Penmate Inmate Support Guides
Visitation

How to Schedule Your First In‑Person Visit with the Illinois DOC

Scheduling your first in-person visit with the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) is straightforward if you follow their process: confirm where your person is housed, get on the approved list, then book online. Here's exactly how it works—and what to expect when you arrive.

• 3 min read • idoc.illinois.gov
How to Schedule Your First In‑Person Visit with the Illinois DOC

Quick Overview

  • ✓ Find the person in IDOC custody and confirm their current facility using the IDOC search tool.
  • ✓ Make sure you’re on the person’s approved visitation list (most visitors must be approved).
  • ✓ If you’re an adult (18+), complete the Prospective Visitor’s Interview (PVI) form (DOC 0148) if it applies to you.
  • ✓ Schedule your in-person visit online through IDOC’s SignUpGenius page.
  • ✓ Arrive at the facility at least 10 minutes before your scheduled visit time.

Start by using the Illinois DOC

IDOC requires most visitors to be on the individual's approved visitation list before visiting in person. Legal visitors and government officials are the main exceptions. If you're a family member or friend, assume you need approval first - and plan your timeline accordingly.

Not sure if you're already approved? Write to the person you want to visit and ask. IDOC staff can't verify your status over the phone, so a quick letter saves you unnecessary back-and-forth - and prevents a wasted trip.

Adult visitors (18 and older) must complete a Prospective Visitor's Interview (PVI) form - DOC 0148 - unless you're a legal visitor or government official. Yes, it feels like extra paperwork when you just want to see someone. But having the DOC 0148 ready with your information filled out clearly makes everything go faster.

Heads up: If you haven't been approved through the electronic PVI process, you'll need to complete the PVI on your first visit. Print the DOC 0148 ahead of time so you're not filling it out in the lobby.

IDOC handles in-person visit scheduling through its SignUpGenius page. Once you've confirmed the facility and started the approval process, head there to pick an available time slot. Don't wait until the last minute. Check openings early, lock in your time, and plan your travel around it.

Tip: If you’re traveling a long distance, schedule first and double-check that you’re booked before you hit the road.

Arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled time. Check-in takes longer than you'd expect, and showing up late can cost you the visit - even if you did everything else right.

Bring photo ID and be ready to verify your date of birth at check-in. Adults need photo identification; visitors under 18 don't. If you're wearing a face covering, staff may ask you to lower it briefly when entering and exiting for identity verification. It's quick - just be ready.

Safety check: Expect to submit to a body search at the Visitor Center. If you’re intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you won’t be allowed to enter.

Traveling a long distance? Don't assume your visit is confirmed until you've actually booked it on SignUpGenius. Double-check your slot before you hit the road - it can save you a wasted trip.

Find an Inmate at Joliet Treatment Center, IL

Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.

Exact spelling helps find results faster

Free to search · Used by families nationwide
Woman using phone to connect with loved one

More from Joliet Treatment Center, IL

5 Practical Tips for Mailing Photos to Someone at Joliet Treatment Center

Mailing photos to someone at Joliet Treatment Center? A few small details can mean the difference between smooth delivery and frustrating delays. These tips focus on IDOC's non-privileged mail scanning process, so you can format your photos and paperwork in a way that's easier to process and more likely to reach your loved one quickly.

Before Your First Visit to Joliet Treatment Center: Two IDs, the PVI Form, and How to Confirm Approval

Your first visit goes smoother when you handle three things ahead of time: confirm you've got the right person and facility, bring the right IDs, and make sure you're actually approved to visit. Here's how the two-ID rule and the Prospective Visitor Interview (PVI/DOC 0148) work at Joliet Treatment Center - plus the simplest way to confirm you're on the approved list.

How IDOC's Mail Scanning Works (and How to Send Legal/Privileged Mail to Joliet Treatment Center)

IDOC's mail rules can feel confusing - especially since most personal mail now arrives digitally. Here's how mail scanning works at Joliet Treatment Center, what doesn't get scanned, and how to properly label legal or privileged mail.