What to Know Before You Arrive at DCI: Check-In, Lobby Processing, and Count Times
Visiting Dodge Correctional Institution (DCI) for the first time? Timing trips people up more than anything else. Here's how arrival, lobby processing, and count times affect whether you get in—or end up waiting.
DCI asks visitors to arrive at least 15 minutes before their scheduled time. Your appointment is your arrival target - not the moment you'll be sitting in the visiting room. Processing happens first, and showing up right at your scheduled time can put you behind.
Arrival planning starts well before the day you drive in. In-person visits at DCI must be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance through ICSolutions. If you're 18 or older, you'll need your own ICSolutions account and a Party ID when you sign up - so get those details sorted early.
Lobby Cutoffs
- ✓ DCI materials state visitors will not be processed through the lobby or allowed to wait in the lobby prior to 2:30 PM Monday through Saturday.
- ✓ DCI materials also state visitors will not be processed through the lobby or allowed to wait in the lobby prior to 7:45 AM on Saturday.
Count time can also shut down movement and processing. DCI's published materials aren't consistent: one document says visiting stops 30 minutes before count, another says 15 minutes. Both appear in official sources. Treat count-time cutoffs as a hard boundary when planning your arrival and departure, and verify current practice before you travel - especially if you'll be cutting it close.
Count is when the institution accounts for everyone, and visiting gets paused around that time. DCI's guidance says visiting stops before count and resumes when count clears - but the timing differs by document: one says 30 minutes before, another says 15. If you arrive or plan to leave close to count, expect a possible pause that could affect lobby processing or your ability to move in and out.
Tip: Build your schedule around processing time, not just the visit start time. Arriving at least 15 minutes early gives you a better shot at getting processed before any count-related pause kicks in.
- Call DCI visiting support - For questions or problems directly related to visiting at DCI (including help signing up), call 920-324-8362 and leave a message.
- Use the DOC/ICSolutions support channels for technical issues - For technical or ICSolutions visiting questions, you can email DOCDAIElectronicVisitSupport@wisconsin.gov or contact ICSolutions Visitation Support at 1-888-646-9437.
Before committing to a long drive, confirm the timing details that can block entry even with a scheduled visit. Check whether lobby processing will happen when you plan to arrive (DCI materials state no processing/waiting in the lobby prior to 2:30 PM Monday–Saturday and prior to 7:45 AM on Saturday). Also verify how close to count visiting actually stops - DCI documents describe both a 30-minute and a 15-minute cutoff. Getting answers up front can save you from arriving when processing simply won't happen.
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