structures (inside and outside of perimeter): 51

Number of Housing Units: 17

Housing units consist of both cells and one (1) dormitory-style housing unit.

Special Features: Therapeutic Communities (2), Supplemental AOD Programs, Special Needs Unit, Veterans Affairs Unit and Correctional Industries

Inmate Information:

Inmate Population: Click HERE for the current population report

Inmate Average Age: 43.39

Total Number of Full-Time Employees: 643

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.

Inmate Programs:

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 6 staff. We are responsible for the production of mattresses for all of Pennsylvania DOC and state hospitals. Here, CI manufactures T-shirts, pyjamas, sweatshirts, polo shirts and robs 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 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 whackers and lawnmowers, raked leaves, set up and took down items for community picnics and liter pick up.

visitation Info

State Correctional Institution – SCI Dallas PA – Visitation

Visiting Hours – General Population

• Monday: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
• Tuesday: CLOSED
• Wednesday: CLOSED
• Thursday: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
• Friday: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
• Saturday: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
• Sunday: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Maximum Number of Visitors Per Inmate – 5 

Virtual 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.

State Correctional Institution – SCI Dallas PA – Visiting Hours
State Correctional Institution – SCI Dallas PA – Visitation Rules