Maximum / close custody (men) · Correctional Facility · ADOC

St. Clair Correctional Facility

Springville, St. Clair County, Alabama

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (659) 444-0033 Info last verified: June 2026

A maximum-security men's prison at Springville, northeast of Birmingham, with a full medical infirmary; one of Alabama's highest-security facilities.

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

St. Clair Correctional Facility, on St. Clair Road in Springville, St. Clair County, is a maximum-security men’s prison holding about 1,089 men. ADOC describes it as a close-custody / maximum-security facility that houses higher-classified men, and it operates a full medical infirmary — including dental services, dialysis, a cancer unit, an emergency room, and diagnostic services — along with the “New Outlook” therapeutic community program and Alabama Correctional Industries operations. It opened in June 1983, northeast of the Birmingham metro area.

What Makes St. Clair Different

It is one of Alabama’s highest-security men’s prisons, holding higher-classified men.
It operates a full medical infirmary, including dialysis and a cancer unit, serving men with significant medical needs.
Because it is maximum security, visiting may be more restricted — confirm whether the person’s visits are contact or non-contact.
It is northeast of Birmingham, which makes it more reachable than Alabama’s most 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 St. Clair. The facility’s own arrangements:

The full approval process is in Visiting in Alabama.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on St. Clair Road in Springville, northeast of Birmingham.

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

Nearby Services

Springville has nearby gas and food; Pell City (about 15–20 miles south) and the Birmingham metro area have the fullest range of hotels, restaurants, and services. The nearest hospital emergency room is UAB St. Vincent’s St. Clair in Pell City; Birmingham’s hospitals offer higher-level care.

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

St. Clair has been the subject of litigation over violence and conditions. The Equal Justice Initiative filed a federal class-action in 2014 citing a series of homicides and assaults and understaffing at the prison; ADOC later agreed to reforms, including changes to its internal classification system. St. Clair is also among the facilities named in the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation and 2020 lawsuit over conditions in Alabama’s men’s prisons, which 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.