Reception and diagnostic center (men) · Reception Center · CDOC

Denver Reception & Diagnostic Center

Denver, Denver County, Colorado

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (303) 307-2362 Info last verified: June 2026

Colorado's statewide intake and diagnostic center for men, in northeast Denver, where newly sentenced men are classified before transfer; it also runs an infirmary and dialysis unit.

Statewide rules that apply at every Colorado state prison

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

Dress code

No clothing that is solid green, gray, orange, white, yellow, or camouflage, or that otherwise resembles what incarcerated people wear — Colorado prison uniforms are green.
Pants, skirts, and dresses must reach at least the top of the knee; no shorts of any kind and no cargo pants, and nothing tight or form-fitting such as leggings, spandex, or yoga pants.
Nothing sheer, ripped, or revealing — no exposed cleavage, back, or midriff when standing, sitting, or bending, and no spaghetti- or thin-strap tops; appropriate undergarments are required and must not be visible.
No hats, hoods, gloves, scarves, or coats in the visiting room (religious head coverings excepted), nothing showing gang, drug, profane, or offensive images, and jewelry limited to a wedding set, one religious medallion, and medical-alert items.

ID: Every visitor 18 or older shows a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID — the physical card, not a photocopy or digital ID — and must already be on the incarcerated person's approved list, which is capped at 12 adults (minors do not count).
What to bring: Almost nothing comes into the visit room. The only item allowed for purchases is one debit or credit card for the vending machines — no cash or coins — and phones, watches, and other electronics are prohibited; prescription medication must be in its original labeled container.
Scheduling: Each visitor applies to the facility where the person is held, and visits are generally by appointment, with days and hours set by that prison — there is no single statewide schedule, so confirm the facility's process and book ahead before traveling.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Colorado

Overview

The Denver Reception & Diagnostic Center, at 10900 Smith Road in northeast Denver, is where all CDOC inmates begin — newly sentenced men are received here, assessed, and classified before being assigned to a permanent prison. Because of that role, a person may be at DRDC only briefly before transfer, so the facility shown in the inmate locator can change within weeks. Built in 1991, DRDC also carries a significant medical mission: it operates a 62-bed transition unit, a 36-bed infirmary, a 12-bed Special Medical Needs Unit, and an on-site dialysis unit.

What Makes DRDC Different

It is the statewide intake and diagnostic center — most newly sentenced men start here.
A person may be here only briefly, so confirm the person is still at DRDC before traveling.
It runs an infirmary, a special medical needs unit, and a dialysis unit.
It is in northeast Denver, more reachable than Colorado’s rural prisons.

Visiting

The statewide CDOC rules above — the approved list, the dress code, ID, and search rules — apply at DRDC. The facility’s own arrangements:

The full approval process is in Visiting in Colorado.

Getting There and Parking

The center is at 10900 Smith Road in northeast Denver, off Interstate 70.

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

Nearby Services

Northeast Denver and the wider metro area have the fullest range of hotels, restaurants, and services. The nearest 24-hour emergency room is the HCA HealthONE Rose Central Park ER in Denver.

Mail

Personal mail goes to the facility, addressed with the person’s commitment name and DOC number. DRDC is one of the CDOC facilities that photocopies incoming personal mail, delivers the copy, and destroys the original — so do not send originals you want returned. Legal mail is opened only to inspect for contraband, in the person’s presence. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone in a Colorado state prison:

Visiting in Colorado — the approved list, the dress code, and ID rules
Mail & Packages — the DOC number, photocopying, and publisher-only books
Phone & Video Calls — free calls, Securus, and tablets
Sending Money — CorrectPay deposits
Medical & Mental Health — the co-pay, HIPAA releases, and Constituent Services
Transfers & Finding Someone — reception, the locator, and VINE

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.