Marion CI is for State Prison offenders sentenced anywhere from one year to life by the State Court in the county where the charges were filed
All prisons and jails have Security or Custody levels depending on the inmate’s classification, sentence, and criminal history. Please review the rules and regulations for State - maximum facility.
The phone carrier is Global Tel Link (GTL) - ConnectNetwork, to see their rates and best-calling plans for your inmate to call you.
If you are unsure of your inmate's location, you can search and locate your inmate by typing in their last name, first name or first initial, and/or the offender ID number to get their accurate information immediately Registered Offenders
Marion CI is a State - maximum state correctional facility in Marion, NC, operated by the North Carolina Department of Corrections. Inmates serve sentences ranging from one year to life and have access to programs including education, vocational training, and work assignments. This page covers how to locate an inmate, schedule visits, make calls, send money, and stay connected throughout their sentence at Marion CI.
Communication is important, the prison offers a phone program for outbound calls only, with inmates unable to receive incoming calls. Accepting collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, especially if the communication with your inmate is frequent. It's important to remember that all phone calls are recorded, and discussing sensitive legal matters over these lines is discouraged.
While incarcerated, reading is often the best use of time. Please note that books and magazines, puzzles, and word searches ordered for inmates must come directly from the publisher. This policy ensures that the items are new, untampered, and comply with the facility's regulations. Prisons and jails enforce this rule to prevent the introduction of contraband or prohibited materials. By restricting orders to publishers, the facility can better maintain security and control over the content entering the institution. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected and not delivered to the inmate. You may, however, send letters and selfies to inmates with this easy-to-use app, packages starting at only $8.00.
Marion CI operates as a combination close/minimum custody facility, housing adult male felons and employing the Unit Management concept. Inmates are assigned based on various factors such as classification, custody status changes, administrative transfers, and program requirements.
The facility offers academic and vocational classes through McDowell Technical Community College, covering subjects like adult education, GED preparation, and horticulture. Additionally, inmates have access to the computer training center for the Western Region and can participate in the Outreach Program offered by UNC-Chapel Hill to earn college credits.
To promote inmate rehabilitation, Marion Correctional Institution provides Cognitive Behavior Intervention classes along with programs such as Character Education, Reasoning and Rehabilitation, and Thinking for a Change, offering inmates alternative perspectives and problem-solving skills.
Minimum custody inmates have the opportunity to join the Father Accountability Program, aiming to enhance their understanding of paternal responsibilities and family dynamics, fostering better relationships upon reintegration into society.
Inmates are engaged in various work opportunities, either onsite or in the community, providing labor for governmental agencies and local businesses. Work release programs enable inmates to develop job skills, fulfill financial obligations, and support their families before release.
The New Leash on Life Program, operated at Marion CI, rescues dogs from shelters and trains them in obedience through an eight-week program conducted by trained inmates, facilitating their adoption into new families.
Community volunteers play a crucial role in facilitating structured recreational activities, substance abuse counseling, anger management sessions, religious programs, and self-improvement courses for inmates. Volunteers undergo training before engaging with inmates.
Marion Correctional Institution's establishment was funded through a $200 million prison construction bond referendum approved by voters in 1990. The McDowell County Commissioners contributed 125 acres for the prison's construction, which began in March 1992 and concluded in January 1995. Originally designed as a 660-bed medium-security prison, Marion CI was redesigned to accommodate both close and medium-security inmates, with a capacity expanded to 930, in response to the state's need for more high-security prison cells.
