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What Happens When You Arrive at an Illinois DOC Facility for a Visit

First-time visits can feel stressful—you don't know what to expect at the front gate. Here's what typically happens when you arrive at an Illinois DOC facility: check-in, paperwork, searches, and the most common reasons visitors get turned away.

• 3 min read • idoc.illinois.gov
What Happens When You Arrive at an Illinois DOC Facility for a Visit

When you arrive, you'll need to call for guidance before entering. Staff will let you know when it's safe to come in. This isn't just bureaucracy - the visiting center controls movement and timing carefully, especially when processing multiple visitors, transferring incarcerated individuals, or running security checks.

Plan to arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled visit time. That buffer gives you room for check-in and screening without feeling rushed, and it helps you avoid losing your spot if the line is moving slowly.

Identification Pvi Screening

  • ✓ Two forms of identification (one must be a current state-issued photo ID)
  • ✓ Vehicle information (be ready to provide it during check-in)

Illinois DOC requires most adult visitors (18 and older) to complete a Prospective Visitor's Interview (PVI) form (DOC 0148) before visiting. Legal visitors and government officials are exempt. If you've already been approved through the electronic PVI process, you typically won't need to fill out the form again at your first visit.

Reminder: If you’re an adult visitor (and not a legal or government visitor), a completed PVI (DOC 0148) is part of what the facility uses to clear you for visits - unless you already have electronic PVI approval.

Expect to be searched. Officers at the Visitor Center will conduct a body search, and Illinois DOC considers all visitors, vehicles, and property subject to search. Refuse, and you'll be denied entry - you may also have your visiting privileges suspended or restricted.

No entry if you’re impaired: Visitors who are intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be permitted to enter.

Here's what happens on your loved one's side: incarcerated individuals are strip searched when entering and leaving the visiting room. Any item found in their possession after the visit that wasn't there before is treated as contraband and can result in disciplinary action.

What Happens When You Arrive at an Illinois DOC Facility for a Visit

Even with careful planning, the facility can still stop a visit. The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) has authority to deny, suspend, or restrict visiting privileges for reasons including security concerns, space limitations, disruptive behavior by you or the incarcerated person, abuse of visiting privileges, or violations of state or federal law or departmental rules.

  1. Arrive sober - If you’re intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you will not be permitted entry.
  2. Submit to required searches - All visitors (and their vehicles and property) are subject to search; refusing can result in denial, suspension, or restriction of visiting privileges.
  3. Don’t bring or pass prohibited items - If an item shows up in an incarcerated person’s possession after a visit that wasn’t there before, it’s considered contraband and may lead to disciplinary action.

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