HISTORY

The Shelby County Correction Center, now known as the Shelby County Division of Correction, has been a vital part of the local community for over a hundred and thirty-five years.

Established in 1819, as the Shelby County Work House (later known as the Shelby County Penal Farm), the Shelby County Division of Correction (SCDC) is recognized for it's emphasis on changing human behavior to more socially acceptable attitudes that can result in crime reduction in our community.

The Correction Center's main cellblocks were completed in 1928.   Thirteen (13) other buildings were added between 1989 and 1991.   Maximum bed space for male and female inmates is 3,680.  As a correctional facility, SCDC is larger than any other county, state or federal facility located in this area of the South.

There are two adjacent complexes, the Shelby County Correction Center, SCCC (weekend detention), and the Adult Offender Center, AOC (inmates classified as levels 1, 2, 3, including those participating on work release and work lines).

• Facilities include:
  1. AOC (Adult Offender Center)
  2.Main Building
  3.Weekend Detention Center (2nd floor Main Building)
  4.Women's Building.
• Inmate Housing includes:
  AOC, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, M, P, Q and W.
• The 1-A Building (Education/Vocational/Recreational), which is centrally located on the grounds, is referred to as the Division's Learning Center. The 1-A building it is equipped with a law library, a circulation library and two full sized gyms.  G.E.D. classes and computer classes are held there. The Diagnostic and Classification Department, responsible for initial inmate screening and all classification issues is also housed in the 1-A building.
• The A.O.C. houses inmates on the Work Release Program and all community work lines (classification levels 1, 2, & 3).
• General Population inmates are housed in buildings:
  B,C,D, M, P and W (classification levels 3-6)
• Program Buildings are:
  (classification levels can range from 1-8 depending on the program)
  G- Mental Health (not voluntary) and TERN unit (special needs)
  H- Drug and Alcohol
  I- S.T.A.R.T (in-house work lines)
  Q- RSAT (Residential Substance Abuse Treatment)
  W - Women's Programs
  *Clients have voluntarily agreed to sign-up for the program but are required to abide by the rules & regulations of the program once enrolled. Many have made a commitment to changing, or an attempt to change, their behavior. Classes offered in these programs include: MRT (Moral Recognition Therapy), Domestic Violence, Parenting, Prerelease, AA, and Basic Education.
• Maximum Security Buildings are: E & J
• Checkpoints are located in buildings: F, K and A.O.C.
• Maximum bed space is a little more than 3,600.  SCDC currently averages 2,700 inmates.  In the past the Division of Correction has housed as many as 3,300 inmates.

Clients' sentences range anywhere from a few days to 8 years. The most common sentences are 2-3 year for felony drug related charges.

Medical Services are contracted through CMS - Correctional Medical Services.