Maximum-rated, holding minimum through close custody (men) · State Prison · CDOC

Sterling Correctional Facility

Sterling, Logan County, Colorado

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (970) 521-8300 Info last verified: June 2026

Colorado's largest prison, in the remote northeast corner of the state — a maximum-security-rated facility holding a mix of custody levels, with a 28-day, email-scheduled visiting system.

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

Sterling Correctional Facility is Colorado’s largest prison, holding about 2,100 men as of late 2024 — more than double the next-largest CDOC facility. It opened in 1999 on a large site in Logan County, in the state’s northeast corner. CDOC rates it a maximum-security (Level V) facility, and it houses a mix of custody levels, from minimum through close custody, in general population.

What Makes Sterling Different

It is the largest prison in Colorado, holding more men than any other CDOC facility.
It is remote. Sterling is in the far northeast of the state — about a two-to-two-and-a-half-hour drive from Denver — with very limited public transit, so visitors should plan to drive.
It uses a session-based visiting calendar. Visiting runs in 28-day “sessions” divided into blocks, and appointments are requested by email — a system specific to this facility.

Visiting

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

If no confirmation arrives by noon the day before, the facility asks visitors to call (970) 521-8300. The full approval process is in Visiting in Colorado.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on State Highway 61, on the edge of Sterling in northeast Colorado.

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

Nearby Services

Sterling, the largest town in northeast Colorado, has gas, food, and lodging clustered along the I-76 corridor — and is the main place to refuel and eat, since services are sparse on the drive from Denver. The nearest 24/7 emergency room is Sterling Regional MedCenter (Banner Health) at 615 Fairhurst Street in Sterling.

Mail

Personal mail goes to the facility, addressed with the person’s commitment name and DOC number. Legal mail is opened only to inspect for contraband, in the person’s presence. Full rules — including which prisons photocopy incoming mail and destroy the original — 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.