McRae Correctional Facility

McRae Correctional Facility

1000 Jim Hammock Drive
McRae, GA 31055
229-868-7778
Fax: 229-868-7964

Facility Public Information Officer: Carol Lavely (229-868-7778, ext. 2204; Carol.Lavely@correctionscorp.com)

Facility Type: Male, low-security, Owned since 2000

Warden: Walt Wells

Walt Wells Walter Wells was named warden at McRae Correctional Facility in 2008. Previously, Wells served as warden at Cibola County Correctional Center beginning October 2006, bringing more than 36 years of correctional experience to the facility. In 1970, after receiving his bachelor's degree in Sociology from West Georgia College, he began his career as a counselor for the Georgia Department of Corrections at the Atlanta Advancement Center. After three years of counseling, Wells assumed the duties of superintendent at the Wheeler Community Corrections Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Wells received a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Georgia. Wells began a 21-year career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons as a case manager at the U.S. penitentiary in Atlanta, serving in several facilities and advanced to the level of warden.

Total beds: 1524

Customer base:

Federal Bureau of Prisons

ACA Accreditation: Yes

Covering 444 square miles, Telfair County is located in south central Georgia, 154 miles southeast of Atlanta and 70 miles south of Macon. The county, which has a population of approximately 11,700 people, encompasses six municipalities, including McRae, the county seat. The other municipalities are Helena, Jacksonville, Lumber City, Milan, and Scotland. Telfair enjoys mild temperatures year-round, with an average year-round temperature of 65 degrees F. Winters are mild with an average high of 55 degrees F, while summers are warm with an average high of 93 degrees F and low of 75 degrees F.

Community Relations:

Jay Roberts - Representative, Georgia House of Representatives; Ross Tolleson - Senator, Georgia State Senate; Brenda Clark - Administrator, City of McRae; Carey Clark - Superintendent, Telfair Board of Education; Tim Sumner, Proprietor, Badcock Home Furnishings and More of McRae; Dr. Howard Abdney, Director, Little Ocmulgee Technical College; Janeen Tokar - Administrator, City of Helena; Joan Hartley - Administrator, Taylor-Telfair Regional Hospital; Debbie Bullard - Administrative Assistant, Little Ocmulgee EMC; Gene Johnson - Clerk of Superior Court, Telfair County; Wayne Jones - Assistant Manager, Farmers Furniture of McRae; William McKinnon - Pastor, World Outreach Church; Murphy McRae - Pastor, House of Prayer; Earl Merritt - President, The Security State Bank; Herman Moore - Chairman, Development Authority of Telfair County; Wilson Bowen - Chairman, Telfair County Board of Commissioners; Ryan Waldrep - President, Telfair County Chamber of Commerce; Ken Wilcox - Chief of Police, City of McRae

Community Activities:

Telfair County Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, American Red Cross & Relay for Life, Local Food Drives and Christmas Angel Tree

Programs Offered:

EDUCATIONAL: General Education Development (GED), English as a Second Language (ESL) VOCATIONAL: including Carpentry, Masonry, Art and Electrical Wiring Classes Life Skills Classes

Visitation Schedule:

Saturday, Sunday and Holidays 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Visitation Rules:

  1. McRae Correctional Facility is a smoke-free facility; therefore, there is no smoking in the visitation room or any other area of the facility.
  2. Inmates and their visitors may embrace and kiss briefly at the beginning of the visit and at the end of the visit. No extended embracing or kissing is permitted.
  3. Visitors and inmates are to engage in appropriate public behavior that is fitted for a public arena and a family environment.
  4. Visitors may purchase soda and food items from the vending machines provided in the visitation room. (A change machine is available in the front lobby.) No other food items may be brought into the visitation room. Food items must be consumed or discarded in the visitation room prior to departure. Inmates are not allowed to use the vending machines.
  5. Visitors may not bring anything into the visitation room with the except of: a. A maximum of $20.00 in change for use in the vending machines, and at no time will the inmate be allowed to handle money. b. 5 diapers, 1 plastic infant bottle, 1 pacifier, sufficient amount of feminine products (No diaper bags are permitted. Female visitors will be allowed to carry a small clear plastic purse into the visitation room.) All other items must be stored in the lockers provided at the Front Lobby. McRae Correctional facility is not responsible for lost, stolen or destroyed items stored in the Front Lobby lockers.
  6. No pagers and/or cell phones are allowed in the visitation room or any other area of the facility.
  7. Inmates and their visitors are responsible for supervising their children at all times.
  8. No items will be exchanged in the visitation room without prior approval by the appropriate staff member.
  9. Please be advised that all items will be searched prior to entry into the visitation room.
  10. Visitors are not allowed to wear the following items of clothing while in the visitation room: a. shorts b. shower shoes or house slippers c. thong sandals d. see-through clothing e. clothing exposing the mid-section f. tank tops or halters g. headgear (except for religious reasons) h. military clothing i. dresses or skirts shorter than 2 inches above the knee j. hot pants k. spandex attire l. any item deemed inappropriate by the Shift Supervisor Visitors will be denied entrance based on inappropriate dress.
  11. Any jewelry worn by the visitor on the visit must be declared and inspected by the Lobby Officer prior to admission to the visitation room.
  12. Visitors will be allowed to use the restroom in the visitation room during visits.
  13. Visitors are limited to three (3) adults at a time and a reasonable amount of children as determined by visitation staff. Be advised: the seating arrangement accommodates only three (3) adult visitors and the inmate.
  14. All visitors 16 years of age and older must have a photo I.D. (valid driver's license, photo identification or valid passport). Persons without proper identification will not be permitted to visit.
  15. Inmates housed in the Special Housing Unit (SHU) will receive non-contact visits.

Tour Contact: Executive Assistant & Facility P.I.O. Carol Lavely. Tours are limited [229-868-7778, ext. 2204]

Directions:

I-16; exit 51, McRae/Dublin; Highway 441 South to second traffic signal; Left onto West Oak Street, Right onto Jim Hammock Drive; follow road to Facility.

Please address any health concerns/issues in writing to the facility specific Warden, ensuring to include a detailed explanation of the concern/issue. If the concern/issue, cannot be resolved though the organization (facility), the public is encouraged to contact the Joint Commission's Office of Quality Monitoring to report any concerns or register complaints about a Joint Commission-accredited health care organization by either calling 1-800-994-6610 or emailing complaint@jcaho.org.