Wisconsin
Staying connected with someone incarcerated in Wisconsin usually means learning two sets of rules: Wisconsin DOC for state prisons and the county jail where your loved one might be held pretrial. Below you'll find Wisconsin-specific details for phone calls, messaging, mail, money, and visitation, plus contact numbers people commonly need for bond and court questions.
Phone & Messaging
At Wisconsin county jails, calls are typically outbound only. You generally cannot call an inmate directly. Walworth County Jail, for example, states that...
Read guideFacility Info
Before you call, have your loved one's full name and any ID number you have (booking number, SPN, or DOC number), plus their date of birth if you know it....
Read guideFacility rules and civil process: what to expect at the door and for legal papers
If you need to have someone served with civil papers at a jail, the Sheriff's Office civil process unit usually has its own instructions and fees. In...
Read guideMail & Photos
County jails may use a different address and different publication rules. Walworth County Jail says inmates can correspond by mail. Incoming and outgoing...
Read guideSending Money
In county jail settings, money typically goes into an inmate trust account because inmates cannot have money in their possession. Walworth County Jail...
Read guideVisitation
For Wisconsin DOC, visit rules are published by each institution. Oshkosh Correctional Institution's visitor guide (as one example) states that persons in...
Read guideFind an Inmate
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Common Questions
Q
Can I send photos to someone on an ICS tablet and how do I do that?
Yes, if your loved one has an ICS tablet in Wisconsin DOC, you’ll need a GettingOut (GTL/ICS) account to message or send photos. If you’re sending physical mail for scanning, Wisconsin DOC lists the TextBehind address as P.O. Box 189, Phoenix, MD 21131 (include the sender return address, plus the person’s full name, DOC number, and facility name). If you’re sending printed photo products, TextBehind says it will not copy photobooks or albums, but it will process individual or loose photos.
Q
How long are video visits and do they cost anything?
Wisconsin DOC has described an initial promotional period where each person in DOC care may receive one free video visit per week for six months (when operations can accommodate), with visit slots about 25 to 26 minutes and additional visits offered at a stated per-visit cost. In county jails, pricing and rules can look different. Manitowoc County lists on-site lobby visits as free at certain times, and it notes that remote visits from home may involve data fees.
Q
Can an inmate receive incoming phone calls from family?
Typically no. Walworth County Jail specifically states that incoming calls for inmates are not allowed. If you need to set up calling, Walworth also explains its inmate phone service is provided by ViaPath Technologies and warns families to use the official ConnectNetwork service when setting up accounts to avoid scam sites.
Q
What address should I use to mail a letter or photos that will reach an inmate?
It depends on where they are housed. For Wisconsin DOC personal (non-legal) mail, Wisconsin DOC lists TextBehind at P.O. Box 189, Phoenix, MD 21131, and says to include the sender return address plus the person’s full name, DOC number, and facility name. For a county jail example, Walworth County Jail provides a jail address format that includes the inmate name and SPN (Specific Person Number) at 1770 County Road NN, Elkhorn, WI 53121.