SCI Phoenix
Find messaging, video, and phone options for SCI Phoenix. Compare providers and discover what communication services are available. Free, no account required.
- Facility Type
- State Facility
- Security Level
- Maximum
- Inmate Capacity
- 3,400 approx.
- Established
- 2018
- Operated By
- Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PA DOC)
SCI Phoenix Inmate Communication Overview
State Correctional Institution Phoenix is a maximum-security state prison operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, located in Collegeville, Montgomery County, roughly 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia. SCI Phoenix opened in 2018 as a purpose-built replacement for SCI Graterford, which had operated on the same grounds for more than 90 years. The new facility was designed with modern correctional programming and safety standards in mind. It is the only maximum-security state prison in southeastern Pennsylvania, making it the closest major state correctional facility for Philadelphia-area families.
Communication at SCI Phoenix runs through four separate Pennsylvania DOC systems. Securus handles phone calls: fund a Securus account at securustech.net (800-844-6591) to receive inmate-initiated calls. Email runs through ViaPath/ConnectNetwork at web.connectnetwork.com (ViaPath Friends and Family 1-877-650-4249); all emails are reviewed. JPay handles money transfers only. Mail goes to Smart Communications in St. Petersburg, Florida, where it is scanned and printed for delivery. Video visits are free through the DOC's own Inmate Visitation System (IVS) at inmatevisitation.cor.pa.gov, scheduled at least 2 days in advance. Given the facility's location about 30 miles from Philadelphia, in-person visits are feasible for many southeastern Pennsylvania families.
Because SCI Phoenix replaced SCI Graterford, some long-term inmates and their families may be more familiar with the Graterford name. The physical facility is entirely new, and all communication happens through the same Securus, ViaPath, JPay, and Smart systems used at other PA DOC institutions. If an inmate was previously at Graterford, their account history carries forward since the same systems serve the entire Pennsylvania state system. Families new to the Pennsylvania system should note that these are four separate systems requiring separate setup: Securus for phone, ViaPath for email, JPay for money, Smart for mail.
Facility Information
Contact details and location information for this correctional facility.
Address
1200 Mokychic Drive, Collegeville, PA 19426
Main Phone
(610) 409-7890
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 Search
Search inmates on the official roster
Check the spelling of the name carefully, and allow 24 to 72 hours for new arrivals to appear in the roster.
Visiting Hours
In-person or video visits scheduled at least 2 days in advance via the DOC Inmate Visitation System (inmatevisitation.cor.pa.gov).
Communication Options
Available communication services at SCI Phoenix.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Provider: ViaPath (ConnectNetwork)
Email through ConnectNetwork at web.connectnetwork.com. All emails are reviewed.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
Provider: PA DOC Inmate Visitation System (IVS)
Video visits are free. Schedule at least 2 days in advance at inmatevisitation.cor.pa.gov.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Provider: Smart Communications (mail)
Up to 25 photos per mailing; no obscenity, explicit content, or nudity; originals destroyed after 45 days.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: Securus
Inmate-initiated calls. Fund a Securus account to receive calls; 800-844-6591.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Provider: JPay
JPay processes all payments: website, phone 800-574-5729, money order to JPay, lobby kiosks. Money orders not accepted at SCIs.
Communication Providers at SCI Phoenix
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
Securus
Phone calls for PA DOC state prisons. Fund a Securus account to receive inmate-initiated calls.
View Securus ServicesViaPath
Email for PA DOC state prisons via ConnectNetwork at web.connectnetwork.com.
View ViaPath ServicesJPay
Money transfers for PA DOC state prisons. JPay processes all credit card and money order payments.
View JPay ServicesSmart Communications
Mail scanning for PA DOC state prisons. Photos up to 25 per mailing.
Communication Rules at SCI Phoenix
- Four separate systems: Securus for phone, ViaPath for email, JPay for money, Smart Communications for mail. Setting up the wrong one is the most common mistake.
- Video visits are free through the DOC Inmate Visitation System (IVS). Schedule at least 2 days in advance.
- All emails are reviewed; the DOC is not responsible for ViaPath accounts or troubleshooting.
- In-person visiting at SCI Phoenix requires prior approval through the PA DOC visitor application process.
- Senders must be on the inmate's approved contact list.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Frequently Asked Questions: SCI Phoenix
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- Is SCI Phoenix the same location as old Graterford prison?
- SCI Phoenix is on the same grounds in Collegeville, but it is an entirely new, purpose-built facility that replaced SCI Graterford when it opened in 2018. The old Graterford buildings have been decommissioned. All communication now goes through SCI Phoenix using the same Securus, ViaPath, JPay, and Smart systems used at other PA DOC prisons.
- How do I start messaging someone at SCI Phoenix?
- Email runs through ViaPath/ConnectNetwork at web.connectnetwork.com. Set up a ViaPath Friends and Family account (1-877-650-4249) to send email to someone at SCI Phoenix. All emails are reviewed by DOC staff before delivery. The DOC is not responsible for ViaPath accounts or troubleshooting.
- How do phone calls work at SCI Phoenix?
- Phone calls run through Securus. Fund a Securus account at securustech.net (800-844-6591) to receive inmate-initiated calls from SCI Phoenix. Inmates cannot call you directly; they place outgoing calls to people on their approved list. If calls show up as spam, save the Securus number in your contacts or tell your carrier it is authorized.
- How far is SCI Phoenix from Philadelphia?
- SCI Phoenix is about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia in Collegeville, reachable via I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike). The drive from the city is typically 45 to 60 minutes. It is the closest maximum-security state prison to the Philadelphia area, making in-person visits more feasible than at more distant facilities.
- How do I send money to a SCI Phoenix inmate?
- JPay processes all payments for PA DOC. Send money through the JPay website, by phone at 800-574-5729, by money order to JPay, or at lobby kiosks at each state prison. Money orders are not accepted at SCIs. A deposit slip with the inmate ID, inmate name, and sender name and address is required. Credit card limit is $300 per card every 72 hours; money order limit is $999.99 each.
- How do I send mail to someone at SCI Phoenix?
- Send mail to Smart Communications, which scans mail and the mailroom prints it for delivery. Address it: Inmate Name and Inmate Number, SCI Phoenix, PO Box 33028, St. Petersburg, FL 33733. Include a full return address with your first and last name, and the inmate's full correct name and number. Use 8.5 by 11 paper; do not send bound material or anything opened like a book. Photos: up to 25 per mailing, no obscenity, explicit content, or nudity; originals are destroyed after 45 days.
Troubleshooting at SCI Phoenix
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. For Securus, support can be reached at 972-734-1111 after repeated failed calls.
- 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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