Stay in Touch With an Inmate at James T. Vaughn Correctional Facility Easily

How to Stay Connected With Your Loved Ones at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center

Situated in rural New Castle County, the is in an unincorporated area near Smyrna, De. Formerly known as the Delaware Correctional Center, it's the most prominent adult male correctional facility in the state. Approximately 2,600 minimum, medium, and maximum security inmates are housed in prison.

The facility is named for a former Delaware state senator and was previously home to Delaware's male death row inmates. The state abolished the death penalty in 2016, and many prisoners who were on death row at that time are now serving a life sentence in the facility's Secure Housing Unit (SHU).

Where Is James T. Vaughn Correctional Facility Located?

The is in a rural area approximately four miles north of Smyrna, Delaware, and about eight miles from the Blackbird State Forest. It will take you around ten minutes from the center of Smyrna to get there by car. Public transportation to the facility is not available, and the prison is remote enough that walking or bicycling is impractical.

For complete directions, plug the following address into your GPS:

James T. Vaughn Correctional Center

1181 Paddock Road

Smyrna, DE 19977

James T. Vaughn Correctional Center Contact Information

You may have questions about the facility or need to directly speak with someone from the Delaware Department of Corrections. If so, the following contact information could prove very helpful.

Physical Address	James T. Vaughn Correctional Center 1181 Paddock Road, Smyrna, DE 19977
Phone Number	(302) 653-9261
Website	https://doc.delaware.gov/views/jtvcc.blade.shtml
General Email	DOC_ASKDOC_MAIL@state.de.us

How to Contact Inmates at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center

Offenders who maintain regular contact with friends and family members experience better mental and emotional health while serving their sentence. They are also less likely to experience recidivism. Staying in touch with a loved one or prison pen pal is one of the best things you can do to ensure a brighter future for your incarcerated loved one. If he is housed at the JTVCC, you have several options available for doing so.

In-Person Visitation

In-person visitation is currently limited to one adult, one adult, and one child aged 18 or under. You must contact the visitation scheduling desk the week before scheduling a visit. Contact numbers are as follows:

1-800-282-8602, for inmates with the last name beginning with A through J
1-800-722-0252 for those with last names starting with K to Z

You must check-in at least 30 minutes before your scheduled meeting. The length of your visit will vary based upon the offender's "quality of life." Dress conservatively, as officers may turn you away if you have offensive or revealing clothing. You'll need a valid ID and are authorized to bring only the following items:

One set of car keys
Money order or cashier's check
One plastic baby bottle, one diaper, one tiny baby blanket, and two disposable wipes (for those with an infant)

Mail

Your loved one at the JTVCC will enjoy receiving a personal, handwritten letter from you. Any mail should contain only cards, letters, non-Polaroid photographs, and money orders. Address the letter as follows:

James T. Vaughn Correctional Center (JTVCC)

Name of Inmate

State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Number

1181 Paddock Road

Smyrna, DE 19977

Phone Calls

The James T. Vaughn Correctional Center has partnered with GTL for its phone service. You may establish an account on behalf of an offender by calling 1-866-230-7761 or visiting their website. You'll need a valid credit or debit card to make payments. All phone calls must be made using GTL. You may not contact an inmate directly using any other phone service.

How to Send Money to James T. Vaughn Correctional Facility Inmates

You may mail a money order to the inmate directly or drop it off during a scheduled visit. Cash and personal checks are NOT permitted. All money orders must contain at least the following information:

Offender's full name and SBI number
Name of institution
Full name of the remitter

How to Send Packages to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center Inmates

Offenders at the JTVCC are not authorized to receive packages from friends and family members. Instead, they may use any money you send to purchase pre-approved comfort items from the facility's commissary. The exception is reading materials, which can be transmitted through approved vendors such as Amazon.

Only new paperback books in clear, sealed plastic may be sent to an inmate. Anything with nudity or sexually explicit content is strictly prohibited.

Steps to Take Before Calling or Writing to a Prisoner

Now that you know how to contact someone inside the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center, be sure you understand the ins and outs of doing so. In case you were wondering how to go about getting in touch, here are a few things you'll need to consider

Know where your loved one is located before you agree to accept any phone calls. That's because Interstate phone calls can be much more expensive than ones within the same state. If you're unsure about finding an inmate, DoNotPay can assist. Our easy, online app has introduced a phenomenal product called "Connect With an Inmate" that can locate any inmate in the United States for you. To try it for yourself, open a DoNotPay account in your web browser and:
Open the Connect with an Inmate tab, then click on Locate Someone.
Provide the inmate's name and the state they are located in
Hit submit

Within seconds, DoNotPay will provide you with the individual’s current location you are looking for.

Difficulties You May Have Contacting Loved One in James T. Vaughn Correctional Center

Although there are multiple ways to reach a JTVCC inmate, none of them are without problems. For example, visitation appointments fill up quickly near the holidays, so nailing down a time could prove very difficult. Not only that, but it could be a long drive to the facility, mainly if you are from out of state. Furthermore, the area is prone to frequent snow and ice storms during winter, making travel more difficult. And mail delays are further complicated because all cards and letters must be screened by a Department of Corrections official first.

Get in Touch With Your Loved Ones via DoNotPay

Are you looking for an efficient way to remain connected with someone inside the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center? If so, DoNotPay offers an efficient solution that will allow you to stay in touch. Using our Connect with an Inmate feature, provide us with your loved one's name, inmate ID, facility name, and housing unit, if applicable. That's all it takes for us to assist you in determining the best method of reaching your loved one.

DoNotPay Can Help You Locate Your Imprisoned Friend

It's generally up to an offender to notify friends or family members about their whereabouts. However, many prisoners fail to do so because they are embarrassed about being locked up. Some may feel that everyone will forget about them once they are imprisoned, so why bother? So you could find yourself in a situation where you would have to be the first one to reach out.

If you want to connect with an inmate but are unsure where that person is located, DoNotPay can make it easy.

Locate the Connect With an Inmate service on DoNotPay.
Choose whether you want to locate a loved one, create a virtual mailbox, or send a personalized letter.
If you want us to find your loved one, provide their details and the state they are located in. We'll then conduct a search on the appropriate state database.
If you want to create a virtual mailbox, just provide your full name. We'll set one up for you to easily receive incoming mail from your loved one.
If sending a personalized letter, tell us which facility your loved one is located in and what you would like to say to them. You can even include a photo. Your letter will be delivered automatically - just wait ten days for it to arrive for your loved one.

What Else Can DoNotPay Do?

Aside from contacting an inmate, DoNotPay provides several other products to help you save time, eliminate stress, and become more efficient. With a wide array of services, we can help you with a variety of tasks, including the following:

DoNotPay: Helping You Connect With an Incarcerated Loved One the Easy Way

Having someone you care about behind bars is stressful, but staying connected with that person shouldn't have to be. If you're having trouble contacting someone inside the JTVCC, today for assistance.