Visitation Rules & Information

The Illinois Department of Corrections is implementing a multi-phase plan to resume in-person visits as safely as possible. The number of visitors per two-hour time slot are limited to ensure social distancing measures are closely followed. Phase two, which takes effect June 2021, loosens restrictions for visitors and incarcerated people who are fully vaccinated.

Scheduling visits according to vaccination status permits vaccinated people in IDOC custody and their families (if all participants are vaccinated) to visit with fewer restrictions. Both the incarcerated person and all visitors (including minors) must be fully vaccinated to schedule a vaccinated visiting slot. If a visitor is vaccinated, he or she may schedule a visit during an unvaccinated time slot if necessary, but must adhere to the unvaccinated visitor rules. The below chart will help you determine what type of visit you are qualified to schedule.

At this time, each incarcerated person is permitted three visits per month.

How to Visit

1. Identify the person you would like to visit and their facility by utilizing the search tool.

2. Ensure you are on the incarcerated individual's approved visitation list by writing them a letter. IDOC staff cannot verify whether you are on the individual's list.
   

3. Schedule your visit

   online

   at least seven days in advance.

4. The sign up system will timeout if there is no activity for 30 minutes. If you start to sign up, you must complete the sign up within 30 minutes.

5. Arrive at the facility at least 10 minutes prior to your scheduled visit time.
   

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View at SignUpGenius.com

View at SignUpGenius.com

What to Expect

• Upon arrival, visitors must call the facility for guidance. Staff will advise when it is safe to enter.
• Adult visitors are required to bring two forms of identification (one must be a state issued photo ID) and provide vehicle information.
• For identification purposes, visitors may be asked to briefly lower their face coverings when entering and exiting the facility.
• All visitors will undergo a COVID-19 symptom and temperature screening.
• The facility is providing all visitors over the age of two with a surgical mask.

Important Rules

• Electronic devices, such as cell phones or tablets, food, drink, smoking materials, currency, packages, purses, bags, books, magazines, sunglasses, or personal keys are not permitted inside the Visiting Room. Visitors may place personal items in small lockers available in the Visiting Center.
  
• Except for heart medication or asthma pump (inhaler) prescribed by a physician, no pills or medication of any type is permitted in the Visiting Room. Heart medication must be in a properly labeled container. 
• Clothing must be in good taste and not advertise or suggest any items in such a manner to signify a Security Threat Group or other illegal activity. Visitors should not wear clothing that is sexually explicit, offensive, or degrading.
• All persons, vehicles and items brought onto State property are subject to search.
• In accordance with

  Illinois Administrative Code

  , the facility's chief administrative officer may deny, suspend, or restrict visiting privileges based, among other matters, upon the following: security and safety requirements; space availability; disruptive conduct of the incarcerated individual or visitor; abuse of visiting privileges by the incarcerated individual or visitor; or violation of state or federal laws or departmental rules by the incarcerated individual or visitor.

To view IDOC's visiting rules in complete detail, click here.

COVID-19 Safety Measures

• Any visitor who registers a temperature of 100.4° Fahrenheit or higher is denied access to the facility. If the visitor traveled with additional people, their access is also denied.
• Visitor waiting areas have limited seating to provide sufficient space for social distancing.
• Restrooms are cleaned after each use.
• Hand sanitizer is available in each facility's entrance and visiting room.
• Visitation is limited to two visitors per incarcerated individual (to include children) per visiting session.
• Visiting area tables shall be spaced apart to allow for proper social distancing.
• During Phase 1, plexi-glass barriers provide a protective shield between the incarcerated individuals and visitors.
• uring Phase 1, physical contact, including hugging, kissing, holding hands, or playing cards/board games, is not permitted.
  
• The use of vending machines is prohibited during visitation.
• Visiting Room restrooms have sufficient supplies of soap and are cleaned after each visiting session.
• Incarcerated individuals who test positive for COVID-19 are not permitted to visit until fully recovered.
  
• Water fountains may not be used.
• Reception and visiting waiting areas, lockers, and keys are sanitized between visits.

It has come to the Department’s attention that GTL video visitation opportunities have been limited for individuals who solely rely on Apple products for video visits. As a result, the Department is offering Webex as an alternative video visitation platform for families and loved ones who rely on Apple products. GTL will provide FREE video visits for their users until the GTL platform is compatible with Apple products. Webex visits will also be free. Please note that video visits provided by GTL and Webex will be subject to monitoring and recording. Visitors should log on 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

If you are an Android user, please click here to schedule a visit.

If you are an Apple (iPhone) user, please click here to schedule a visit.

SignUp Genius Portal Page

DOC has partnered with Global Tel*Link (GTL) to provide video visitation services.

All potential visitors must register with GTL (https://ildoc.gtlvisitme.com). Registration process will include completing a Prospective Visitor Interview Form; all visitors must fully complete this form with GTL, even if they have completed this form at a facility, any omissions of required information on the form may result in your registration not being accepted causing unnecessary delays. Adults are encouraged to register themselves first, and then add their minor children or guardians to the system.

All visitors, excluding government officials and legal visitors, must be on the offender’s approved visitation list in order to be granted a visit. To check if you are on the offender’s visitor list, you should write a letter to the offender to inquire. IDOC staff cannot tell you whether or not you are on an offender’s visitation list if you call the facility. Visiting privileges may be denied if the institution or a portion of the institution is on lockdown.

