Medium security (men) · Correctional Center · WV DCR

Stevens Correctional Center

Welch, McDowell County, West Virginia

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (304) 436-5420 Info last verified: June 2026

A medium-security men's prison in Welch, in McDowell County in southern West Virginia. Converted from a former hospital and county-run for nearly two decades, it came under full state control in July 2025.

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

Stevens Correctional Center, in Welch in far southern McDowell County, is a medium-security men’s prison holding about 320 men (FY2024), with a designed capacity around 332. It holds only sentenced state inmates — it is not a pretrial regional jail. The building began as the Stevens Clinic hospital; the McDowell County Economic Development Authority bought it in 2001 and converted it to a correctional center, and it held West Virginia state inmates under county management from 2006. In July 2025, under House Bill 3456, the facility transferred to the state and became a full WVDCR-operated prison — the newest in West Virginia. West Virginia has no death penalty, so there is no death row.

What Makes Stevens Different

It is West Virginia’s newest state prison. Run by McDowell County for nearly two decades, it came under full WVDCR control in July 2025.
It holds only sentenced state inmates, not pretrial detainees — despite the “and Jail” in some listings, it functions as a state prison.
It is the only state prison in McDowell County, the southernmost county in West Virginia.
It was converted from a former hospital, the Stevens Clinic.

Visiting

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

The full approval process is in Visiting in West Virginia.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on Virginia Avenue in Welch, in far southern West Virginia.

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

Nearby Services

Welch has limited food, gas, and lodging. The nearest 24/7 emergency room is Welch Community Hospital, the only acute-care hospital in McDowell County.

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. Because Stevens only recently joined the state system, confirm the current mailing address in Mail & Packages.

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.