Close security (women) · State Prison · GDC

McRae Women's Facility

McRae-Helena, Telfair County, Georgia

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (229) 212-5100 Info last verified: June 2026

Georgia's newest women's prison, in McRae-Helena — a former federal prison the state reopened as a state-run women's facility in 2025.

Statewide rules that apply at every Georgia state prison

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

Dress code

Shirts must cover the chest, shoulders, back, and waist; women's slacks, dresses, or skirts may be no more than two inches above the knee, and a complete set of foundation garments (bra, slip, and underwear) is required.
No tank, halter, tube, or thin-strap tops, nothing sheer or transparent, and nothing that bares the midriff.
No shorts or above-the-knee slacks for anyone 12 or older (children under 12 may wear shorts); shoes are required for every visitor.

ID: Every visitor must first be approved on the person's visiting list — apply on GDC's Application for Visitation Privilege, mailed to the prison (the warden has 14 working days to decide) — and visitors 16 and older must show a government-issued photo ID, which is held during the visit. The visiting list can be changed only when the person reaches a permanent facility or during May or November.
What to bring: Bring only a photo ID, a car key, and up to $20 in coins (or a vending debit card where accepted). No outside food or drink (store-bought baby formula is the exception), and no phones, cameras, or bags; money for the person is sent through JPay, never handed over at a visit.
Scheduling: Visits are by appointment through GDC's online portal, on Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays in two-hour blocks; requests for a given week are accepted Monday through Wednesday. A newly received person in diagnostic status is generally not eligible for visits until reaching a permanent prison.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Georgia

Overview

McRae Women’s Facility, on Jim Hammock Drive in McRae-Helena in Telfair County, is Georgia’s newest women’s prison. It is the former federal CoreCivic McRae prison, which the state purchased and reopened as a state-run, close-security prison for women in January 2025; because of that history, older sources may describe it as a federal or private facility. News reports describe roughly 600 women held here. It should not be confused with the men’s Telfair State Prison, which is in the same town. The facility is about 80 miles southeast of Macon.

What Makes McRae Women’s Facility Different

It is Georgia’s newest women’s prison, reopened as a state-run facility in January 2025.
It is a former federal prison — the CoreCivic-operated McRae facility — so older sources may describe it as a federal or private prison.
It holds close-security women, and is not to be confused with the men’s Telfair State Prison in the same town.
It is about 80 miles southeast of Macon.

Visiting

The statewide GDC rules above — the approved visitor list, the dress code, ID, and item limits — apply at McRae Women’s Facility. The facility’s own arrangements:

The full approval process is in Visiting in Georgia.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on Jim Hammock Drive in McRae-Helena, in south-central Georgia.

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

Nearby Services

McRae-Helena and nearby Eastman have the closest gas, food, and lodging; Macon, about 80 miles northwest, has the fullest range. The nearest 24-hour emergency room is Dodge County Hospital in Eastman, about 20 miles away; the former in-town Taylor-Telfair hospital in McRae closed in 2008 and is not an option.

Mail

Personal mail goes to the facility, addressed with the person’s full name and GDC ID number. Georgia is moving toward centralized mail handling, so confirm the current mailing address before sending. Books and magazines must come from a publisher or established retailer, and legal mail is opened only in the person’s presence. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

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

Visiting in Georgia — the approved list, dress code, and the appointment portal
Mail & Packages — addressing mail and the publisher-only rule
Phone & Video Calls — Securus calls and tablet messaging
Sending Money — depositing through JPay
Medical & Mental Health — the co-pay, grievances, and the Ombudsman
Transfers & Finding Someone — intake, permanent assignment, and the locator

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.