Level 4 — maximum security (men) · State Prison · ODRC

Southern Ohio Correctional Facility

Lucasville, Scioto County, Ohio

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (740) 259-5544 Info last verified: June 2026

Ohio's maximum-security men's prison in Lucasville, in southern Ohio, which houses the state's execution chamber.

Statewide rules that apply at every Ohio state prison

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

Dress code

No see-through, torn, or ripped clothing (no skin showing through); no halter, tube, crop, tank, or muscle tops, and nothing that exposes undergarments; skirts, dresses, and shorts must be no higher than mid-knee.
No skin-tight clothing — leggings, jeggings, spandex, or tights — and no wrap-around or break-away garments; appropriate undergarments are required, and underwire bras or hairpins may set off the metal detector and delay entry.
No gang-related, obscene, or offensive clothing. If a visitor arrives dressed out of code, the prison must offer alternative clothing (such as a scrub shirt) rather than turn the visitor away.

ID: Every visitor must first be approved on the person's visiting list (apply on form DRC-2096 with a copy of a photo ID; minors use form DRC-2238 with a birth certificate). A person may have up to 15 approved adult visitors, no more than two of whom may be friends. Approved visitors register at gtlvisitme.com and show photo ID at every visit.
What to bring: Leave phones, smart watches, purses, bags, and strollers behind — they are not allowed inside; a clear diaper bag with limited baby items is permitted. Money for the person is sent through ViaPath, never handed over at a visit; confirm with the facility whether any vending money or card is allowed.
Scheduling: Visits must be reserved in advance through ViaPath (gtlvisitme.com); each prison sets its own visiting days, hours, and limits, so confirm them with the specific facility. A newly received person in reception has restricted visiting and transfers to a permanent prison after classification.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Ohio

Overview

The Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF), on State Route 728 in Lucasville, Scioto County, is Ohio’s maximum-security (Level 4) men’s prison and the site of the state’s execution chamber. SOCF opened in 1972 and held about 1,320 men in late 2025. Ohio carries out executions at SOCF; the state has not carried out an execution since 2018 under a governor’s pause. For statewide policy and procedure, see the Ohio overview and Visiting in Ohio. Because it operates at the maximum-security level, visiting procedures are more restrictive than at lower-security prisons.

What Makes SOCF Different

It is Ohio’s maximum-security (Level 4) prison, so visiting rules are stricter than at lower-security facilities.
It houses the state’s execution chamber; Ohio has not carried out an execution since 2018 under a governor’s pause.
Visits may be contact or non-contact depending on the person’s status, so confirm before traveling.
It is about 10 miles north of Portsmouth and about 79 miles south of Columbus, via U.S. 23.

Visiting

The statewide ODRC rules above — the approved visitor list, the dress code, ID, and item limits — apply at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility. The facility’s own arrangements:

The full approval process is in Visiting in Ohio.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on State Route 728 in Lucasville, in southern Ohio.

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

Nearby Services

Portsmouth, about 10 miles south, has gas, food, and lodging. The nearest 24-hour emergency room is Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth.

Mail

Personal mail does not go to the prison. Ohio routes incoming letters and cards to the off-site ODRC Mail Processing Center in Youngstown, where they are opened, scanned, and delivered to the person electronically on a ViaPath tablet; address them with the person’s name and ID number. Legal mail, publications (publisher- or retailer-only books, magazines, and newspapers), and packages still go directly to the facility. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone in an Ohio state prison:

Visiting in Ohio — the approved list, dress code, and ViaPath reservations
Mail & Packages — the off-site mail center and what still goes to the prison
Phone & Video Calls — ViaPath calls, tablets, and video visits
Sending Money — depositing through ViaPath/ConnectNetwork
Medical & Mental Health — the co-pay, grievances, and CFIS oversight
Transfers & Finding Someone — reception, classification, 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.