It can be confusing to understand the Illinois Corrections' System. If you are trying to find, visit, or talk with someone who is in jail, there are rules and regulations that you should know. This article talks about those rules and has links so you can learn more.

Finding an inmate

Every incoming inmate first goes to a Reception and Classification (R&C) Center. This is called processing.

Stateville, Graham, and Menard are the R&C centers in Illinois for male prisoners. All prisoners from counties in northern Illinois are taken to the Northern Reception Center. This is part of Stateville Correctional Center. Logan is the R&C Center for all female prisoners.

While in R&C, each inmate gets their Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) number. Within a day or two of the time they arrive, the prisoner’s number will be posted on the IDOC website. You will need this number whenever you visit them or send them mail.

IDOC will place each inmate in the most suitable prison. There a lot of factors they use to pick a jail for the inmate. An inmate is not transported to the prison until there are available beds. This can take anywhere from one week to a year.

Inmates are not informed of their new location in advance, so they can’t tell their family this information. No visitation is allowed for the first 30 days a prisoner is in an R&C. After that, they may be allowed limited visits, mail, and phone calls.

You can find out an inmate’s location after they are transferred out of the R&C. You will need the inmate’s last name, birthday, or IDOC number. Use the IDOC Inmate Search to search for an inmate's location. 

You can register with Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINELink). VINE notifies victims when a prisoner moves or is about to go on parole. It is available to everyone. There is also a link on each prisoner’s page on the IDOC website to sign up for VINE updates.

Sending mail to an inmate

Inmates can receive mail at any time during their stay in prison. You may write to them as you would anyone else. When addressing the envelope, include the inmate number underneath the inmate’s name. Both the name and number of the prisoner must be written how they are on the IDOC website. Do not use nicknames or your letter will be returned. The IDOC website lists the mailing addresses for inmate mail (click on the facility where the incarcerated person is located).

Mail that you send the inmate will be opened and searched for contraband (items not allowed in prison). Do not decorate your envelopes or letters with stickers, glitter, or tape will be sent back to you. Portions of an inmate’s mail may be kept from the inmate if it could be a threat to security or safety.

This includes:

• Threats of physical harm against any person or threats of criminal activity
• Threats of blackmail or extortion
• Information regarding sending contraband into or out of the facility
• Plans to escape or plans to engage in criminal activity
• Letters in code that cannot be understood by prison staff
• Letters violating any department rules or containing plans to break department rules
• Letters containing information which, if read, might result in physical harm to another
• Letters containing unauthorized messages with another offender
• Letters constituting a violation of State or Federal law
• If mail is not given to the inmate, both you and the inmate will be notified in writing of that decision.

Sending money to an inmate

Money can be sent to the inmate and placed in their account for use in the commissary or for sending mail.

Money orders are no longer accepted at any Illinois prison. If you send personal checks and cash, the prison will return them to you. All money must be sent via Western Union. It can also be sent through other currency exchanges using the Quick-Collect Form, or via J-Pay.

Talking to an inmate on the phone

When an inmate first reaches a prison, they submit a list of names of requested visitor and phone contacts. These lists can be revised once a month. You can talk to an inmate as long as you are on an approved list. Keep in mind that these calls are recorded and not confidential unless scheduled with an attorney in advance.

Inmates are only allowed to make collect calls. The telephone service the prisons use is Securus. You have to establish an account with them to receive these calls.

Visiting a person in prison or by video

Prisons generally must allow people to have in-person visitors. They must also allow access to video calling if it is available at the prison. People can get access to tablets for video calling as a reward for good behavior. Prisons may not limit in-person visits just because they make video calling available.

Messaging a prisoner electronically 

In Illinois and other states, it is possible to use a service called GTL messaging to message a person in prison for a small fee per message. In October 2023, it cost $0.75 for five message credits. You also have the option to attach a message credit to your message to allow a person in prison to respond to your message. You can sign up for a GTL account. Like prison mail and phone calls, these messages are not confidential and are read or screened by each facility.

The prison can limit this access for safety. Visitation can also be limited if inmates break certain rules.

