Medium security (men), custody levels 1-3 · Correctional Center · WV DCR

Denmar Correctional Center

Hillsboro, Pocahontas County, West Virginia

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (304) 653-4201 Info last verified: June 2026

A medium-security men's prison in Pocahontas County near Hillsboro, home to a correctional-industries garment operation; it occupies the site of a former tuberculosis sanatorium.

Statewide rules that apply at every West Virginia state prison

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

Dress code

West Virginia does not ban any clothing color for visitors, but dress must be modest: female visitors must wear a bra (underwire is not allowed because it will not clear the metal detector), and male visitors must wear a shirt.
No shorts, sleeveless tops, or tight, sheer, see-through, low-cut, or midriff-baring clothing, and no hats or head coverings.
No steel- or composite-toe shoes; jewelry is limited to a wedding ring (no watches), and anything with metal or metallic beads may not clear the detector.
Undergarments are required, and the shift commander has the final say on whether an outfit is appropriate.

ID: Every visitor must be on the inmate's approved list first — the inmate mails the visitor an Application to Visit, which is approved after a background check; an inmate may have up to six approved adult visitors. Each adult brings a government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID — not a Social Security or printable card). A minor needs a birth certificate and, if not with a parent or guardian, a notarized Juvenile Visitation Form.
What to bring: Almost nothing comes into the visit room — no phones, purses, bags, or tobacco; secure them in your vehicle or a lobby locker. There is no visitor vending and no food or drink in the visiting area. A parent may bring limited baby items (one clear bottle, a few diapers, a carrier).
Scheduling: At the state prisons, visits are on Saturdays and Sundays between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and the incarcerated person schedules them in advance — there is no walk-in visiting and no public online booking, so confirm the facility's specific times. Prison visits are contact visits; the regional jails, by contrast, are non-contact.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in West Virginia

Overview

Denmar Correctional Center, near Hillsboro in Pocahontas County, is a medium-security men’s prison holding about 190 men in custody levels 1-3 (FY2024). People placed here are generally within a few years of parole or discharge. Its main worksite is a correctional-industries garment operation that produces uniforms worn by incarcerated people across West Virginia’s prisons; the facility also runs substance-abuse treatment, education, and vocational programs. The site has a long institutional history: it opened in 1919 as a state tuberculosis sanatorium, later became Denmar State Hospital, and was converted to a prison in 1993 (see the note on history below). West Virginia has no death penalty, so there is no death row.

What Makes Denmar Different

It runs a correctional-industries garment operation that makes uniforms worn across West Virginia’s prisons.
It holds men who are generally within a few years of release, in medium custody.
It is in the mountains of Pocahontas County, off U.S. 219.
It sits on historic ground — see the note below.

Visiting

The statewide WV DCR rules above — the approved list, the dress code, ID, and search rules — apply at Denmar.

The full approval process is in Visiting in West Virginia.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on Denmar Road near Hillsboro, off U.S. Route 219 in the eastern mountains.

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

Nearby Services

Marlinton, to the north, has the nearest cluster of food, gas, and lodging. The nearest 24/7 emergency room is Pocahontas Memorial Hospital near Marlinton, about 9 miles north of Hillsboro.

Mail

Personal mail does not go to the prison. Since 2023, West Virginia routes personal letters to an off-site scanning center in Maryland, addressed with the person’s name and OID number; the person receives the mail as images on a tablet, and photos must be sent through the tablet rather than mailed. Legal mail, books, and magazines go to the facility. Full addressing details are in Mail & Packages.

A Note on History

Denmar opened in 1919 as the State Colored Tuberculosis Sanatorium, established by the Legislature in 1917 to treat African American tuberculosis patients during the era of racial segregation. It was desegregated in 1957 and became Denmar State Hospital, a facility for the chronically ill, which closed in 1990. The state reopened the site as Denmar Correctional Center in 1993. Records compiled in 1995 identified the names of hundreds of former sanatorium patients believed to be buried on the grounds. This history is documented in the sources cited above.

Learn More

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

Visiting in West Virginia — the approved list, dress code, and scheduling
Mail & Packages — the Maryland scanning address and the OID number
Phone & Video Calls — ViaPath/GettingOut calls, messaging, and video
Sending Money — ConnectNetwork and the trustee account
Medical & Mental Health — co-pays and how to raise a concern
Transfers & Finding Someone — prison vs. regional jail and the split 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.