South Bend Community Re-Entry Center

Established in 1975, the South Bend Community Re-Entry Center is a minimum-security facility located in South Bend, Indiana with a population of 150 inmates that all live in dorm style housing.

As a model of public safety, the South Bend Community Re-Entry Center promotes the successful reintegration of lawful, self-sufficient, and productive citizens into the community through the thoughtful application of dynamic supervision, experienced rehabilitative programming; and by providing opportunities for its residents to demonstrate strong work ethic and civic duty to foster productive partnerships with employers and citizens in local communities.

The Enabling legislation for the Indiana Department of Correction Work Release Program was enacted in 1967. This legislation allows the Department of Correction to place selected offendersㅡwho are within 12 months of their releaseㅡin a community-based Work Release Re-Entry Program to prepare for their transition back into society.

The South Bend Community Re-Entry Center, which is the oldest existing state work release program in Indiana, was established in 1971 under contract with the Indiana Department of Correction. In 2012, the center moved to its current location and increased the rated capacity.

The facility provides Re-Entry services to offenders being released throughout northern Indiana and has both a Work Release Program component and Re-Entry Education Program component for the long-term offender. The capacity of the facility is 172. The South Bend Parole Office has been co-located with the South Bend Re-Entry Center since 1977.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

The visiting hours at South Bend Community Re-Entry Center are as follows:

Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays:      9:00a.m.-11:00a.m. and 1:00p.m -3:00p.m.

Monday through Friday:                    11:00a.m.-1:00p.m.

Visitors List

If you wish to visit an inmate at South Bend Community Re-Entry Center, you must be on their visitors’ list. If you are unsure that you are on the offender’s visitors list, please contact the inmate via mail. Do not call the facility for this information. It cannot be given over the phone. 

Searches

All visitors entering South Bend Community Re-Entry Center are subjected to a frisk search by staff which includes the breast and groin area being physically searched. 

Additionally, visitors entering visiting areas are subject to additional searches using metal detectors and ion scanning equipment. Specially trained search dogs (K-9s) may be used as a part of the search process both prior to a visitor entering the visiting area and in the actual visiting room during visits. 

If a visitor does not wish to be searched either by hand or by using other means, they should not attempt to enter South Bend Community Re-Entry Center.

Registration

Visitors must register with staff prior to entering the visiting area. You will be required to sign the entry log and be approved for the visit before you are allowed to enter the visiting area. 

Everyone, 16 years old or older, is required to show a picture identification. All visitors must present valid identification each time they visit. The only forms of identification accepted by the DOC are: valid driver’s license from the state of residence, valid state photo identification card from the state of residence, valid photo military identification card (active duty only), or a valid passport. 

Children

Visitors under the age of 18 years of age must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian at all times while on facility grounds. 

Dress Code

Visitors must wear clothing that poses no threat to the security, custody, or maintenance of order at the facility. The following standards are to be met: 

• Undergarments must be worn at all times
• Shoes must be worn, except for infants who are carried
• Tight fitting pants, such as stirrup, lycra pants, or leggings, aren’t allowed 
• Dresses, skirts, or shorts must be no shorter than two inches above the knee and not have deep slits
• Halter or tank tops, tube tops, sheer, see-through, or low-cut clothing is not permitted 
• All visitors must wear a shirt/blouse with sleeves 
• No jewelry, except a wedding band or set, may be worn in the visitation area 
• Hats or other head coverings are not permitted, except as required by religious beliefs 
• No heavy coats, hooded sweatshirts, or sweaters will be permitted in the visiting area

What you can and can’t bring to a visit

Visitors are not permitted to possess or carry the following items into the visiting area: 

Firearms, weapons, knives, ammunition, narcotics, medication (unless the medication is life-saving or life-sustaining), controlled substances, alcoholic beverages, marijuana, tobacco and tobacco related items, cameras, video, and audio recording equipment and electronic devices, including, but not limited to: cameras, cellular telephones, pagers, blackberries, radios, tape recorders, etc. 

Each adult visitor is allowed to bring up to $20.00 (coins only) into the visiting area to be used to purchase items from the vending machines. You are not allowed to give any money to an offender. This is considered trafficking and will cause the visit to be stopped, and you will be restricted from visiting the offender in the future. 

Visitors with an infant may bring one clear, plastic baby bottle and/or pacifier and one diaper.

How to Call an Inmate

How to Send Money

You can send money to an inmate at South Bend Community Re-Entry Center by using JPAY 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.

You can find deposit slips by clicking here and selecting the JPay option. The money orders should be sent with a deposit slip, be made payable to JPay, and sent to the following address:

JPay
PO Box 531399
Miami Shores, FL 33153

​Programs For ​Inmates

The Indiana Department of Correction offers a wide selection of programming, courses, and activities based on both facility and offender need, as well as available resources. Listed below are a number of current programming opportunities available at the facility. While some are led by staff, many are volunteer-driven. 

• Work Release Program
• Reentry Education Program
• Work Crew Program
• Employment Readiness Class
• Life Skills Seminar
• Money Smart
• Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University – self study
• Partners in Parenting
• Men’s Fraternity
• Substance Abuse Treatment
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Relapse and Prevention for Reentry
• Celebrate Recovery
• Self-Study – Life Skill Programs
• Bible Study
• Motivation for Change

Pictures of South Bend Community Re-Entry Center

Careers at South Bend Community Re-Entry Center

If you are interested in a career with the Indiana Department of Corrections at the South Bend Community Re-Entry Center, click here.