Smith Transitional Center

Getting approved to visit Smith Transitional Center takes two forms: first submit the facility Visitation Request Form, then schedule your visit through the GDC visitation form. Need to add someone to an existing appointment? Use the Add Visitor link for that scheduled visitation. Watch the deadlines—requests for weekend visits close at 5:00 PM Wednesday, and state holiday visits cut off at 5:00 PM three days before the holiday. Family Day has its own rules: you must register and be on the offender's approved visitation list. Past events have hit a 213-person capacity, so register early. On Family Day, check in at Building A with photo ID and the offender's GDC number. If you need physical assistance, let a GDC representative know at check-in. Dress comfortably—you'll be walking or standing. Keep conversations with departmental representatives to about 10 minutes per person.

Smith Transitional Center follows the Georgia Department of Corrections package program. Union Supply handles approved food packages for offenders in state prisons, ITFs, and probation detention centers. Place orders by phone at 1-562-361-5719 or toll-free 1-855-247-0563. Every order includes a $2.95 shipping and handling charge, and packages must meet GDC spending and weight limits. Ordering multiple times for the same offender? Those orders get consolidated into a single package—still subject to facility limits. For personal letters and non-vendor mail, Georgia facilities typically route everything through a central processor for inspection and scanning before delivery. Always include the offender's full name and GDC number on every piece of mail.

Start with the facility's link to the Georgia DOC "How Do I Send Money to an Offender" resource for official instructions and vendor details. Across Georgia, common deposit methods include online transfers through approved third-party vendors, lobby kiosk or ATM deposits, and mailed money orders with a printable voucher—though exact options vary by facility. Online and phone deposits typically require the state, facility name, and the person's name or ID. Mailed vouchers and money orders must follow voucher requirements to process correctly. Funds usually post to the resident's account, but outstanding debts may be deducted first. Some facilities also require you to be on an approved sender or visitor list.

Smith Transitional Center sits in Claxton, hosted by Smith State Prison. It opened in 2007 with a design capacity of 213 residents. Like other Georgia Transitional Centers, its mission centers on preparing inmates for discharge or parole through community residential services. Residents move through three structured phases. Phase I covers a one-week orientation and center sanitation detail. After completing Phase I, residents appear before a classification committee—if approved, they advance to Phase II and can seek employment in the community. Phase III focuses on counselor-prepared reentry plans. The center also runs evidence-based programs: Reentry Skills Building (life skills and family/work relationships), MATRIX Early Recovery Skills, MOTIVATION FOR CHANGE (M4C), and Detours. Program details can shift, so check the Smith Transitional Center page for current rules and scheduling.