Maximum security (men) — the men's death row; also the southern Nevada intake center · State Prison · NDOC

High Desert State Prison

Indian Springs, Clark County, Nevada

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (725) 216-6789 Info last verified: June 2026

Nevada's largest prison, in Indian Springs northwest of Las Vegas — the maximum-security institution that holds the men's death row and serves as the intake center for southern Nevada.

Statewide rules that apply at every NDOC prison

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

Dress code

No blue denim (it resembles inmate clothing); no shorts, midriff or halter tops, or other revealing clothing; dress conservatively.
Each institution enforces its own visiting dress code and may turn away a visitor who is dressed out of code, so confirm the specific institution's rules before traveling.

ID: Every visitor must be on the incarcerated person's approved visitor list — the person applies to add each visitor, and a list holds up to five people (with an exception for the person's minor children). Adult visitors show a valid government-issued photo ID at each visit.
What to bring: Bring only what the institution allows — phones, bags, and most personal items are not permitted in the visiting room. Money for the person's account is sent through the NDOC vendor, never handed over at a visit.
Scheduling: Visits are arranged with each institution (Nevada has no single statewide online scheduler), and visitors check in ahead of the visit slot; days, hours, and contact or non-contact rules vary by institution and custody level. Nevada also offers video visits through GettingOut. A newly committed person is processed at an intake center first — High Desert (southern Nevada) or Northern Nevada Correctional Center (northern Nevada) for men, and Florence McClure for women — before transfer.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Nevada

Overview

High Desert State Prison, in Indian Springs northwest of Las Vegas, is Nevada’s largest prison. In a 2024 reorganization it became the state’s maximum-security institution and the site of the men’s death row (the execution chamber remains at Ely State Prison). It also serves as the intake center for southern Nevada, where newly committed men are received, assessed, and classified before assignment. Because of that role, a man may be here only briefly during reception, and the institution shown in the inmate search can change within the first weeks.

What Makes High Desert Different

It is Nevada’s largest prison and, since 2024, its maximum-security institution.
It holds the men’s death row (the execution chamber is at Ely, not here).
It is the southern Nevada intake center, so a newly committed man often begins here before transferring.
Some housing is non-contact, and visiting is limited during reception — confirm the person’s unit and status.

Visiting

The statewide NDOC rules above — the approved visitor list, the dress code, ID, and item limits — apply at High Desert State Prison. The institution’s own arrangements:

The full visitor process is in Visiting in Nevada.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on Cold Creek Road in Indian Springs, northwest of Las Vegas.

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

Nearby Services

Indian Springs has limited services; the Las Vegas area to the southeast has the full range of gas, food, and lodging. The nearest 24-hour emergency rooms are in the Las Vegas area.

Mail

Nevada delivers incoming personal mail to the institution — state law requires NDOC to deliver physical mail, so it does not use an off-site mail-scanning vendor. Address it with the person’s committed name and NDOC inmate number and the institution’s address. NDOC has proposed tightening what may be enclosed, so confirm the current rules on cards, photos, and publications before sending; books and publications generally must come from an approved source. Money is not enclosed in mail — it is sent through the NDOC vendor. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

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

Visiting in Nevada — the approved visitor list, dress code, and scheduling
Mail & Packages — addressing mail to the institution and what may be enclosed
Phone & Video Calls — ViaPath calls and GettingOut tablets and video visits
Sending Money — depositing through the NDOC vendor
Medical & Mental Health — sick call and state-run care
Transfers & Finding Someone — reception, finding someone, 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.