Understanding Minimum Custody: What it means for someone at Dan River Prison Work Farm

Dan River Prison Work Farm houses minimum custody adult male offenders. For families, this is your starting point for understanding what daily life looks like there - housing, routines, and the kinds of work and programming your loved one may encounter.

Daily life at Dan River centers around dormitory-style housing. The dormitory building spans about 60,000 square feet and contains 10 housing areas. Residents are grouped into designated sections rather than living in individual cells.

The dormitory includes shared spaces for time outside sleeping areas: 10 day rooms and two canteens where residents spend approved hours and make basic purchases.

Hygiene facilities are built into the dorm layout. Ten shower and lavatory areas are located within the housing building itself.

Medical and program departments are located right in the dormitory building. This makes it easier for residents to access routine care and participate in programming without leaving the main housing area.

The dormitory also has a barber shop and library. These spaces matter - haircuts and access to reading materials are part of how people manage daily life inside.

A classroom and chaplain's office are located in the dormitory for education and faith support. If your loved one mentions classes, meetings, or religious services, these are the on-site spaces involved.

Even at minimum custody, security infrastructure exists. The dormitory building includes two control rooms where staff monitor movement and operations.

Work is central to the routine at Dan River. Assignments include food service, maintenance, janitorial duties, and other institutional jobs - roles that keep the facility running and shape what a typical weekday looks like.

Some work happens off-site. Dan River sends offenders to perform maintenance work at Caswell Correctional Center, so your loved one may mention a job assignment there.

Dan River operates the Roxboro Satellite Training Center in partnership with Piedmont Community College. If your loved one wants to build skills while inside, this is one of the training opportunities available through the facility.

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• ✓ Ask your loved one what housing area he’s in and what the day-to-day schedule looks like there.
• ✓ Confirm what programs he’s eligible for right now and whether there’s a waitlist.
• ✓ Find out what work assignment he has (or is waiting for), and whether it’s on-site or connected to another location.
• ✓ Verify current canteen access rules and spending limits as they apply to him.
• ✓ Check what medical and program services he can access and how requests are handled.
• ✓ Before you plan a visit or coordinate anything time-sensitive, confirm the current schedule and any special restrictions directly with the facility or your loved one.