How to Schedule Your First Visit with Someone in IDOC
Scheduling your first in-person visit with someone in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) takes a few setup steps before you ever get in the car. Confirm where your loved one is housed, get approved to visit, and reserve a time online—then your first visit goes much more smoothly.
Start by using the IDOC inmate search tool to find the person you want to visit and confirm which facility they're at. This detail matters. You'll need the facility information for every step that follows - getting on the approved list, scheduling your visit, and showing up at the right place on the right day.
Note: Confirming the facility first helps you avoid booking - or driving to - the wrong place if your loved one has been transferred.
Adult visitors (18 or older) need to complete a Prospective Visitor's Interview (PVI) form (DOC 0148) before their first visit - unless you've already been approved through the electronic PVI process. Legal visitors and government officials are exempt. IDOC makes the DOC 0148 available online in both English and Spanish, so you can fill it out ahead of time instead of scrambling at the door.
Tip: Completing the PVI before your first visit can speed up entry. Be truthful and consistent - false information can get your visitation privileges restricted or revoked.
You'll also need to be on your loved one's approved visitation list. The way this works in IDOC: write to the incarcerated person so they can add you. IDOC staff can't verify whether you're on someone's list, so confirm directly with your loved one before you try to schedule or travel.
Once you've confirmed the facility and you're cleared to visit, schedule your in-person visit online through the IDOC sign-up system (linked on the IDOC visitation page). Don't show up hoping for availability - IDOC requires online reservations for in-person visits.
Before you drive - especially if you're traveling far - check whether the facility is on lockdown. Call (877) 840-3220 to hear a recorded list of facilities currently on lockdown. It could save you a wasted trip.
When you arrive, be ready to prove who you are and share basic information about how you got there. IDOC requires adult visitors to bring two forms of ID - one must be a current state-issued photo ID. You'll also need to provide vehicle information. As with the PVI paperwork, accuracy matters. False information can put your visitation privileges at risk.
- ✓ Two forms of identification (one must be a current state-issued photo ID)
- ✓ Vehicle information
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