Stevens Correctional Center Overview
Stevens Correctional Center is located at 795 Virginia Ave., Welch, WV 24801. The official WVDCR facility page lists the phone as 304-436-5420, fax as 304-436-5412, records fax as 304-436-5417, and Bea Shelton as Acting Superintendent. Although Stevens sits inside McDowell County, it should not be confused with the county's regional jail route for new arrests.
The facility has an unusually local history. DCR says Stevens began in 2001 when the McDowell County Economic Development Authority purchased the former Stevens Clinic Hospital for renovation into a medium-security correctional center. It was renovated to federal and state standards and, in 2006, began housing WVDCR inmates while under McDowell County Commission administration. In July 2025, Stevens officially became a full state facility owned and operated by WVDCR.
The lookup distinction is the central user issue. A person arrested in McDowell County may be booked through local holding and Southwestern Regional Jail. A person sentenced to state custody may later appear in the WVDCR prison/supervision offender search and could be assigned to Stevens or another state facility depending on classification, bed space, programming, and custody level.
Stevens Correctional Center Capacity and Population
The official DCR facility page gives Stevens Correctional Center a maximum capacity of 332 inmates. The research did not locate a current live population count on the facility page itself. The FY2025 annual reporting context identifies Stevens as a state facility and notes its transfer to WVDCR under HB 3456, but a facility capacity number is the only specific Stevens population figure supported for this page.
WVDCR and FY2025 facility detail describe Stevens as general population with special units for male inmates classified from Level IV to Level I. That classification language points to state-prison assignment rather than county jail intake. McDowell County's regional jail population statistics are reported at Southwestern Regional Jail, not Stevens.
How to Look Up an Inmate at Stevens Correctional Center
Use the WVDCR prison/supervision offender search for Stevens. This is different from the regional jail offender search. The DOC search covers active WVDCR custody, active supervision, prison, and parole status. People who have discharged or moved outside WVDCR custody may not appear, and "no results found" can mean the person is no longer in WVDCR custody.
- Open the WVDCR DOC offender search, not the regional jail search.
- Search by Offender ID number if known, or search by first and last name with at least three letters in each name field.
- Complete the reCAPTCHA and review matches for active custody, supervision status, and facility placement.
- If the person is a new McDowell County arrestee, switch to the regional jail search and daily incarcerations because Stevens is not the intake jail.
West Virginia VINE is also available through VINELink for custody status and notification. VINELink is useful for notification needs, but the DOC locator remains the direct official search channel for a Stevens inmate.
The West Virginia VINELink page supports custody notification across the state. It is not a McDowell County sheriff app, and the research found no official McDowell County WV sheriff or police app with inmate lookup, warrants, or most-wanted functions.
West Virginia VINE is the official custody-notification route documented in the research.
Use VINE for notification support, and use WVDCR's DOC locator to confirm whether a person is actually assigned to Stevens Correctional Center.
Stevens Correctional Center Address and Contact
Call Stevens directly for facility-specific questions, records fax routing, and visiting confirmation. Because the facility is state-operated as of July 2025, state prison rules and WVDCR offender services control mail, money, calls, and general custody procedures.
Stevens Correctional Center
795 Virginia Ave.
Welch, WV 24801
304-436-5420
Fax: 304-436-5412
Records fax: 304-436-5417
Visiting Someone at Stevens Correctional Center
The official Stevens page reviewed in the research did not publish a public visitation schedule. Because Stevens is a state correctional center, families should confirm approval, scheduling, identification, dress requirements, and any visit restrictions directly with the facility before traveling to Welch. Do not use Southwestern Regional Jail's non-contact schedule for Stevens.
| Visit Issue | Published Detail | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Public schedule | Not published on the facility page reviewed | Call 304-436-5420 before travel |
| Facility type | State correctional center | Use WVDCR prison visitation guidance |
| New county arrest | Not Stevens intake custody | Check Southwestern Regional Jail instead |
| Restrictions | May change by security and facility operations | Confirm current rules with the facility |
Mail, Phone, and Money at Stevens Correctional Center
WVDCR mail rules apply to Stevens. Letters should be sent with the inmate's first and last name, OID number, full facility name with no abbreviations, PO Box 336, Phoenix, MD 21131. The sender must include a complete first and last name and full return address. WVDCR's mail instructions prohibit photographs, letters to multiple offenders in one envelope, attachments, and enclosures in scanned letter mail.
| Service | Provider / Detail |
|---|---|
| Mail Address | Inmate name and OID, Stevens Correctional Center, PO Box 336, Phoenix, MD 21131 |
| Phone / Video | WVDCR uses GettingOut for calling and video services |
| Money Deposit | ConnectNetwork by phone, web, or app; no Stevens-specific fee table was located |
| Packages | DCR offender services links to the WV inmate package provider; confirm eligibility before ordering |
State Prison Intake and Assignment at Stevens
Stevens should be understood as a sentenced state inmate facility, not as a street-arrest booking desk. A McDowell County criminal case can begin with arrest, local holding, regional jail booking, magistrate or circuit court proceedings, and bond or detention decisions. Only after conviction and sentencing might a person move into WVDCR prison custody. Assignment to Stevens depends on WVDCR classification and operational decisions.
For someone who was just arrested, start with the regional jail search and daily incarcerations. For someone sentenced to WVDCR custody, use the prison/supervision locator. For sentence details, conviction history, and docket events, court records remain the authoritative source rather than the custody locator.
About Stevens Correctional Center
Stevens' July 2025 transfer is a major McDowell County correctional change. The DCR facility page states that Stevens became a full state facility owned and operated by WVDCR in July 2025. The FY2025 annual report says the transfer followed HB 3456 and that Stevens no longer operates as a county-run correctional facility. That point should control over older references that describe Stevens as county-run.
WVDCR FY2025 reporting also describes statewide programming and compliance work relevant to Stevens, including RSAT and GOALS programming across facilities, medication-assisted treatment, peer recovery support, transitional planning, PREA compliance, volunteer activity, and reentry partnerships. These statewide details are useful context, but they do not confirm a specific inmate's current housing or eligibility for programs.
Note: Confirm custody and visiting approval with Stevens because state prison placement and visit rules can change.