The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction operates more than 25 correctional facilities housing approximately 45,000 incarcerated people — one of the country's largest state prison systems. Here is a complete guide for families on finding a loved one, establishing communication, and staying connected.
Finding Your Loved One: ODRC Offender Search
Ohio ODRC provides a free public offender search at drc.ohio.gov — navigate to "Offender Search." Search by name or ODRC number. The search returns current facility, sentence information, and projected release date. The tool covers both incarcerated people and those under post-release supervision.
Newly sentenced individuals go through Ohio's reception facilities for intake and classification. Primary reception centers include:
- Corrections Reception Center (CRC) — Orient (men)
- Marysville Reformatory for Women — Marysville (women)
Allow one to two weeks after sentencing for a permanent placement to appear in the search tool.
Phone Calls: ICSolutions
Ohio ODRC uses ICSolutions for inmate telephone services. To receive calls:
- Create a free account at icsolutions.com
- Register the phone number where you want to receive calls
- Fund your account
- Confirm your number is on the inmate's approved call list
Inmates call out — you cannot call in. All calls except attorney calls are monitored and recorded.
Sending Money: JPay
Ohio ODRC uses JPay for inmate trust account deposits. Go to JPay.com, search the inmate under Ohio ODRC, and deposit by card. Fees apply. Money orders to the facility are also accepted.
Visiting Ohio State Prisons
All Ohio ODRC facilities allow visits; each has its own schedule. General requirements:
- Approved visitor list — the inmate submits names through their case manager
- Valid government-issued photo ID at every visit
- Dress code: no camouflage, no green clothing (inmate uniform color at some facilities), no revealing clothing
- Visiting schedules at drc.ohio.gov under each facility's page — call ahead to confirm
The Reagan Tokes Law and Sentence Timing
If your loved one was sentenced for a first- or second-degree felony on or after March 22, 2019, their sentence is almost certainly an indefinite range under the Reagan Tokes Law (SB 201). This means they serve a minimum term but can be held up to a maximum term 50% longer if ODRC successfully extends their time. Programming completion and avoiding disciplinary infractions are the key factors in preventing an extension. Consult the Ohio Justice and Policy Center (ohiojpc.org) for advocacy on SB 201 issues.
Key Advocacy Resources
- Ohio Justice and Policy Center (ohiojpc.org) — tracks Reagan Tokes Law issues and prison conditions
- ACLU of Ohio (acluohio.org) — handles constitutional violations and conditions cases
- Ohio Parole Board: Makes release decisions for eligible inmates — contact through drc.ohio.gov
ODRC headquarters: 770 West Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43222. Phone: (614) 752-1159. Website: drc.ohio.gov.
Further reading for families
For practical guidance on supporting your loved one, see our step-by-step guides on how to bail someone out of jail, how to write a letter to an inmate, and why inmate phone calls are so expensive — and what families can do to reduce those costs.
Many of these services are run by private companies. See how the main providers work, including fees and how to sign up: Securus, ViaPath (GTL), JPay, Access Corrections, CorrLinks, GettingOut. For every phone, video, money, mail, and care-package company, browse our full inmate service provider directory.