DE DOC-James T. Vaughn Correctional Center (JTVCC)

State Prison

Last Updated: February 26, 2024
Address
1181 Paddock Rd, Smyrna, DE 19977
Beds
2500
County
New Castle
Phone
302-653-9261

JTVCC is for State Prison offenders sentenced anywhere from one year to life by the State Court in the county where the charges were filed

All prisons and jails have Security or Custody levels depending on the inmate’s classification, sentence, and criminal history. Please review the rules and regulations for State - maximum facility.

The phone carrier is Global Tel Link (GTL) - ConnectNetwork, to see their rates and best-calling plans for your inmate to call you.

If you are unsure of your inmate's location, you can search and locate your inmate by typing in their last name, first name or first initial, and/or the offender ID number to get their accurate information immediately Registered Offenders

Satellite View of DE DOC-James T. Vaughn Correctional Center (JTVCC)

You can support your loved ones at JTVCC on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 302-653-9261.

Located at 1181 Paddock Rd in Smyrna, DE, JTVCC carefully assigns inmates based on their custody level, considering factors like criminal history. JTVCC offers diverse educational and vocational programs aimed at equipping offenders for successful reintegration into society and reducing recidivism. Through these initiatives, inmates gain skills and confidence, fostering personal growth and resilience.

The JTVCC is a Level 5 (maximum security) prison facility for men located near Smyrna, in southern New Castle County. The James T. Vaughn Correctional Center is the state's largest adult, male correctional facility. Currently, JTVCC houses approximately 2,500 inmates. JTVCC houses minimum, medium, and maximum security inmates. JTVCC is also the primary facility for housing the Kent County pre-trial (detainee) population. It also houses inmates sentenced to the death penalty Executions are carried out at the JTVCC.
JTVCC opened in 1971 with a capacity of 441. Expansions since then have increased the total bed capacity to over 2,600. In 1996, construction began on a $110 million, 888-bed addition. The expansion included 600 new maximum security cells, the addition of almost 26,000 linear feet (4.8 miles) of security fencing, the installation of 6 miles of razor wire, the construction of a new central tower and an additional perimeter tower, and the installation of new security cameras and enhanced observation points. The 600 maximum-security cells have been constructed in six new housing units with 888 new beds. Three hundred cells have a single bed; 300 cells are double-bunked unless they are handicap-accessible in which case the cell is single-bunked. All inmates are classified and assigned quality of life levels consistent with their criminal history, institutional behavior/history, a threat to public safety and institutional safety and security, and program needs. The new addition houses the Security Housing Unit (SHU) and the Medium-High Housing Unit (MHU).
JTVCC has several programs designed to rehabilitate the inmate including educational opportunities, vocational training, work assignments, spiritual/religious programs, and a variety of other classes and programming.

Inmate Locator

JTVCC maintains a database of current inmates and their locations within the system. To locate an inmate, begin by using the DOC locator tool, which requires entering the first three letters of the inmate's first and last name, allowing for variations in spelling.

If unable to locate the desired information through free resources, users may opt to use the Arrest Record Search, which requires payment. While this option incurs a small fee, it provides access to the most up-to-date data available.

Get an Arrest Record immediately.

Visitation Information

Visiting times are scheduled for Monday - Sunday:

  • 9:00 am
  • 10:00 am
  • 11:00 am
  • 12:00 pm
  • 1:00 pm
  • 2:00 pm

To schedule a visit call the Institution the week prior to the requested visit. The visit scheduling desk is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding State holidays. Persons calling in Delaware can call: Persons calling from out of state can dial (302) 653-4828.

Visits must be scheduled in Advance – Call on Monday through Friday to visit the following Monday through Sunday.

Visitors must be at the facility a minimum of 30 minutes before the start time of the scheduled visit or you will be denied access.

The quantity of visits and the length of visits is dependent upon the inmate's quality of life level.

2 adults/2 children 5 & under are permitted on the visit.

Visitors' attire should be conservative and well groomed when entering the institution. Correctional staff will determine whether the visitor's clothing is appropriate based on the following guidelines: bathing suits; body suits; strapless or low cut, revealing tops; sleeveless shirts; tube tops; and any type of revealing clothing not adhering to the normal standards of decency will not be permitted. Dresses, skirts, culottes, and/or walking shorts must be no shorter than two inches above the knee, as measured from the bend in the back of the knee with the waistband in the normal position. Spandex pants, shorts, and leggings are not permitted alone. Leggings may be worn under a skirt. Any see-through material is not permitted.

Visitors are permitted to bring money orders or cashier's checks, car keys, and photo identification with full address. Visitors with infants are permitted to bring in one plastic baby bottle, one diaper, one small blanket, and two disposable wipes. No other items are allowed.

All visitors are subject to a metal detector search at the time of each visit. When deemed necessary, the security staff may request a more intense physical search. Should the visitor refuse to comply, they will be denied entrance and ordered off of the property.

Ask The Inmate

Ask a former inmate questions at no charge. The inmate answering has spent considerable time in the federal prison system, state and county jails, and in a prison that was run by the private prison entity CCA. Ask your question or browse previous questions in response to comments or further questions of members of the InmateAid community.