Maximum / close custody (ADOC uses both terms) — men · Correctional Facility · ADOC

William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility

Bessemer, Jefferson County, Alabama

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (205) 436-3681 Info last verified: June 2026

A high-security men's prison west of Bessemer, in the Birmingham metro. It holds men with long sentences, including many serving life without parole, and operates one of the largest segregation units in the Alabama system.

Statewide rules that apply at every Alabama state prison

These rules are set by ADOC and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in Alabama.

Dress code

No tan clothing or anything that looks tan, and no scrub-style clothing — both resemble what inmates wear (Alabama inmates wear white, and minimum-custody clothing is tan or white).
Dresses, skirts, and pants must be no shorter than three inches above the knee (including any slit), and trousers must be at least ankle-length; no shorts, stretch pants, or tight, sheer, or see-through clothing.
No sundresses or sleeveless tops — blouses and shirts must cover the waist and chest — and a complete set of undergarments is required.
No hats, caps, scarves, or headbands (religious headwear needs advance written approval); no sunglasses unless prescribed and no smart glasses; jewelry limited to a wedding set and simple stud earrings; no house, shower, or beach shoes.

ID: Every adult visitor must be on the inmate's approved list (built with Form 303-A) and show a government-issued photo ID — a driver's license, state ID, military ID, or immigration ID. An inmate may have up to eight approved adult visitors at a time.
What to bring: Each visitor may bring up to $30 (in change or on a $30 debit card) for the vending machines, plus a photo ID and car keys, in a clear plastic bag — and nothing else. Phones and electronics, purses and bags, tobacco, and weapons are prohibited; parents may bring a few baby items.
Scheduling: There is no statewide schedule and ADOC does not post visiting hours online, so confirm days and hours with the specific prison. Under the 2025 rules, all visits must be pre-scheduled and approved, and a newly arrived inmate may face up to a 60-day wait before visits can begin.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Alabama

Overview

William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility, west of Bessemer in the Birmingham metro area, is a high-security men’s prison holding about 1,440 men. ADOC’s own materials describe it using both “close custody” and “maximum security,” and the facility specializes in housing men with long sentences who are difficult to manage, including several hundred serving life without parole. It operates one of the largest segregation units in the Alabama system. The prison opened in 1982 as the West Jefferson Correctional Facility and was renamed for a correctional officer killed in the line of duty in 1990.

Alabama’s primary male death row is at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, which also holds the state’s only execution chamber. ADOC’s materials note that additional death-row housing exists at Donaldson, so some men under sentence of death are held here. To confirm where a specific person is held, use the ADOC inmate search.

What Makes Donaldson Different

It is one of Alabama’s high-security men’s prisons, holding men with long sentences and many serving life without parole.
ADOC uses both “close custody” and “maximum security” for the facility in its own materials.
It has a large segregation (restrictive-housing) unit, so some men here are in restrictive housing, where visit rules differ.
It is in the Birmingham metro area, west of Bessemer, which makes it more reachable than Alabama’s rural prisons.

Visiting

The statewide ADOC rules above — the approved visitor list, the no-tan dress code, ID, and the $30 vending limit — apply at Donaldson. The facility’s own arrangements:

The full approval process is in Visiting in Alabama.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on Warrior Lane in unincorporated Jefferson County, west of Bessemer and southwest of Birmingham.

Distances are approximate, based on map routing. Visitor parking is on site.

Nearby Services

Bessemer and Birmingham, a short drive east, have the nearest clusters of hotels, restaurants, and services. The nearest hospital emergency room is UAB Medical West in Bessemer, the closest full hospital to the facility.

Mail

Personal mail does not go to the prison. Since late 2025, ADOC routes personal letters, cards, and photos to an off-site scanning center in San Antonio, Texas, addressed with the person’s name and AIS number; the person receives the mail as images on a tablet. Legal mail and packages still go to the facility. Full addressing details are in Mail & Packages.

A Note on History

Donaldson is among the facilities named in the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation and 2020 lawsuit over conditions in Alabama’s men’s prisons — the case alleges unconstitutional levels of violence and unsafe conditions and is in litigation. This context is covered, with sources, on the Alabama overview.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone at an Alabama state prison:

Visiting in Alabama — the approved list, dress code, and scheduling
Mail & Packages — the San Antonio scanning address and what still goes to the facility
Phone & Video Calls — ICSolutions calls, messaging, and video
Sending Money — Access Corrections and the trust account
Medical & Mental Health — the co-pay and how to raise a concern
Transfers & Finding Someone — reception centers and the inmate search

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.