Dixon Correctional Center

The Dixon Correctional Center is a medium-security prison for male inmates located in Dixon, Illinois. This facility has an operational capacity of 2,529 inmates, and it fully supports the mission of the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) through the development of security levels and supervision of offenders. 

A major focus of the center's mission is to provide a comprehensive mental health program to address the individual and group needs of the mentally ill. The center strives to provide a safe and secure environment where mentally ill and/or developmentally disabled offendersㄧwho are in need of placement in a correctional psychiatric settingㄧwill have the opportunity to participate in treatment and educational programs that will assist them in their ability to function productively, both within the correctional setting and in their communities upon release.

Dixon Correctional Center is distinct in its size as the Illinois DOC's largest medium-security facility and is unique in its diversity. The administration of the facility is divided into specialized areas that include units housing general population inmates, older inmates with special needs, and inmates with disabilities as well as an infirmary. 

The Special Treatment Center (STC) is medium-security center that houses both mentally ill and developmentally disabled inmates. The Dixon Psychiatric Unit is a maximum-security unit, which serves as IDOC's primary psychiatric correctional facility. Both the Special Treatment Center and Dixon Psychiatric Unit serve the needs of the mentally handicapped and developmentally disabled offenders by providing programs geared specifically toward a "special needs" population as well as a therapeutic environment.

The Dixon Correctional Center is situated on 462 acres of land just north of the city of Dixon, with 125 acres inside the perimeter fence. The facility sidewalks, signage, parking, and other walkway areas are all in compliance with American Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting hours at Dixon Correctional Center for the general population are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., seven days a week. However, no visitors will be allowed in after 4:00 p.m. 

Non-contact visits with inmates are from 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with no admittance after 4:00 pm. Offenders in General Population, Non-contact status are limited to two one-hour visits per month to occur on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only. No non-contact visits on weekends or holidays. 

Due to the congested nature of this area during shift change, from 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., no processing of visitors into the Visiting Room shall occur and no inmates should be admitted into the Gatehouse.

Non-contact visits with Segregation inmates are from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays only, and they are limited to seven, one-hour visits per month to occur on Tuesday and Thursday only. No Segregation visits on weekends or holidays. No admittance after 2:15 p.m. and if the visitor arrives after 2:00 p.m., they will not receive a full one hour visit. 

Dixon Correctional Center reserves the right to reduce the hours of visiting. There will be a maximum four-hour time limit for each visit on holidays and weekends, unless overcrowding requires reduction of the time limit.

Offenders are only allowed two weekend visits per month and may have only one visit per day on weekends.

General Visiting Rules and Procedures

All visitors must be on the offender’s approved visitation list in order to be granted a visit.  Offenders are responsible for arranging their visits and notifying their visitors of their visiting status.  

To check if you are on the offender’s visitor list, you should write a letter to the offender to inquire.  IDOC staff cannot tell you whether or not you are on an offender’s visitation list if you call the facility.  

On the first visit to a correctional facility, adult visitors (age 18 and older) will be required to complete a Prospective Visitor's Interview (PVI) form, called a DOC 0148. This PVI form can be completed and brought in on the first visit.

Only three visitors (adult/children) may visit an offender at one time. Visiting Room tables accommodate four individuals (the offender and three visitors).

Everyone entering the Correctional Center must follow Illinois law regarding possession of contraband. Bringing contraband into Dixon Correctional Center is a Class 4 felony that  is punishable by 1-3 years in a state penitentiary. Many inmates have lost good time and visitors have been prosecuted for bringing in contraband. Please do not put your friends or family members in this position.

Visitors must park in the South parking lot.

The following items are being listed as inappropriate and will not be allowed:

• Halter or midriff tops
• Leggings, jeggings, or other thin spandex/tight or revealing clothing
• Swim tops or swimsuits
• See-through or revealing clothing such as low-cut blouses
• Spaghetti straps or thin straps/shirts that allow bra straps to show
• Short Skirts (limited to 2" above the knee)
• Any clothing with tears or holes in a suggestive area
• Short Shorts (limited to 2" above the knee)
• Coats, jackets, insulated vests, hats, or scarves allowed in the Visiting Room
• Zip up hoodies unless worn with matching sweatpants as an outfit

Undergarments must be worn! Any attire deemed inappropriate may result in denial of visitation. Any questions regarding dress code, contact the institution or bring a change of clothes in your vehicle.

If an inmate's visitor arrives at the Gatehouse and is inappropriately dressed, the visitor will be allowed to leave the institution to obtain appropriate clothing items and re-enter the facility to be processed for a visit. The Shift Commander has the authority to review the dress of each visitor and to deny any visits based on the above listed code. The Shift Commander's decision is final. 

Adult visitors may bring the following items into the Visiting Room. Any item not on this list will either be locked in the visitor's vehicle or in a locker at the Visiting Room.

• Photo identification card
• Debit Card (to be purchased in the Gatehouse Reception area)
• Infant Items

Three diapers
One travel size package of baby wipes
One plastic, baby bottle of formula or juice
One unopened, plastic container of baby food or
Two sealed, formula packets
One bib
One plastic spoon
One pacifier
One clear, large, plastic, Ziploc bag
One empty, plastic, child sippy cup

• No car seats, infant carriers, or baby diaper bags will be allowed into the Visiting Room.
• No keys, except Gatehouse locker key issued
• One sweater
• No Electronic items such as cell phones, pagers, PDAs, Tablets, I-Pads, watches, FitBits, etc. allowed in the Gatehouse Reception Building

All tobacco related products and electronic items such as cell phones, pagers, PDAs, Tablets, I-Pads, watches, and FitBits are to be secured in your vehicle and may not be stored in lockers. Visitors who fail to comply with this policy will be subject to temporary or permanent visiting restriction.

