Ohio State Prisons
26 facilities- ODRC - Allen-Oakwood Correctional Facility (AOCI)
- ODRC - Belmont Correctional Institution (BECI)
- ODRC - Chillicothe Correctional Institution (CCI)
- ODRC - Community Correctional Center
- ODRC - Correctional Reception Center (CRC)
Federal Facilities in Ohio
1 facilityOhio County Jails
77 facilities- Adams County OH Jail
- Allen County OH Jail
- Ashland County OH Jail
- Ashtabula County OH Jail
- Auglaize County Corrections Center
Ohio Department of Corrections
Ohio DRC offender search allows searches by inmate number or name. Ohio's name - Department of Rehabilitation and Correction - reflects a stated focus on rehabilitation. Ohio has made significant investments in treatment, education, and reentry programming over the past decade.
The official inmate search is available at appgateway.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSearch. FCI Elkton and FCI Morgantown serve Ohio federal inmates.
Visitation in Ohio Facilities
Ohio DRC visitor approval requires a Visitor Registration Form. Processing takes 2 - 4 weeks. Background checks for adult visitors. Ohio has relatively progressive visiting policies for a large system.
Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our Ohio prison directory.
Sending Mail to Ohio Inmates
Ohio DRC mail requires the inmate number. Ohio has transitioned most facilities to a centralized mail scanning system - physical mail is scanned and delivered electronically. The physical letter does not reach the inmate at most facilities.
InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to Ohio facilities. Want to receive letters without sharing your home address? Our Letters From Inmates service scans and delivers inmate mail to your account.
Phone Calls from Ohio Facilities
Ohio is not currently among the states that offer free inmate phone calls. GTL/ViaPath holds the Ohio DRC contract.
Following the FCC's Martha Wright-Reed Order (effective April 6, 2026), per-minute rates for inmate calls are now federally capped at state and federal facilities. Find current carrier and rate information on each facility's page in our Ohio prison directory.
Sending Money to Ohio Inmates
Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for Ohio:
- JPay (primary for Ohio DRC)
- Money orders - check if still accepted given digital mail
- Lobby kiosks
See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.
Reentry Resources in Ohio
Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in Ohio:
- Ohio DRC Reentry - Official reentry programs
- Ohio Legal Help - Free civil legal help statewide
- Towards Employment - Cleveland-based reentry employment services
- Community Action Commission - Summit County reentry resources
Frequently Asked Questions About Ohio Prisons
What is the Ohio State Penitentiary?
The Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown opened in 1998 as Ohio's supermax facility - built specifically to house inmates who cannot be safely managed in general population. OSP operates under conditions of extreme isolation: inmates spend 23 hours per day in single-person cells with very limited programming, recreation, or human contact. It houses both Ohio's death row and inmates in long-term administrative segregation. OSP has been subject to litigation over conditions. Visits are non-contact only - through glass - and more restricted than at general population Ohio facilities. Contact OSP at 330-743-0700 for current visiting procedures well before planning any trip.
What happened at Lucasville in 1993?
The Lucasville Riot at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in April 1993 lasted 11 days - one of the longest and most violent prison uprisings in US history. Nine inmates and one correctional officer were killed. The uprising had unusually complex racial and religious dimensions: Black inmates and White supremacist inmates cooperated in the takeover, united in opposition to a forced tuberculosis test that Muslim inmates objected to on religious grounds. Five men were sentenced to death for crimes committed during the riot; their cases remain subjects of active litigation and advocacy. Lucasville remains a touchstone for anyone studying American prison uprisings.
Does Ohio scan all prison mail?
Yes - Ohio DRC has implemented near-universal mail scanning across state facilities. Physical mail goes to a central processing location, is opened, scanned, and the digital image is delivered to the inmate's tablet. Your physical letter does not reach the inmate. Handwritten notes, children's drawings, and cards with physical texture all arrive as screen images rather than tangible objects. For the most reliable delivery, submit mail digitally through JPay. Ohio made this transition primarily as a security measure to reduce drug smuggling through the mail - a significant problem at multiple Ohio facilities before the transition.
What is the inmate number in Ohio?
Every Ohio DRC inmate is assigned a unique inmate number when they enter state custody. It must appear on all mail sent to DRC facilities and is required for the Ohio DRC offender search at appgateway.drc.ohio.gov. County jail detainees have their own booking numbers entirely separate from DRC numbers. If your person was recently sentenced and transferred from county to state custody, allow 24 - 48 hours for the system to update. Once assigned, the inmate number is permanent for the sentence regardless of facility transfers.
Does Ohio have free prison phone calls?
No - Ohio has not eliminated phone call fees. GTL/ViaPath holds the Ohio DRC contract. The FCC's April 2026 rate caps apply to interstate calls from Ohio state facilities, reducing costs from historical highs, but calls are not free. Ohio has 88 county jails with varying phone providers and rate structures - county rates are set separately and vary widely. Set up a GTL ConnectNetwork prepaid account for state facility calls.
How do I find someone in an Ohio county jail?
Ohio has 88 county jails - one for each county in the state. The Ohio DRC offender search covers state prison inmates only. Contact the county sheriff's office directly or check the county's online inmate roster for county detainees. Franklin County in Columbus, Cuyahoga County in Cleveland, Hamilton County in Cincinnati, and Montgomery County in Dayton have the largest county detention facilities. Most Ohio county sheriffs maintain publicly accessible online inmate rosters. If you don't know which county, start with where the arrest occurred.