Jess Dunn Correctional Center

Warden: Casey Hamilton

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 316, Taft, OK 74463-0316

Physical Address: 601 South 124th Street West, Taft, OK 74463-0316

Phone: 918-682-7841

Fax: 918-682-4372

Male Minimum Security - Opened 1980

The Jess Dunn Correctional Center (JDCC) is located in Muskogee County 10 miles west of Muskogee. The minimum-security facility houses more than 1,100 male inmates. It was built in 1932 as a mental hospital for African-American patients. Since then, it has been a tuberculosis sanitarium, a juvenile girls facility, and a co-ed home.

ODOC took over the facility in 1980 from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. It is named after Jess Dunn, the warden of Oklahoma State Penitentiary from 1938 until 1941, when he died during an inmate escape attempt and shootout that year.

Today, JDCC covers approximately 1,100 acres, which includes four dormitories and a farm. In 2000, a 42-bed segregated housing unit was constructed with inmate labor.

Education

Most inmates lack education, a key component in avoiding re-incarceration. JDCC offers literacy courses as well as Pre-High School Equivalency and High School Equivalency diplomas.

College courses (not provided through state funding) are also available to inmates who can
pay for them, or to those who have alternative funding or scholarships.

Criminal Thinking

JDCC offers Thinking for a Change, Moral Reconation Therapy, and Associates 4 Success programs to address thinking, judgment errors, and relationships linked with criminal thinking/behavior. Also offered are Unlock Your Thinking, Open Your Mind, and Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP).

CareerTech

JDCC inmates can get technical training through a CareerTech Skills Center, which trains them for workforce entry after release. CareerTech also helps inmates find skill-related employment after release.

Courses at JDCC include Career Readiness and Green Technologies.

Visitation hours vary by each facility, but an inmate's security level dictates how many hours he or she may visit with approved visitors.

Visitation scheduling will be conducted on Thursdays and Friday for that respective week.

Days and times

Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Sundays, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

All state-recognized holidays included

Important Note:All inmate visitors must submit a “Visitor Request Form." You can download a copy here, or request one from the facility.Background checks will be completed on everyone 18 or older. The inmate will notify you when the process is complete. The approval process takes approximately 8 weeks once the Visitor Request Form has been returned to JDCC.

Special/Extended Visits

Special extended visits are allowed for staff-identified individuals who travel long distances, volunteers or team members who partner with ODOC in reentry services, attorney/clergy, etc. The facility's warden determines the length and conditions of all special visits. Special visits for ministers/religious leaders must be scheduled in advance through the Warden.

Requests for special visits must be made by the inmate using the appropriate request form and must be submitted by the inmate to unit staff at least two weeks in advance so verifications can be made. Exceptions to time frames may be considered in emergencies.

Additional visitation rules may be found here.

For a list of approved attire for visitation, go here.

Inmates can receive mail at any time. Include their name, DOC number and housing assignment if known in the address.

Example: JDCC
                   Inmate’s name, number and housing assignment (if known)
                   P.O. Box 316
                  Taft, OK 74463-0316