What You Can and Can’t Bring Into the IDOC Visiting Room
IDOC visiting rooms have strict property rules. The fastest way to lose visit time? Showing up with items that aren't allowed. Use the checklist below to pack light, store what you can, and handle medical exceptions correctly.
Walk into the Visiting Room with almost nothing. IDOC bans all electronic devices - cell phones, pagers, everything. They also prohibit a long list of everyday items: food, drinks, smoking materials, cash, packages, purses, bags (including sacks), books, magazines, sunglasses, and personal keys. If you don't absolutely need it for the visit, leave it behind.
- ✓ Electronic devices (including cell phones and pagers)
- ✓ Food
- ✓ Drink
- ✓ Smoking materials
- ✓ Currency (cash)
- ✓ Packages
- ✓ Purses
- ✓ Bags (including sacks)
- ✓ Books
- ✓ Magazines
- ✓ Sunglasses
- ✓ Personal keys
Brought something you can't take inside? Small lockers are available at each IDOC facility, free of charge. Use them to secure anything on the prohibited list so you're not scrambling at the door.
Tip: After you lock up your personal items, keep the locker key with you - IDOC allows the locker key to be carried into the facility once you’ve secured your belongings.
Medication trips people up more than almost anything else. IDOC does not allow pills or medication of any kind inside the Visiting Room - with two narrow exceptions: physician-prescribed heart medication and physician-prescribed asthma inhalers (pumps). Leave everything else secured before you enter.
- Bring only the allowed medical exception - heart medication or an asthma inhaler (pump) prescribed by a physician are the only medications permitted into the Visiting Room.
- Keep heart medication in the correct container - it must be in a properly labeled container.
- Tell staff you have it - medication brought into the institution needs to be brought to the attention of the Visiting Room Officer.
- Expect heart medication to be held at the desk - heart medication will be stored at the officer’s desk in the Visiting Room.
Warning: Other pills or medications aren't allowed. Trying to bring them anyway could cost you time at check-in - or get you turned away entirely.
Before You Travel
- ✓ Bring two forms of identification if you’re an adult visitor
- ✓ Make sure one ID is a current state-issued photo ID
- ✓ Be ready to provide vehicle information
- ✓ Store anything prohibited (especially electronics, keys, bags, and cash) before you enter; lockers are available at no charge
Traveling a long distance? Call ahead before you leave. Rules get enforced strictly at the door, and you'll want to confirm any day-of changes. This is especially true if you're bringing a medical exception like heart medication or an asthma inhaler.
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