Dakota Women's Correctional and Rehabilitation Center

Dakota Women's Correctional and Rehabilitation Center is a prison for female inmates that is located in New England, North Dakota.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Due to the recent outbreak of Coronavirus,and in order to protect the health of the residents and staff, all visitation is currently suspended.

Normal visiting hours at Dakota Women’s Correctional and Rehabilitation Center are on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6:30pm-8:30pm MST. Wednesday is Adult Visitation Only, and the hours are between 6:30pm-8:30pm MST. 

There are also visiting hours on Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays between 9:00am-4:00pm MST.

Visiting Applications

All visitors must complete a visiting application and be pre-approved and placed on the inmates visiting list prior to visiting. All visitors are subject to search upon entering the DWCRC.

During the orientation program, the inmate may send out visiting applications to those visitors she wishes to be placed on her list. Once the visiting applications have been received at the institution and approved by the Visiting Control Officer (usually within two weeks), she may receive visits from anyone on the approved visiting list.

No one under the age of 18 will be permitted to visit unless they are a member of the inmate's immediate family, or special permission is granted by the Chief of Security with written parental consent. The Chief of Security can place restrictions on those visitors granted special permission. All children must be accompanied by their own parents or the approved chaperone at all times during the visit.

Visiting Regulations

Official photo identification will be required for all persons entering the facility except for those under 16 years of age who are supervised by a parent or guardian. Failure to produce ID will be grounds to deny admittance.

All visitors' names are checked with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, North Dakota Field Services Department, and local law enforcement authorities. Anyone with pending charges will not be allowed to visit until the charge is disposed of through the court. 

Anyone on parole or probation may not be allowed to visit until they have been off parole or probation for a period of one year. An exception may be made for immediate family members to visit in the secured visiting area. Names may be removed or kept off the visiting list by security, in order to maintain the orderly running of the institution.

Any individual entering the facilities, or their grounds, may be subject to search at any time for contraband articles. This also applies to their personal property. Contraband is any item not specifically authorized by policy. No property or other items will be allowed unless approved by security staff. 

Visitors are only allowed to bring a total of $10 each (vending machines take $1 bills or quarters. DWCRC staff will not provide change) to spend on food items in the visiting room. If an inmate is found in possession of contraband upon completion of a visit, or if a visitor declines to be searched, the visitor(s) may be banned pending investigation by the institution.

Once you arrive at the facility for a visit you will check in at the Control Center and complete the Visitor Log, turn in your vehicle keys and a photo ID. You may purchase meals and photo slips at the Control Center prior to the visit. You will be directed to the Visiting Room. The Visiting Room Officer will direct you to a seating area. Visits less than one hour will be counted as one hour.

Dress Code

Visitors are to be dressed in proper clothing. Proper clothing includes undergarments, shirts with sleeves, blouses, slacks, jeans, and shoes. Halter dresses, halter-tops, and shorts or skirts shorter than two inches above the knees, crop or half shirts and shirts that expose the mid-section are not permitted. 

The visiting room is a family experience, so there are rules governing the type and amount of physical contact allowed during the visit. Visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with these rules at the first visit, and adhere to them to avoid future problems while in the visiting room.

How to Call an Inmate

How to Send Money

You can send money to your inmate at Dakota Women's Correctional and Rehabilitation Center through JPay or MoneyGram.

You can send money with your credit or debit card online by using JPay.com or the JPay mobile app from the Apple App Store (for iPhones) or Google Play (for Android phones).

You can also send money by phone using your credit or debit card. Call (800) 574-5729 to speak with a live JPay call center agent 24/7.

MoneyGram
Send cash at any MoneyGram location by using the receive code 1304.

Money Orders
When sending money orders to Jpay, please use the Money Order Deposit Form (Spanish). All of the boxes need to be filled out completely and correctly. If not, the money order will be returned to you.  

Send money orders payable to Jpay — with a deposit form — to the following address:
JPay
PO Box 822700
Pembroke Pines, FL 33082

Programs For Inmates

Dakota Women’s Correctional Rehab Center (DWCRC) offers a variety of programming, including education and therapeutic groups and strives to implement programs that are specific to female resident needs.

Education

The Education Department of the Dakota Women’s Correctional Rehab Center commits to provide the qualified residents incarcerated at the facility an opportunity to develop personal knowledge and positive attitudes necessary for a successful transition into society’s educational and/or employment communities. Providing a positive atmosphere conducive to learning and self-empowerment with an opportunity to obtain educational and vocational skills allows for this successful transition.

