Close security (men) · State Prison · GDC

Telfair State Prison

Helena, Telfair County, Georgia

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (229) 868-7721 Info last verified: June 2026

A close-security state prison for men in Helena, in south-central Georgia — one of the state's higher-security men's prisons.

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

Telfair State Prison, on Longbridge Road in Helena, Telfair County, is a close-security state prison for men in south-central Georgia. It opened in 1992 and houses general-population men in close security, with a capacity of about 1,400. The prison is made up of eight housing units in varied configurations — double-bunked cells, open dormitories, and an isolation/segregation unit. As a close-security facility, it is one of Georgia’s higher-security men’s prisons.

McRae Women’s Facility is also in the Helena/Telfair County area, so confirm which facility holds the person on GDC’s Find an Offender before traveling.

What Makes Telfair Different

It is a close-security prison, one of Georgia’s higher-security levels for men, so visiting and movement may be more restricted than at a lower-security facility.
It opened in 1992 and is organized into eight housing units, including open dormitories, double-bunked cells, and a segregation unit.
It is in Helena, in Telfair County, in south-central Georgia near McRae.

Visiting

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

The full approval process is in Visiting in Georgia.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on Longbridge Road in Helena, Telfair County, in south-central Georgia near McRae.

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

Nearby Services

McRae, adjacent to Helena, has the closest gas and food; Dublin, about 40 miles northeast, has a fuller range of lodging and services. The nearest emergency rooms are in the McRae and Dublin areas — confirm the closest open emergency room before traveling.

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.