ODRC – Ross Correctional Institution (RCI)

ODRC – Ross Correctional Institution (RCI) basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 740-774-7050

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at Ross Correctional located at 16149 SR 104 in Chilicothe, OH 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.

Ross Correctional is a close custody state correctional facility that houses mostly level 3 adult make inmates. Additionally, Ross has one dorm that houses medium-security inmates with a maximum capacity of 2,578 inmates. This facility has an average rate of violence when compared to other close custody facilities in Ohio. Medical services at this facility are considered excellent as there is no backlog of medical requests. Ross offers standard adult basic education and the ability of an inmate to earn their GED. Vocational classes at this prison include carpentry, administrative office technology, and barbering. Some inmates will qualify for community service programs which include working with canines, working for Habitat for Humanity and wrapping holiday presents. Offenders can also participate in the Cognitive Behavior Therapy program which is a three-month outpatient program that helps those with substance abuse issues, by counseling, educating, and emphasizing the importance of a life of sobriety.

Unique Programs

Cognitive Behavior Therapy

The Cognitive Behavior Therapy program is structured as a three (3) month Intensive Out-Patient (IOP) Program treatment program utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as the main approach of treatment. TheNew Life program is specifically targeted toward people who have chronic problems with substance abuse and criminal behavior. The program provides a positive environment where people who have similar problems can live and work together to improve their lives. Provisions are made so the environment is cohesive within the program milieu. Therefore, the Staff of New Life Program is providing the highest degree of comprehensive quality care including; chemical dependency education, counseling, healthy life choices, and a life of sobriety.

Reading Room – The reading rooms encourage family literacy by providing a pleasant and comfortable setting for both child and incarcerated parent. Each room is stocked with a wide variety of children’s books and has an inmate narrator who reads to the visiting children twice a day. The role of the inmate narrator is to read picture books to the children in much the same manner that children’s hour would be done at a public library. A variety of arts and craft supplies for the children are also available in most of the rooms. Many of the supplies and books are donated by employees and service organizations.

Going Home For Good (GHFG) unit program is a 12-month long program designed to provide Level 3 offenders the skills and opportunities they will need to transition back into Ohio’s communities. GHFG is the first restorative housing at a Level 3 institution in the State of Ohio. GHFG programming will supply inmates with the necessary tools needed to change their behavior and become responsible and accountable to themselves, their families and the community. GHFG program offers opportunities for offenders to obtain job skills to secure employment upon release.

Offender Programs

Community Services

• Crayons to Computers
• Job and Family Services – Teddy Bears
• Job and Family Services – Holiday Present Wrapping
• Job and Family Services – Curtain Climbers
• Vannie Project
• Ross County Humane Society
• RCI Recycling
• Relay for Life
• Local Schools: Adena, Unioto, Huntington
• Local Churches

Academic

• Adult Basic Education (ABLE)
• GED

Apprenticeship Programs

• Various

Education Services

• Various

Career-Technical (Vocational) Programs

• Carpentry
• Barbering
• Administrative Office Technology

visitation Info

ODRC – Ross Correctional Institution – Visitation

Reservations should be made by emailing the following address. [email protected].

Information needed to schedule reservations: Adult visitors, full first and last names. (Children under 17 or younger DO NOT GIVE NAME, please just list as minor and bring correct paperwork). Inmate last name and inmate number, what session you are requesting AM or PM (all day if eligible) and the date you are requesting.

Example: Jane Doe + 2 minors to see inmate Doe #A012345 on 4/2/16 for the PM session.

Reservations are made only via email and/or at the conclusion of your visit with the front desk officer.

VISITATION SCHEDULE FOR THE AM SESSION, 7:15AM TO 10:15 AM (ARRIVE NO LATER THAN 9:00AM) FOR THE PM SESSION 11:15PM TO 2:15PM (ARRIVE NO LATER THAN 1:00PM)

Reserve patrons: if you are assisting in Emailing for someone, please notify them of these instructions that pertain to them entering our institution.

Visitation reservations need to be scheduled no later than 7 days in advance, and up to 30 days in advance. Any cancellations should be made 48 hours in advance. Visitation officers will reply back to your Email within 48 hours excluding for Mondays, Tuesdays, and Holidays (visiting is closed those days).To download a visitor application and to see the General visiting instructions, please click here.

For minor children, we need the birth certificate, custody paperwork or Minor authorization entrance form (if required). Visitors without the correct paperwork will not be allowed to visit.  For a Minor authorization form click here.

No cash is allowed to be brought into the visit room. Visitors can purchase a vending card, the card can be purchased with a 5 dollar bill only. Once purchased you may load up to 50 dollars on the vending card.

Visitors only need to bring necessary money, minor paperwork and current government issued identification (Driver’s License, State I.D., or Military). If any visitor has implants or surgery (i.e. Hip/Knee, Pace Maker or Pins/Screws, etc.) be advised visitors will need to bring a medical card or documentation from the Physician stating why they will not be able to pass the metal detector every time they visit. All other items need to be left in vehicle or lockers located in the Entry Building (Cell Phones, electronics, excess money or any items not approved to be in the institution).

Visiting hours are subject to change without notice. Please call the institution to verify visiting hours before planning a visit. Click here for additional information.

Video Visitation

The Ross Correctional Institution maintains video visiting kiosks in every general population housing unit. The hours available for video visits are as follows: 7:30 AM – 10:30AM; 12:30PM – 3:30PM; and 5:30PM – 8:30PM.Visits are 30 minutes in duration; however, an additional 30 minutes can be requested if another visit was not already scheduled on the same kiosk immediately after the conclusion of the requestor’s initial visit.

An approved visitor is defined as: a visitor that submitted an application for visitation, processing has been completed, and approval by institutional staff has taken place.  Any approved visitor may request a video visit.   Approved visitors must create an account and register with JPay. When family members register to have a video visit, they are prompted by JPay through a series of steps to achieve their visit. Video visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance of the time that they are requesting.  

Video visitation kiosks are available to all general population inmates in their housing units.   Inmates in restrictive housing (segregation) are not permitted video visits.   All visitation rules and regulations for video visitation are the same as institutional visits.  Violation of visiting rules during video visitation might result in a loss of visiting privileges.    All video visits are monitored, recorded, and/or reviewed after the video visit session.  Video visitation is limited to only approved and tentatively approved visitors.  Video visits might be stopped if a violation of visiting rules is observed