Volunteer Programs

At IDOC, volunteers assist in various ways, ranging from mentoring and meeting the religious needs of offenders to offering alcohol and drug rehabilitation such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Volunteers tutor, hold church services and Bible studies as well as parenting, art, music, poetry and literacy classes. At IDOC, thousands of volunteers provide programs and services that otherwise would not be available to the incarcerated men and women.

Volunteers are subject to background checks and are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the rules of the Department and the facility.

Volunteer Service Coordinators also gather outside donations for offender programs. Readily accepted donations include: religious items, fiction books, craft materials, unused greeting cards, and gently used toys.

Each facility has a Volunteer Services Coordinator, who schedules and corresponds with volunteers who provide programs and services otherwise not available to the men and women who are incarcerated. Those interested in volunteering can contact the Volunteer Services Coordinator at the respective facility; the facility phone numbers are under the Facilities link.