Visitors must submit to a body search before being admitted into the institution, which includes a search of the head (and hair thereon). If there is reason to believe the visitor has contraband on his or her person, the visitor may be asked to submit to a strip search. 

Visitors and the offender may discreetly kiss and hug upon entrance and exit of the Visiting Room. While seated at the table, an inmate and visitor may hold hands. Hand contact to the genitals or breasts is not permitted at any time. There will be no sitting on lapsㄧexcept children.

Visitors are not allowed to exchange any items in the Visiting Room. This includes, but is not limited to, watches, glasses, rings, clothing, belts, shoes, and jewelry of any kind.

Video Visits

The Illinois DOC has partnered with Global Tel*Link (GTL) to provide video visitation services for the Dixon Correctional Center.

All potential visitors must register with GTL. Registration process will include completing a Prospective Visitor Interview Form; all visitors must fully complete this form with GTL even if they have completed this form at a facility. Any omissions of required information on the form may result in your registration not being accepted causing unnecessary delays. Adults are encouraged to register themselves first and then add their minor children or guardians to the system.

All visitors must be on the offender’s approved visitation list in order to be granted a visit. Video Visitation Hours are on Sunday through Saturday, from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Visitors should log on to the GTL site 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

All video visits will be scheduled through the GTL website; do not call the facility to schedule a video visit. The visitor should check before scheduling the video visit of dates and times that are available for the offender. The facility cannot tell a potential visitor if a date or time will work with an offender’s daily schedule. The facility will inform the offender of the pending visit and arrange for the offender to be present.

In order to accommodate all offenders at the Dixon Correctional Center:

• An offender may only receive one video visit per day.
• No more than three approved visitors per video visit for offenders confined in general population or protective custody status.
• An offender may receive only two video visits per week, this is counted against allotted visits.
• Visitors may only schedule one video visit per day.
• All video visits must be scheduled at least seven days in advance.
• Visits may be scheduled up to 30 days in advance.
• Only scheduled visitors may appear in the video visit monitor.
• One visitor on screen at a time, excluding children who need assistance sitting for the visit.

Video Visitation is a privilege and is only available to offenders in general population or in the health care unit. Offenders housed in Segregation, in orientation, or temporarily housed at the facility will not be permitted video visitation. If an offender receives discipline between the time a visit is confirmed and the time of the visit, the visit may be cancelled; the visitor will receive an email of the cancellation. If the facility goes on lock down prior to a scheduled video visit, the visitor will receive an email. 

All visits are subject to monitoring and recording.

All video visits are monitored live and recorded. Any violation of visitation rules, inappropriate conduct, or language may be subject to immediate termination of the video visit with or without warning. 

Your use of video visitation and acceptance of the rules is consent to have both audio and video recorded of the video visit. Attorney/Client privileges do not apply to video visitation. ALL visits are recorded. Dress Code policy below applies to video visitation and the termination of Visit/Loss of Visiting Privileges also applies to video visitation.

How to Call an Inmate

You can’t call an inmate at the Dixon Correctional Center. But, inmates do have access to a phone during assigned times and can make outgoing calls. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Illinois, please click here.

How to Send Money

Inmates may receive money via GTL (ConnectNetwork), JPAY, Western Union, or money order.

(A money order must be sent directly to the lockbox, NOT to the facility; see information below regarding money orders.)

Funds up to $5,000 may be sent to inmates via the following methods, except MoneyGram, who has a maximum limit of $3,000.

• GTL (ConnectNetwork) at https://web.connectnetwork.com/facilities/illinois-department-of-corrections/
• JPAY at www.jpay.com
• MoneyGram locations using the Blue MoneyGram Express Payment Formー receiving code is 7364
• Western Union at www.westernunion.com or at locations using the Quick Collect Form – code city and state are ILDOC  IL

For all electronic transfer of funds, the inmate IDOC number and incarcerated last name must be used. 

Money Orders

Inmates may receive money orders not to exceed $999.99. The money orders must be sent with the lockbox deposit slip and must be complete with the inmate name, IDOC inmate number, sender’s name and address.

Deposit slips can be obtained at https://www.jpay.com/moneyorder.aspx. The money orders should be sent with a deposit slip, be made payable to JPay, and sent to the following address:

JPay
PO Box 260250
Hollywood, FL 33026

​Programs For ​Inmates

Academic:

• ABE (Adult Basic Education)
• GED (General Education Development)
• Associate of Arts
• Associate of Liberal Studies

Vocational:

• Commercial Custodial (GP)
• Bachelor Living (STC)
• Building Maintenance (STC)
• Laundry and Dry Cleaning (STC)
• Small Business Management (GP)
• Cosmetology (GP)
• Commercial Cooking (GP)
• Construction Occupations (GP)

Industries:

• Eyeglass

Volunteer Services:

• Religious Programs (Worship and Bible study)
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Literacy Program

Other:

• Life Skills
• Substance Abuse
• Anger Management
• Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program
• Leisure Time Services
• Hospice/Adult Care
• Individual Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Sex Offender Program
• Community Work Crews
• Lifestyle Redirection
• Reentry Programs

Pictures of Dixon Correctional Center

Careers at Dixon Correctional Center

If you are interested in a career with the Illinois Department of Corrections at the Dixon Correctional Center, click here.