All video visits will be schedule through the GTL website; do not call the facility to schedule a video visit. The visitor should check before scheduling the video visit of dates and times that are available for the offender. The facility cannot tell a potential visitor if a date or time will work with an offender’s daily schedule. The facility will inform the offender of the pending visit and arrange for the offender to be present.

In order to accommodate all offenders in a given facility:​​

• An offender may only receive 1 video visit per day.
  • No more than three approved visitors per video visit for offenders confined in general population or protective custody status.

• An offender may receive only 2 video visits per week, this is counted against allotted visits.

• Visitors may only schedule one video visit per day.

• All video visits must be schedule at least 7 days in advance.

• Visits may be scheduled up to 30 days in advance.​

• Only scheduled visitors may appear in the video visit monitor.
  • One visitor on screen at a time, excluding children who need assistance sitting for the visit.

Video Visitation is a privilege and is only available to offenders in general population or in the health care unit. Offenders housed in Segregation, in orientation, or temporarily housed at our facility will not be permitted video visitation. If an offender receives discipline between the time a visit is confirmed and the time of the visit, the visit may be cancelled; the visitor will receive an email of the cancellation. If the facility goes on lock down prior to a schedule video visit, the visitor will receive an email. Please see the GTL website for refund policy.

All visits are subject to monitoring and recording.

All video visits are monitored live and recorded, any violation of visitation rules, inappropriate conduct, or language may be subject to immediate termination of the video visit with or without warning. This may also include suspension from future all visitation privileges based upon the seriousness of the infraction. Any visitation that is not stationary in a seated position will be terminated. Your use of video visitation and acceptance of the rules is consent to have both audio and video recorded of the video visit. Attorney/Client privileges do not apply to video visitation, ALL visits are recorded. Dress Code policy below applies to video visitation. Termination of Visit/Loss of Visiting Privileges applies to video visitation.

• The following conduct is prohibited.
  • Any display of nudity.
  • ANY Behavior or actions that are of a sexual nature.
  • Use or display of any weapons, drugs/alcohol, or related paraphernalia.
  • Activity or display of graphics/paraphernalia associated with any Security Threat Group.
  • Unlawful activity or depiction of unlawful activity.
  • Recording or filming a visit by any visitor participant or any third party.
  • If ANY inappropriate behaviors are displayed the Video visit WILL BE TERMINATED.

• No video visitation visits will be scheduled between 2:30pm-4:30pm due to institutional count procedures.

• General Population Offenders may have a total of 7 visits per calendar month; each visit may be up to 4 hours per visit.

• Visitors may only visit once per day.

• Visitors who travel great distances to visit an offender may request extended visits and/or group visits. These requests should be made in advance to the Chief Administrative Officer for consideration. All visitors must receive notification of approval or denial before and extended visit is granted.

• All persons must be on the offender's approved visiting list. Person’s age 12 through 17 years of age who are not a member of the offender's immediate family may be allowed to visit only with notarized written consent of a parent or guardian.

• Persons under age of 18 must be accompanied by an approved visitor who is age 18 or older. Persons under 12 years of age may only be permitted to visit when accompanied by parent or guardian who is an approved visitor or when prior written consent has been given by a parent or guardian who is in the free community for the child to visit when accompanied by a person designated in writing who is an approved visitor and who is at least 18 years of age or older.

• Immediate family is defined as the offender's child, sibling, grandchild, whether step or adopted, half, or whole, and spouses. The visitor must provide documentation of the relationship.

• Visitors are required to show photo identification such as a driver's license, a state identification card or acceptable documentation of non-US citizenship including a current passport, Visa, or Matricula, and documentation that includes their date of birth.

• Any person who has been convicted of a criminal offense or who has criminal charges pending, including but not limited to, an individual on bond, parole, mandatory supervised release, or probation or an ex-offender, may visit an offender only with prior written approval of the Warden. Individuals who require such approval must obtain this written approval for EACH visit.

• All visitors, their vehicle, and their property are subject to search.

• The dress code will be strictly enforced. Visitors must be appropriately dressed or the visit will not be permitted at the discretion of the DAO or Back-up DAO.

• Inappropriate, revealing clothing is not allowed, such as short skirts or dresses, wrap-around skirts, short shorts, see-through or low cut blouses, break-away pants, spandex bodysuits, clothes with holes in suggestive areas, or any clothing that allows undergarments to be visible.

• Undergarments must be worn at all times. Clothing must be in good taste and not advertise or suggest anything illegal, gang-related, or of a sexual nature.

• No hats, gloves, scarves or headbands are allowed. With the exception of religious headgear.

• Jewelry that is extremely heavy in weight or that is intimidating to any person, i.e., replicas of any guns, knives, ammo, drugs or drug paraphernalia, will not be allowed.

• Visitors may possess one watch, one bracelet, two rings (inclusive of one wedding ring), and one necklace. Any belt buckles may be subject to thorough inspection.

• Any jewelry with names, initials, or words will not be allowed. No lockets or any jewelry with pictures will be allowed. Any jewelry that is perceived as a security threat will be denied.

• Visitors and offenders may not exchange ANY item during a visit.

• Inappropriate behavior of a visitor or possession of contraband may result in a temporary or permanent visiting restriction.

• The Warden/ Assistant Warden may further restrict or limit visits at any time due to the availability of space and staff, institutional emergencies, lockdowns and for a reasonable period of time thereafter, or for violations of state or federal law or department rules by the offender or visitor.​​

• For additional information, contact the Warden's Office at the respective facility where the inmate is housed. The facility phone numbers are under the facilities link at www.illinois.gov/idoc.