What to bring (and what to leave home) for a visit to Illinois River Correctional Center

Bring a current photo ID that includes your date of birth. A driver's license or state ID works. Staff also accept certain non-U.S. documents (a current passport, Visa, or Matricula, for example) as long as it's current and shows your birth date. Once inside the visiting room, you're limited to one identification card. If you normally carry a wallet full of cards, pare it down to just what you need for check-in.

Bringing a child? Visitors under 18 don't need to show photo identification.

Quick Allowed Items

• ✓ One identification card
• ✓ One car door key or key fob without a remote attachment
• ✓ One locker key (after you secure your items)
• ✓ One jacket or coat appropriate for the weather (if issued/allowed)
• ✓ Use the facility lockers for everything else, they are available at no charge

Leave electronics behind. Illinois River Correctional Center does not allow electronic devices (including cell phones and pagers) in the visiting room. Skip the purse or bag, too. Purses, bags, sacks, and packages aren't allowed inside. If you bring them, you'll need to store them before you can go in.

Don't bring food or drinks into the visiting room. The one exception: if you have an infant or toddler, you may bring two filled clear plastic bottles or two sealed containers of baby food, stored in a clear bag or clear plastic container. Showing up with prohibited items can cost you the visit entirely. Pack light and keep your hands free.

Keep your outfit straightforward. All visitors must wear underwear, and female visitors must wear a bra. Dresses, shorts, and skirts need to extend to the knee. If you're unsure about something, go more conservative. Getting stopped at the door isn't worth it.

Visiting with a baby or toddler? You still can't bring regular food or drinks into the visiting room. The facility does allow two filled clear plastic bottles or two sealed containers of baby food, and those must be stored in a clear bag or clear plastic container. For everything else, stick to the "bring as little as possible" approach. Adults should plan on entering with only the allowed basics, including one identification card.

Expect to be screened. All visitors, their vehicles, and their property are subject to search. Refusing a search means losing your visit. The easiest way to breeze through? Arrive with very little on you. Fewer items means fewer things to check and less chance something holds you up.

The facility provides small lockers at no charge for anything you can't bring inside. These are especially helpful if you drove in with personal items you need to leave behind. Once you lock up your belongings, you can carry the locker key with you and grab everything after your visit.

If you need to breastfeed during your visit, the facility will provide a secure, private area. You don't have to choose between feeding your baby and keeping your visit on track.

1. Tell the visiting room officer you need to breastfeed. Start with staff so they can direct you to the designated area.
2. Follow staff instructions and be prepared for security procedures. Visitors and property are subject to search, and refusing a search can result in denied visiting privileges.