Lawrence Correctional Center

Lawrence Correctional Center is a medium-security prison for male inmates located in Sumner, Illinois. It opened in November 2001, and the maximum operational capacity of the facility is 2,458 inmates.

Lawrence Correctional Center is committed to public safety and offender habilitation by providing efficient correctional services through secure and humane facility operations. Utilizing evidence-based programming and enhanced offender mental health treatment service delivery, habilitation, successful reentry into the community, and the reduction of recidivism are prioritized. 

By establishing a learning environment, the focus for offender cognitive and behavioral modification is delivered via a service approach in education, recreation, religious, and medical treatment opportunities. Lawrence Correctional Center promotes a team building administrative model with innovation, collaboration, and high performance emphasized for positive staff morale and overall job satisfaction.

Lawrence Correctional Center consists of 16 buildings on 56 acres, which comprise more than 364,000 square feet. The warehouse, mailroom, vehicle maintenance, and maintenance departments are located outside of the perimeter fence, which assists in the safety and security of the facility. The eight housing units are T-design with a segregation unit and health care unit. The facility is ADA (American Disabilities Act) approved and houses several ADA offenders.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

General Population visiting hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week. Offenders are permitted seven visits per month, with no more than two on weekends or holidays.

All visits will be unlimited in length; however, should overcrowding occur, time limits will be established so all visits may be accommodated.

Segregation/Non-Contact Restriction visits are from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. seven days a week. Offenders are permitted seven visits per month; however, only one per month is permitted on a weekend.

Visitors will be processed beginning at 8:00 a.m. No visitors will be processed after 1 p.m. Segregation offender visits are limited to one hour. 

Administrative Detention visiting hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. seven days a week. Visitors will be processed beginning at 8:00 a.m. No visitors will be processed after 1 p.m.

• Phase I - Two 1-hour visits per month (non-contact). Phase I offenders will not be afforded split visits.
• Phase II - Three 2-hour visits per month (non-contact).
• Phase III - Five 2-hour visits per month (with Meet & Greet as security measures allow).
• Phase II and Phase III offenders will be allowed two adult visitors at a time. A split visit will count as two visits.

General visiting guidelines

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.

Visitors must submit to a body search by officers at the Visitor Center.  Visitors who are intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be permitted entry.

Visitor Property Policy

Visitors are not allowed to bring electronic devices such as cell phones or pagers, food, drink, smoking materials, currency, packages, purses, bags, sacks, books, magazines, sunglasses, or personal keys into the Visiting Room.   

All visitors are required to place personal belongings in a locker, which must be purchased for $.50. Visitors will be required to bring $.50 and please note the lockers take quarters only. The facility will be unable to make change for visitors.

No baby food, except two plastic baby milk bottles are to be taken into the Visiting Room.  Baby items may consist of one baby blanket and two diapers.

Required Identification

All adult visitors will be required to produce photo identification (ID) and verification of his or her date of birth.  Be sure to bring two forms of identification with you; one should be a current state issued photo ID.

Dress Code

All visitors must be dressed appropriately for a prison environment or the visit will not be permitted.  Clothing must be in good taste and not advertise or suggest any items in such a manner to signify a Security Threat Group or other illegal activity.  Visitors should not wear clothing that is sexually explicit, offensive, or degrading. All visitors must wear underwear, and female visitors must wear a bra.  Visitors should not wear clothing which reveals the buttocks or breasts.

Examples of inappropriate dress for visitors are: short shirts or dresses, wrap around skirts, see-through clothing, see-through or low-cut blouses, tube tops, halter tops, tank tops, swimsuits, or swimsuit tops, short shorts, clothing with “cutouts” or leggings.  Dresses or skirts should extend to the knees.

Contraband

Bringing contraband into an Illinois DOC facility is a criminal offense as specified in the Illinois Criminal Code of 1961.

"Contraband" means items which are prohibited by criminal law, departmental or facility rules, or posted notices.  They are items which an offender has no authority to possess; property which is in excess of that which is authorized by the facility.

All persons, vehicles, and items brought onto State property are subject to search. Failure to  submit to a search will result in denial, suspension, or restriction of visiting privileges. 

Information about Vending Machines

The change machine in the visitor entrance will be down until further notice. 

The visiting rooms at the facilities offer a variety of products for purchase. Outside vendors own and operate the machines and will differ from facility to facility.

Vending machine items can be purchased using a debit card.  Visitors may purchase a debit card at the facility, normally at the gatehouse. The price of the debit card will vary by facility depending upon the vendor providing the service.

There are no refunds for unused money remaining on the card for any reason other than a defective card, so only put enough on the card for the single visit. Cards are only good at the facility where purchased. If the offender transfers, a new card at the current facility will need to be used.

Any vending items purchased must be consumed during the visit and may not be carried out of the visiting room.

Video Visits

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

All visitors must be on the offender’s approved visitation list in order to be granted a visit. Video Visitation Hours are: Sunday through Saturday 8:00am – 11:00am; 12:00pm – 3:30pm; 4:00pm – 6:00pm

Visitors should log on to the GTL 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

Please note offenders may receive up to four video visits per week.

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 Lawrence 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.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the Lawrence Correctional Center can’t receive incoming calls. But, inmates do have access to a phone during assigned times. 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. Funds sent via GTL, JPAY, and Western Union are anticipated to be applied to the inmate's account within 24-48 business hours.  

Funds sent via Money Gram are anticipated to be applied to the inmate's account within 72 to 96 business hours.  

Money Orders

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 are available by clicking here. 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 Educational Development)

Vocational:

• Commercial Custodial
• Baccalaureate Courses
• Print Management
• Food Service Tech
• Career Technologies

Volunteer Services:

• Chaplaincy
• Tutor Training/Literacy Development
• Story Book Program
• Father’s Initiative

Other:

• Substance Abuse Education
• Leisure Time Activity
• Chaplaincy
• Library
• TRAC I
• Lifestyle Redirection
• Parole School
• Monthly “Hot Topics”
• New Offender Orientation
• Re-Entry Summits

Pictures of Lawrence Correctional Center

Careers at Lawrence Correctional Center

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