Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison
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- Facility Type
- State Facility
- Security Level
- Maximum
- Inmate Capacity
- 1,600 approx.
- Established
- 1939
- Operated By
- Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC)
Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison Inmate Communication Overview
Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison is a maximum-security state correctional facility operated by the Georgia Department of Corrections, located in Butts County near the town of Jackson, approximately 60 miles south of Atlanta. It serves as the primary intake and classification facility for new Georgia state prison commitments, most newly sentenced male inmates in the Georgia system pass through GDCP before being assigned to a permanent facility. The prison also houses Georgia's death row. Because of its classification function, the population at GDCP is constantly changing as inmates are processed and transferred, which is an important consideration for families in terms of communication setup timing.
Communication at GDCP operates through Georgia DOC provider contracts. JPay handles electronic messaging, photo sharing, and money transfers. Families create a JPay account and add the inmate using their Georgia DOC number. GTL manages phone calls and video visitation. Because many inmates at GDCP are in the initial classification process, it is worth noting that newly admitted inmates may take several weeks to fully enter the system before all communication access is active. Families are often advised to wait until an inmate has been classified and assigned a permanent facility before investing heavily in account setup, though setting up accounts early can help avoid delays.
Once an inmate is classified and transferred out of GDCP to a permanent Georgia DOC facility, communication continues through JPay and GTL since both serve the entire state system. Georgia DOC accounts do not need to be recreated after transfer. If your loved one has been at GDCP for more than a few weeks without communication, it may indicate the classification process is still underway or that they have recently been transferred and the new facility information has not yet been updated. The Georgia DOC offender search tool at gdc.ga.gov allows families to look up current housing location.
Facility Information
Contact details and location information for this correctional facility.
Address
100 GA-36, Jackson, GA 30233
Main Phone
(770) 504-2000
Administrative line — not for inmate calls
Official Website
Visit official siteVisit and Contact Details
Inmate search, mail, visiting hours, costs, commissary, and bail information for this facility.
Inmate name and GDC ID, P.O. Box 3877, Jackson, GA 30233
Include the inmate name and ID on all mail.
Visiting Hours
Diagnostic Offenders: Hours 9:00am-1:00pm, Days Monday, Tuesday, Thursday. Diagnostic offenders cannot receive visits until at GDCP for 60 days. Only immediate family. UDS and SMU: Hours 9:00AM-3:00PM, Days Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays. Tier III STEP: Days Wednesdays and Fridays, Hours 9:00am-11:00am, 11:00am-1:00pm, 1:00pm-3:00pm, scheduled in advance. Regular General Population (K-Building, UDS and SMU): Hours 9:00AM-3:00PM, Days Saturday, Sunday, and State Holidays. All Others: Hours 9:00AM-3:00PM, Days Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays
Fax
(770) 504-2006
Communication Options
Available communication services at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Provider: JPay
Available once intake classification is complete. May take a few weeks for new arrivals.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
Provider: GTL
Remote video visits available for eligible inmates. Schedule in advance.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Provider: JPay
Digital photos via JPay. Subject to GDC content guidelines.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: GTL
Inmate-initiated calls via GTL. Fund AdvancePay account to receive calls.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Provider: JPay
Trust account deposits via JPay. Available system-wide.
Communication Providers at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
JPay
Messaging, photos, and trust account deposits. Uses Georgia DOC number. System-wide across GDC.
View JPay ServicesGTL
Phone calls and video visitation under the Georgia DOC contract.
View GTL ServicesCommunication Rules at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison
- Newly admitted inmates may take several weeks to complete classification before full communication access is active.
- JPay and GTL are separate platforms. Messaging and phone funds do not transfer between them.
- Messages are reviewed by GDC staff before delivery.
- GDC-wide accounts transfer to new facility if inmate is classified and moved out of GDCP.
- Death row communication access may differ from standard classification population access.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Frequently Asked Questions: Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- Why is communication not going through for someone newly arrived at GDCP?
- Newly sentenced inmates typically go through a classification process that can take several weeks. During this period, full communication access may not yet be active. Set up JPay and GTL accounts early, but expect some delay before messages and calls begin moving normally. Check gdc.ga.gov for current housing information.
- How do I message someone at Georgia Diagnostic?
