Sheridan Correctional Center

Sheridan Correctional Center is a medium-security prison for male inmates that is located in Sheridan, Illinois. Owned and operated by the Illinois Department of Corrections, this facility has an operational capacity of 2,740 and the annual average cost per inmate is $27,627.

The Sheridan Correctional Center is totally dedicated to substance abuse treatment and is one of the largest substance abuse treatment programs in the nation. Sheridan Correctional Center was reopened on Jan. 2, 2004, to curb the trend in Illinois' growing prison population to reduce high recidivism rates of released Illinois offenders, providing men with evidenced based substance abuse treatment services, and using the Therapeutic Community approach to equip offenders to return to drug-free, crime-free lives upon release. 

In the Sheridan Correctional Center nation model program, treatment interventions and access to other services are coordinated from the outset. The substance abuse provider collaborates with a cadre of service providers, the Illinois Department of Corrections and Adult Parole to effect community reintegration of returning offenders and improve public safety. 

Recovering from addiction requires a wide range of social and psychological interventions to confront old behaviors and instill new ones. Sheridan Correctional Center applies clinical best practices and uses a modified therapeutic community model with cognitive self-change. Sheridan Correctional Center staff collaborates with other organizations to clinical reentry management services and community reintegration, including continuing care provided by community-based, substance abuse treatment providers.

Sheridan Correctional Center is located approximately 70 miles west of Chicago in LaSalle County and was originally constructed in 1941 as a juvenile facility. On August 13, 1973, it was converted to an adult facility. 

This facility consists of a total of 75 buildings, which is comprised of more than 600,000 square feet. There are 13 housing units and a 9-bed health care unit. The facility sits on 270 acres with 80 acres inside the perimeter fencing. The facility houses general population offenders.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

The Central Visitation Room (CVR) at Sheridan Correctional Center is open seven days a week and visits are limited to no more than two hours in length.

Substance Abuse Program inmates may visit during the following times after they have been at the facility for 30 days:

• Monday through Friday: 3:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Sunday, & State Approved Holidays: 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

On the first and third Saturdays of every month, offender visits do not start until 12:00 p.m.

All offenders will be allowed seven visits a month with no more than two taking place on a weekend or State Approved Holiday. A weekend/State Approved Holiday visit is defined as a visit which takes place on a Saturday, Sunday, or State Approved Holiday.

General visiting guidelines

You must be on your inmate’s approved visitation list in order to be granted a visit.  The inmate is 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 your inmate because staff can’t tell you whether or not you are on an offender’s visitation list when you call the facility.  

All adult visitors age 18 and over must complete a Prospective Visitor's Interview (PVI) form on their first visit to Sheridan Correctional Center. This PVI form can be completed in advance and brought in on the first visit.

Visitors must submit to a body search by officers at the Visitor Center. If you are intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you will not be allowed to visit.

Visitor Property Policy

Visitors are not allowed to bring electronic devices such as cell phones or tablets. Other items not allowed in the visiting room include food, drink, smoking materials, currency, packages, purses, bags, sacks, books, magazines, sunglasses, or personal keys.   

Visitors may place personal items in small lockers available in the Visiting Center for 25 cents.  The locker key may be carried into the facility after the visitor secures personal responsibility for these items.  The facility will not assume responsibility for these items.

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 youㅡone 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, swim suits or swim suit 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 possessㅡproperty 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 visiting rooms at the facilities offer a variety of products for purchase in vending machines provided by outside vendors.

Vending machine items may only 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.

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

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the Sheridan Correctional Center can’t receive incoming calls. However, they 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

You can send money to an inmate at Sheridan Correctional Center via GTL (ConnectNetwork), JPAY, Western Union, or money order. You must have the inmate’s name and IDOC number to send money.

• GTL (ConnectNetwork) 
• JPAY 
• MoneyGram locations using the Blue MoneyGram Express Payment Formー receiving code is 7364
• Western Union online or at locations using the Quick Collect Form – code city and state are ILDOC  IL

Money Orders

Please note that a money order must be sent directly to the lockbox, NOT to the facility. 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 Education Development)

Vocational:

• Culinary Arts
• Barbering
• Welding
• Warehousing
• Horticulture
• Career Technologies
• Home Builders Institute (HBI)
• Electricity
• Carpentry
• Plumbing
• Masonry
• Building Apartment Maintenance
• Illinois Manufacturing Foundation (IMF)
• Machining/CNC Technology

Industries:

• Garment Cutting

Volunteer Services:

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous
• Bible Studies
• Fathers Read, Too
• Inside Out Dads

Other:

• Positive Parenting Class
• Recreational Therapy
• Peer Education Program
• Drug Education
• Healthy Relationships
• Anger Management
• Young Men's Aggressive Management Groups
• Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program
• Leisure Time Activity
• Chaplaincy
• Library
• Inner Circle Groups

Pictures of Sheridan Correctional Center

Careers at Sheridan Correctional Center

If you are interested in a career with the Illinois Department of Corrections at the Sheridan Correctional Center, you can find available positions by clicking here.