Dakota Women’s Correctional Rehab Center strives to provide educational and vocational programs that are consistent with the needs of the female resident population. Dakota Women’s Correctional Rehab Center offers programs that provide every resident the privilege and opportunity to become self-sufficient. 

The facility believes that education is a lifelong process and is recognized as an important factor in the rehabilitation process. The facility offers a number of different educational programs that are available to assist the resident with personal and career development. The education department currently offers these classes to all residents incarcerated at DWCRC.

• GED - The program’s basic purpose is to assist residents in preparing for the General Equivalency Diploma test.
• ABE - The program is designed to help develop educational skills needed to succeed in society.
• Computers - Provides instruction on computer skills and computer programs.
• Keyboarding - Provides residents the opportunity to work on basic keyboarding skills.
• Parenting - Provides residents with information on raising children and healthy parenting styles.
• Career Readiness - Prepares residents for the transition back into their communities and the workforce.
• Welding - Provides vocational training in the field of welding.
• Independent Study Programs - Allows for college correspondence or independent study programs, at the resident's cost.
• College Classes - The facility offers college credit classes through Dickinson State University, at the resident's cost.
• Work/Education Release - Allows qualified residents to attain jobs in the community.
• Read Right - The program purpose is to increase skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking and problem solving.

Prairie Industries

Prairie Industries provides opportunities to qualified residents as a cut and sew operation. The female resident employees learn job skills which will enhance employment when released. It gives them the opportunity to retain and sharpen present skills. The employees work a full eight hour day, five days a week. This aids in establishing a good work ethic along with social skills needed in a positive work environment.

Prairie Industries is available for off-site contract work, such as weeding tree rows, picking rock, painting, and other various projects.

Each employee earns an hourly wage. There are four pay grades available in industries. This allows them to pay fines and restitution, provide support to family, and save money to help them get established when released.

Plant Services

Plant Services staff provide maintenance for all buildings, utilities, and grounds at the institution.

Houses of Healing

This therapeutic group covers a variety of subjects, including trauma and loss, forgiveness, remorse, resentment, relaxation and self-esteem. By permitting them to process situations that have been traumatic in their life, these components are designed to increase one's self-awareness, promoting greater inner peace, power, and freedom.

Beyond Trauma

This group is a manualized program that runs for approximately 12 weeks. Group sessions include defining trauma, the cause and effects of trauma and ways to promote both physical and emotional well being.

Level II.1 Chemical Dependency Treatment

This program is licensed by the North Dakota Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. Entry into this program requires a referral from a licensed addiction counselor. The group meets for 9 hours per week for approximately 10 weeks. 

This program follows the Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Substance Abuse curriculum which was developed by the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute. The program relies on a cognitive-behavioral approach and has a heavy emphasis on skill building activities to assist with cognitive, social, emotional, and coping skills development.

Coping Skills

This program focuses on educating participants on their mental health as well as providing them with a "toolbox" of strategies that can be used to deal with stressors of everyday living in a manner that is healthy and pro-social.

Thinking For A Change

This program was developed by the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute and combines cognitive restructuring and cognitive skills. The curriculum covers cognitive restructuring supported by appropriate social skills while simultaneously incorporating problem solving skills. The goal of the group is to encourage participants to take charge of their lives by learning more effective ways of thinking.

Conflict Resolution

This program was developed by the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute and focuses on effective communication styles and ways to resolve conflict. Topics covered include resistance to change, obstacles to change, physical reactions, beliefs and attitudes, communication styles, consequences, and risks. The program focuses on skill building and practice and role play for retention.

Seeking Safety

This program presents an integrative treatment approach specifically for those who suffer PTSD and substance abuse. Topics focus on discontinuing substance use, letting go of dangerous relationships, and gaining control over extreme symptoms such dissociation and self harm. The program teaches safe coping skills and helps restore ideals that have been lost including respect, care, protection, and healing.

Moving On

This program provides women with alternatives to criminal activity by helping them identify and mobilize personal and community resources. This gender-specific program addresses many risk factors that can lead to a woman's criminal behavior and focuses on 4 main themes: Encouraging personal responsibility and enhancing motivation for change; expanding connections and building healthy relationships; skill enhancement, development and maintenance; and relaxation and stress management skills.

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