Medium security (men) · State Prison · ODOC

Oregon State Correctional Institution

Salem, Marion County, Oregon

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (503) 373-0169 Info last verified: June 2026

A medium-security men's prison just east of Salem, known for housing many younger adults in custody and for transitional-release beds, with on-site work that includes a call center and a service-dog program.

Statewide rules that apply at every Oregon state prison

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

Dress code

Footwear and undergarments are required; undergarments must not be visible through clothing, and underwire bras are not allowed because they trigger the metal detector.
No blue clothing or blue denim of any kind, and nothing camouflage — both resemble what adults in custody and staff wear.
Dresses, skirts, and shorts must reach the knee when standing; nothing sheer, see-through, low-cut, tight, or revealing, and no halter, tube, or crop tops.
No hats or head coverings except religious ones (which may be inspected), and nothing with gang symbols or with offensive or suggestive words or images.

ID: Every visitor must already be on the adult in custody's approved list (a records check is run on anyone 15 or older). Adults bring a government-issued photo ID for a contact visit; a visitor without photo ID may be limited to a non-contact visit.
What to bring: Almost nothing comes into the visit room — no phones, electronics, tobacco, or vaping. Visitors may bring a small amount of change for vending (commonly $15 to $20 — confirm with the facility), up to five photos, and a car key; lockers hold the rest.
Scheduling: The adult in custody builds the visiting list with the CD-50 application, and every visitor must be approved before scheduling. Whether visits are by appointment or first-come — and the days and hours — vary by facility, so confirm the specific prison's process before traveling.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Oregon

Overview

Oregon State Correctional Institution, about three miles east of downtown Salem, is a medium-security men’s prison that opened in 1959 on a 33-acre site. It is known for housing a relatively young population, including young adults who began their sentences in a youth facility, and it sets aside roughly 350 beds for transitional release for people approaching the end of their sentences. As of April 2026 it held about 836 people, against a capacity of about 880. Its programs include alcohol-and-drug and mental-health treatment, education, and reentry programming, along with Oregon Corrections Enterprises work — a print shop, fulfillment, and a customer-service call center — and a service-dog training program.

What Makes OSCI Different

It houses many younger adults in custody, including young adults transferred in from the youth system.
It has a large transitional-release population — about 350 beds for people nearing release.
It runs a call center and other work programs through Oregon Corrections Enterprises, plus a service-dog program.
It is one of three ODOC prisons in Salem, alongside the Oregon State Penitentiary and Santiam.

Visiting

The statewide ODOC rules above — the approved list, the no-blue dress code, ID, and search rules — apply at OSCI.

The full approval process is in Visiting in Oregon.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on Deer Park Drive SE, off the Highway 22 corridor east of downtown Salem.

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

Nearby Services

Salem has a full range of food, gas, and lodging. The nearest 24/7 emergency room is Salem Hospital (Salem Health) at 890 Oak Street SE, a Level II trauma center a few miles west.

Mail

Personal mail goes to the facility, addressed with the person’s name as ODOC lists it and their SID number. Oregon is moving toward scanning personal mail to tablets, so confirm the current method before sending. Legal mail marked “LEGAL MAIL” goes to the facility and is opened in the person’s presence. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

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

Visiting in Oregon — the approved list, the no-blue dress code, and ID rules
Mail & Packages — the SID number, paper rules, and the move to scanned mail
Phone & Video Calls — the ICSolutions account and tablets
Sending Money — trust-account deposits
Medical & Mental Health — health care and the Corrections Ombudsman
Transfers & Finding Someone — the one-year line, intake, 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.