Things to know before visiting a person in prison

The Department of Corrections has a standard visitation policy. A list of facilities can be found at IDOC Facilities.

Each inmate can have 7 visits per month. Every inmate can submit a list of 30 people to IDOC that are allowed to visit. The IDOC must keep this list in paper and electronic form on their website.

When you visit a prison, both you and your car are subject to search. You are not allowed to bring in any items that are or could be considered contraband. You are also not allowed to bring cash into the prison. To buy food and drinks from the vending machine, you must purchase a vending card, which usually costs $1.00. You can add money to that card for use during your visit. Some prisons have lockers where you can store your belongings while you visit.

Prisons have strict dress codes. Your clothing must cover your torso, including shoulders, from your neck to your knees. Women are required to wear bras, but underwire bras are prohibited.

Visitors are permitted to wear religious headgear, but the headgear will have to be removed and subject to search. It must be a kufi, yarmulke, turban, habit, or fez. If it is not one of those, you will have to send a written request to the prison at least ten days before your visit. If the request is approved, then you will be able to wear your religious headgear, but it is still subject to search.

Be aware that the Chief Administrative Officer at the prison has a complete say over all visits. They determine whether visits can happen, how long you can visit, and how many people are allowed.

Age requirement for visitors

There are certain restrictions for minors who wish to visit an inmate. A person under 17 years old must be accompanied by an approved visitor who is older than 17. Or they must have the permission of the prison.

A person 12-16 years old who is not a member of the inmate’s family must have:

• The consent of their legal guardian to visit;
• Brought by an approved visitor who is a parent or guardian;
• Given written consent by a parent or guardian that says the child will be brought by an approved visitor, 17 years or older; or
• It is otherwise approved by the prison.

Bringing items for a prisoner during a visit

You are not allowed to give or take anything from an inmate during your stay without permission. If an inmate is found with an unapproved item during or after your visit, you may be restricted from future visits.

The only thing you can bring to an inmate is approved for publications such as:

• Books,
• Magazines,
• Newspapers, and
• Similar items.

You cannot bring more than five publications. They cannot be packaged, wrapped, or otherwise contained in any way. Publications will be rejected if the entire publication or a portion of it has:

• Obscene material
• Is written in code or allows contact between offenders
• Has depictions, descriptions, or support of activities that may lead to the use of physical violence or group disruption
• Encourages or advocates violence, hatred, or group disruption or it poses a risk of violence or disruption
• Encourages or instructs people to commit a criminal activity
• Has sexually explicit material that by its nature or content poses a threat to security, good order, or discipline or it facilitates illegal activity
• Is otherwise detrimental to security, good order, rehabilitation, or discipline

Note: You can also order, subscribe, or solicit publications to be sent to an inmate. But they must meet the criteria of approved publications.

Visitation rules

Rules can be different from prison to prison. But you should be aware of standard rules and the penalties for breaking those rules.

Any of the following actions could result in a visiting restriction for up to 6 months:

• Minor disruptive conduct
• Disobeying an order or posted rule
• Refusing to submit to a search
• Possession of drugs when there is no displayed intent to conceal or bring drugs into the prison
• Possession of alcohol when there is no posted intent to conceal or carry alcohol into the prison
• Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Possession of contraband as defined under State, federal, or local laws or other departmental rules

And the following actions could result in a permanent visiting restriction:

• Assaultive behavior of any kind against anyone
• Sexual misconduct
• Possession of weapons
• Possession of drugs or drug related gear
• Unauthorized possession of money
• Possession of escape drug related gear
• Possession of alcohol
• Providing false identification information
• Major disruptive conduct
• Violation of any State, federal, or local law during a visit
• Repeating an action that previously resulted in a temporary restriction

If any contraband is discovered in possession of an inmate during or after a visit, it will be assumed that you gave it to them during the visit.

More information on visiting inmates

The following sites have more information on visiting prisons and communicating with inmates:

• Illinois Department of Corrections
• Illinois Prison Talk is a message board for visitors to Illinois' Prisons
• Illinois Code lists the laws about visitation and communication with inmates

If you have a complaint or suggestion for a Department of Corrections facility, you can contact the agency.