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Victim Services

The Victims Services Unit provides information, assistance, and support to victims of crime whose victimizers are in the custody or control of the Department of Corrections (IDOC) and to victimized employees. These services are administered with respect, compassion, and confidentiality.

The Victim Services Unit can be reached at (217) 558-2200 ext. 4006 or toll-free at (877) 776-0755, between 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. [CST] Monday through Friday.

For victim notification issues during non-business hours, call (866) 277-7477. Please note that if you call during non-business hours with a victim notification issue, you must follow up with the Victim Services Unit during business hours to resolve any issues permanently.

Victim Notification Systems

Victims and their advocates can use the following resources to obtain information about an individual in IDOC custody.

Illinois Victim Information and Notifications Everyday (VINE)

Illinois VINE notifies crime victims or concerned citizens who register with the program of the following:

  • A change to an individual in custody’s status,
  • The transfer of an individual to a different facility within IDOC, and
  • Information about a criminal court case.

Notifications are available via email, text messages, phone calls, and the VINE application for mobile devices.

Register with Illinois VINE

You may contact IDOC’s Victim Services Unit for assistance registering at (877) 776-0755.

Please note that IDOC does not administer Illinois VINE, and the Victim Services Unit does not have access to the information provided by the program.

Illinois Prisoner Review Board (PRB) Victim Notification Unit

The Prisoner Review Board notifies crime victims who register with the PRB Victim Notification Unit of the following:

  • When an individual in custody is released on parole, MSR, electronic detention, work release, international transfer, or exchange.
  • The times and dates an individual in custody is released on furlough.
  • Provides a recent photograph of any person convicted of a felony upon their release from custody, if requested.
  • The death of an individual in custody.
  • If an individual escapes from IDOC’s custody, and if the individual who escaped is apprehended.
  • Of a parole hearing or target aftercare release date no less than 30 days before the hearing or release date.
  • When an individual in custody for committing a sex offense is eligible for release on parole, aftercare release, mandatory supervised release, electronic detention, work release, international transfer, or exchange at least 30 days, whenever possible, before the release.
  • Of any order of discharge.

Register with the PRB’s Victim Notification Unit

o   Illinois Prisoner Review Board

Victim Notification Unit

1001 North Walnut Street

Springfield, IL 62701

House Bill 3026 – Recalculation of Sentencing Credits

Effective January 1, 2024, House Bill 3026 required the Illinois Department of Corrections to recalculate the mandatory supervised release dates of qualifying individuals in custody. Please note that the award of additional sentencing credit for qualified individuals may be significant and may advance their release dates. Click here to learn more about individuals who are eligible to receive sentence credit under HB3026 and the credit they may receive.

Adult Transition Centers (ATC)

IDOC has established programs of work release for those individuals in custody who have met the criteria for placement in a community correctional center, referred to as an Adult Transition Center. There are strict requirements that must be adhered to for an individual in custody to be eligible to participate in this program. The eligibility criteria is available here. 

Those individuals who are a part of the work release program remain under the custody and control of IDOC. In addition to establishing and maintaining gainful employment, individuals are eligible for both community correctional center leaves and independent release time. IDOC utilizes a Level System to determine the amount of leave and independent release time to be granted and the privileges associated with each level. 

Stopping Mail and Phone Contact from an Individual in Custody

To stop contact from an individual in the custody of an IDOC facility, please complete the Mail Stop and Phone Restriction Request form / Mail Stop and Phone Restriction Request form (Spanish) and mail it to the facility where the individual is housed.

Additional Resources to Support Crime Victims

Healing Beyond Harm

Violence Prevention/Intervention Services Directories

The Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act (725 ILCS 120)

Know Your Rights as a Victim or Witness