Close custody (ADOC's term for its highest-security men's institutions) · Correctional Facility · ADOC

Limestone Correctional Facility

Harvest, Limestone County, Alabama

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (256) 233-4600 Info last verified: June 2026

Alabama's largest prison by population, in rural Limestone County between Athens and Huntsville. ADOC classifies it as a close-custody facility for men, and it operates well above its design capacity.

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

Limestone Correctional Facility, near Harvest in northern Limestone County, is Alabama’s largest prison by population, holding roughly 2,300 to 2,400 men — well above its design capacity of about 1,628. ADOC classifies Limestone as a close-custody facility, the agency’s term for institutions that house its highest-classified men, though in practice it holds a range of custody levels. The prison opened in 1984, sits on about 1,600 acres, and runs agricultural operations.

What Makes Limestone Different

It is Alabama’s largest prison by population, so it has high visiting volume and operates above its design capacity.
ADOC calls it “close custody,” not “maximum security.” That is the agency’s own classification term; some outside sources use “maximum security” for the same facility.
It has an on-site infirmary and provides medical, dental, and mental-health care, with specialty care handled by escorted transport to outside hospitals.
It offers vocational training through J.F. Ingram State Technical College (trades such as welding, carpentry, electrical, and industrial maintenance) and a reentry program.

Visiting

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

The full approval process is in Visiting in Alabama.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on Nick Davis Road in Harvest, in rural northern Limestone County, between Athens and Huntsville.

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

Nearby Services

Athens and Huntsville, each about 10–20 minutes away, have the nearest clusters of hotels and restaurants. The nearest hospital emergency room is Athens-Limestone Hospital in Athens, about 10 miles west; Huntsville Hospital, a larger trauma center, is about 15–20 minutes east in Huntsville.

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

Limestone is part of the history of HIV care in U.S. prisons. For about two decades, Alabama housed its HIV-positive male prisoners in a separate unit at Limestone. In Henderson v. Thomas, a federal court ruled in 2012 that this blanket segregation violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Alabama ended the practice under a 2013 settlement; the separate unit no longer exists. Limestone is also among the facilities named in the U.S. Department of Justice’s 2020 lawsuit over conditions in Alabama’s men’s prisons, which is in litigation (see 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.