Minimum security (men) · State Prison · ODOC

Santiam Correctional Institution

Salem, Marion County, Oregon

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (503) 378-3341 Info last verified: June 2026

Oregon's smallest prison — a minimum-security men's facility on the east side of Salem, built around work crews that contract with agencies and organizations within about 60 miles of Salem.

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

Santiam Correctional Institution, on the east side of Salem, is Oregon’s smallest prison, a minimum-security facility for men budgeted for about 440 people. It is built around work: it places people in a full range of work assignments, many on crews that contract with state agencies, local organizations, and private industry within about 60 miles of Salem. Alongside the work program, it offers education, transition, and religious services. The building dates to 1946, when it was an annex to the Oregon State Hospital.

What Makes Santiam Different

It is the smallest prison in the Oregon system, with a few hundred minimum-custody men.
It is a work-crew facility — much of the population works on crews contracting with organizations within about 60 miles of Salem.
Visiting is weekend-only and rotates by unit, so the day a person’s unit can be visited changes week to week.
It is one of three ODOC prisons in Salem, alongside the Oregon State Penitentiary and the Oregon State Correctional Institution.

Visiting

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

Because the schedule changed in 2026 and rotates by unit, the current hours are the ones to rely on. The full approval process is in Visiting in Oregon.

Getting There and Parking

Santiam is on Aumsville Highway SE on Salem’s east side, off the Highway 22 corridor.

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 from the facility.

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.