What to Know About Westville Correctional Facility’s Renovation (2024–2027)

The Indiana Department of Administration (IDOA) Public Works Division and the Indiana Department of Correction are planning a renovation of Westville Correctional Facility. According to the state's public project summary, work is scheduled to begin this year and wrap up in late 2026 to early 2027. That's your general window. But the day-to-day impacts - where you enter, what areas are open, whether schedules shift - depend on which phase of construction is underway. Check for updates as the project moves from planning into active work.

Officials have been clear about the headline goal: improved safety for staff, incarcerated people, and the community. For families, "safety improvements" often means behind-the-scenes changes. But it can also mean new procedures while construction is underway. Safety-focused projects sometimes bring tighter movement rules, different traffic patterns, or temporary adjustments. If you're visiting or sending mail, confirm the current process close to the day you plan to go.

The public renovation summary doesn't cover the details families care about most: Will housing units be temporarily relocated? Will visiting shift to different spaces or days? Will mail processing slow down? Will phone access or programming get interrupted? These things matter. Even a "normal" visit can fall apart if the check-in location changes, a route is closed, or a schedule gets adjusted for construction. Until the facility or project team confirms how the work will be phased, treat rumors and secondhand information as unverified. Double-check before you travel.

• ✓ Whether visitation days, times, or locations have changed (and if there are any temporary rules tied to construction)
• ✓ Whether the entrance, parking, or on-site routes for visitors are different than usual
• ✓ Whether mail processing is running on the normal timeline or experiencing delays
• ✓ Whether phone access is being affected by construction work in specific areas
• ✓ Whether in-person programs are running as usual or paused/limited in certain units

1. Email the project contact - Send your question to capitalprojects@idoa.in.gov and include “Westville Correctional Facility renovation” in the subject line so it’s routed correctly.
2. Ask about the timeframe that affects you - The public estimate is work beginning this year and running through late 2026 to early 2027, but you’ll get better answers if you ask about the next 30–90 days (or a specific month you plan to visit).
3. Verify before you travel - Even if you hear about changes from someone else, confirm the current visiting process and any temporary adjustments as close to your trip as possible.
4. Write down your loved one’s key details and your goal - Keep it simple: who you’re trying to visit or support, what you’re trying to do (visit, mail, phone account, program questions), and what date you’re planning around.

5

• ✓ “Will construction change where visitors check in or enter the facility in the next 30–90 days?”
• ✓ “Are there any planned changes to visitation days, times, or visiting locations during specific phases of the renovation?”
• ✓ “Should families expect any mail delays or changes to how mail is processed while work is underway?”
• ✓ “Is phone access expected to be interrupted at any point due to construction? If yes, what should families do?”
• ✓ “Will any programs be paused or moved during renovation phases, and how will participants be notified?”
• ✓ “If I’m traveling from out of town, what’s the best way to confirm same-week updates before I arrive?”