Strafford County
Department of Corrections
266 County Farm Road
Dover, NH 03820
“Families Do Time Too”
“Families Do Time Too”----------- I know because I too had a loved one incarcerated.
My name is Marilyn Allen and I have been the Jail Industries Director at Strafford County DOC since it’s inception in 1986. Jail Industries is a program that provides paid work for inmates in-house while incarcerated, as well as assistance upon their release.
In 2003 I started the Family Reception Center which is located at the front entrance of the Strafford County Department of Corrections in the main lobby.
Mission Statement
The Family Reception Center will strive to provide a comfortable, trusting, and supportive environment where inmates’ families and friends may come before and/or after visits to receive validation, support, and resources that may lessen the negative impact experienced through incarceration.
Family Reception Center Goal
♦ To provide a setting where people experiencing incarceration of a loved one may come to receive support from others, some of whom are experiencing or who have experienced the same situations.
♦ To provide a more positive and comfortable setting for children wishing to visit.
♦ To provide caring and knowledgeable persons and relevant materials that may provide families and loved ones with helpful information and resources to improve the situation families face through incarceration of their loved ones.
The FRC offers a fun
playroom area for children
to play in and read.
We also host special
activities such as Easter
baskets, Christmas Party
(complete with Santa
and presents!), coloring
contests, and stuffed
animals (Donated by Hugs Across America)
for children to
take on their first visit to
the facility.
We provide helpful information to families through handbooks and brochures. We also have information available on different agencies in the area that provide needed services to families
Family Newsletters
The Family Newsletter began in 2006 as an effort to provide families with a glimpse of the positive activities taking place at the Strafford County DOC both for and by your incarcerated loved ones.
January 2014 Family Newsletter
October 2013 Family Newsletter
June 2013 Family Newsletter
April 2013 Family Newsletter
January 2013 Family Newsletter
Volunteers Needed
Our Family Reception Center is staffed solely through the efforts of our volunteers, for whom we are most grateful. We are always happy to accept new volunteers.
There is no tax dollars used for this program. The program has been funded through grants like The Bishops’ Charitable Assistance Fund, inmate picture taking, and individual and civic donations.
The visiting hours for loved ones are 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm. Every inmate may have 2 visits a week. We never have enough volunteers to staff all of these hours and the doors to the FRC are only open when volunteers have signed up.
Some volunteers come weekly for 2-3 hours, twice a month, or even once a month. Any hours are appreciated.
A volunteer trains with another volunteer until they are comfortable to greet visitors by themselves.
Volunteers play a vital role in this mission.
| Marilyn Allen |
Sid Bird |
Minnett Induisi |
| Julien Olivier |
Officer Jeff Kennie |
Herman Stolzenburg |
| Carrie Lover |
Sister Helene Higgins |
Donna Adjutant |
If you would like further information or wish to make a donation,
please see the contact information below.
Strafford County Family Reception Center
266 County Farm Rd.
Dover, NH 03820
Rodney Smith, Coordinator
Phone: (603) 749-3289