- Create a JPay account at jpay.com and add the inmate using their Georgia DOC number. Purchase stamps and send messages. Once the inmate has completed initial classification, messages are reviewed by staff and delivered within 24 to 48 hours.
- How do phone calls work at GDCP?
- Phone calls use GTL. Create a GTL account at telmate.com or through the GTL Connect app. Set up a prepaid AdvancePay account linked to your phone number and add funds. The inmate calls you from facility phones once phone access is active for their housing unit.
- Will accounts work at the next facility after transfer from GDCP?
- Yes. JPay and GTL both serve all Georgia DOC facilities statewide. Your accounts, contact list, and history carry over. Use the GDC offender search to confirm the new facility, then update the facility name when scheduling GTL video visits.
- How do I send money to a GDCP inmate?
- Trust account deposits go through JPay. Log in, go to Send Money, and select Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison. Add funds via debit or credit card. Processing takes one to two business days.
- How do I find or search for an inmate at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison?
- Use the Sheriff's office or department of corrections official inmate search or roster for Butts County, Georgia. If the inmate does not appear, allow 24 to 72 hours after booking and try alternate spellings.
- How do I send mail to an inmate at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison?
- Address mail as follows: Inmate name and GDC ID, P.O. Box 3877, Jackson, GA 30233. Include the inmate's full name and ID on every envelope.
- What are the visiting hours at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison?
- Diagnostic Offenders: Hours 9:00am-1:00pm, Days Monday, Tuesday, Thursday. Diagnostic offenders cannot receive visits until at GDCP for 60 days. Only immediate family. UDS and SMU: Hours 9:00AM-3:00PM, Days Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays. Tier III STEP: Days Wednesdays and Fridays, Hours 9:00am-11:00am, 11:00am-1:00pm, 1:00pm-3:00pm, scheduled in advance. Regular General Population (K-Building, UDS and SMU): Hours 9:00AM-3:00PM, Days Saturday, Sunday, and State Holidays. All Others: Hours 9:00AM-3:00PM, Days Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays
- Can I receive incoming calls from an inmate at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison?
- No. Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. The inmate must call you, and your number must be on their approved list.
- How do I block or stop calls from an inmate at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison?
- Contact the facility's phone provider and ask to block the number, or block the number through your own phone carrier. You can also ask the facility to remove your number from the inmate's approved list.
Troubleshooting at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison
Fix the most common problems families hit with calls, video visits, money, and messaging.
- Why am I not receiving calls from an inmate?
- Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. If expected calls are not coming through, check your phone's spam or silence-unknown-callers setting, since carriers often block jail numbers. Save the facility's number as a contact, confirm your number is on the inmate's approved list, and check whether your carrier blocks collect or prepaid calls. If several expected calls fail, contact the facility's phone provider support.
- Why is my inmate not showing up in search?
- New arrivals can take 24 to 72 hours to appear in search results, and people in transfer may temporarily disappear from listings. Try alternate spellings and name variations, and make sure you are searching the right system: the federal BOP locator only covers federal inmates, while county and state searches are separate. Some records are withheld for protective custody or sealed cases. If it has been more than a few days, call the facility's records office.
- I sent money but it is not showing in the inmate's account. What should I do?
- Allow processing time first. Electronic deposits can take hours and money orders can take much longer. Check your receipt and confirm the inmate's name and ID matched. Do not send a second payment until the first one is traced, since duplicate payments are hard to reverse. Contact the money-transfer provider's support with your receipt or confirmation number. If the inmate was recently transferred, funds may follow after a delay.
- Why was my video visit cancelled or cut off?
- Most cancellations come from connection problems or conduct-rule violations. Stay in frame, keep your ID ready, follow the dress code, keep other people off camera, and avoid profanity. Visits can also be cancelled for facility lockdowns or schedule changes. For refunds, contact the video provider's support with your visit details.
- What should I do if the facility changed its communications provider?
- Create an account with the new provider, since old accounts and balances do not transfer automatically. Ask the old provider whether refunds are available for unused balances. Confirm the new provider's phone, video, and messaging setup before your next visit or call.
- Why is my JPay account blocked?
- A blocked account usually means the inmate blocked contact, the account details do not match, or JPay flagged the account for review. Confirm the inmate's ID and facility, check for an 'inmate blocked' message, and contact JPay support if the block looks like an error. See our guide: JPay account locked
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