Dodge Correctional Institution

The Dodge Correctional Institution is the central reception center for all adult males sentenced to prison in the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. This facility is located in Waupun, Wisconsin and is operated by the Wisconsin DOC. The Dodge Correctional Institution can house approximately 1,300 inmates.

While inmates are at DCI, the staff works with the Bureau of Offender Classification and Movement to complete a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of each inmate, determining program needs, custody level and institution placement.  

In addition to this classification process, inmates going through DCI also participate in an orientation to the WI DOC and begin adjusting to and learning how to navigate a correctional environment. 

When an inmate is going through intake at DCI, they are allowed to bring the following items:

• Address Book (No spiral or metal)  
• Embossed Envelopes, limit 30 (no stamped, loose stamps, metered envelopes, or PreStamped Return Address)  
• Photos/Photocopied Pictures: Limit 50, Gang Related, Polaroid, photos depicting nudity or digitally altered photos are not permitted  
• Prescription Eyeglasses and Glass Case (No Metal Hinges/hard cases): Limit 2 pair
• Contact Lenses will only be permitted when an inmate does not possess prescription eyeglasses. Must be medically necessary and approved. (No cleaning solutions permitted)  
• Dentures and storage container  
• Watches—Clear plastic style only. No alarm, timers, leather bands or lights  
• Personal Ring: Only one. Stone or Gem must be embedded into the surface of the ring and must meet established band thickness/width regulations  
• Personal letters, limit 25  
• Legal Materials/Photos – Active/open cases only (no books or pamphlets)  
• Hearing Aids  
• Bible or Koran (or approved religious book), limit one
• Personal ID (Social Security Card, Driver’s License, Birth Certificate), No wallets 
• Medical Appliances (Leg, Arm, Neck/Back Braces, Prosthesis, etc.) with medical approval  
• Medical Alert Medallion or Bracelet: Must meet DOC size specifications  
• Medicine Bag
• Religious Emblem (Emblem chains are not permitted)

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

The general visiting hours at Dodge Correctional Institution are as follows:

A&E Status (Allowed two visits per week)

Two Hour Visits*, Weekdays/Weekends/Holidays**3:00 PM to 8:30 PM
NO TUESDAYS or THURSDAYS

General Population (Allowed three visits per week)
Three Hour Visits*, Weekends/Holidays**3:00 PM to 8:30 PM

*If the Visiting Center is filled and visitors are waiting, the first visits for that visiting period may have their visit ended early to make room for additional visits provided they have had at least one hour of visiting time. 

Inmates are permitted to visit on only one day of a weekend. 

**Holidays are: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. 

For the purpose of counting visits, the visit week will start on Sunday and end the following Saturday. 

Visitors will not be processed through the Lobby or be allowed to wait in the Lobby during the following times:  

• Prior to 2:45 PM  
• 5:15 PM to 5:45 PM  

Processing visits in the Lobby ends 45 minutes prior to visiting hours ending

General Visiting Rules

For inmates in A&E: No more than four close family members (natural, adoptive, step and foster parents; spouse, children, grandparents, grandchildren or siblings) will be approved to visit. Children under 18 years of age are not counted against the four-visitor limit.

General Population: No more than 12 adult visitors will be approved to visit. Children under 18 years of age are not counted against the 12 visitor limit. The inmate must send questionnaires to their proposed visitors.

Only those persons who are listed on the Approved Visiting List are allowed to visit. The maximum number of visitors over age five for any one visit is five. Children under five years of age are not counted against the limit of five visitors per visit. An adult must accompany children under 18 years of age in order to visit. 

Visitors 16 years of age and older will be required to furnish photo ID before being admitted. The only acceptable forms of ID are: 

• Valid and current military or tribal ID card (if currently in active service)
• Valid State driver's license
• Valid passport or visa or valid D.O.T. picture ID

No paper money is allowed past the Lobby. A change machine is located in the Lobby. Each visitor may take a maximum of $20.00 in change to the Visiting Center. No wallets or purses are allowed to be taken to the Visiting Center. 

Visitors may secure their personal belongings in lockers that are available in the Lobby. Purchases of hobby items for sale in the Visiting Center can be made by check or money order only. Visitors must inform the Lobby Officer upon their arrival of their desire to purchase a hobby item. 

Visitors are expected to contact the Visiting Center Officer upon their arrival in the Visiting Center. The Visiting Center Officer will process the transaction. At the conclusion of the visit, the hobby items will be given to the visitor along with a receipt. Vending machines are available for use during visits in the Visiting Center. Visitors cannot leave money for inmates.

Dress Code

Any clothing with extra metal attached, tags, snaps, bobby pins, hat pins, underwire bras, etc., may inhibit your ability to clear the metal detector. You will only be allowed three attempts to make it through the metal detector before being denied so please dress appropriately. 

When in doubt, bring extra clothing along to prevent being denied a visit. 

You will only be allowed to wear one ring, one single strand necklace and one pair of earrings. A Medic-Alert bracelet will be allowed. 

Footwear must be worn at all times. 

Headwear is allowed after viewing/identification by staff. 

The following apparel is inappropriate and will result in the denial of a visit: 

• Watches
• Transparent/translucent clothing
• Shorts that are shorter than fingertip length*
• Skirts/dresses shorter than fingertip length* plus three inches
• Strapless, tube and halter tops/dresses; tops and dresses that expose the midriff (front and/or back); camisoles and tank tops are only permissible when worn under other attire.
• Spandex or Spandex-like and Lycra or Lycra-like clothing (tights or leggings of this material may be worn under attire of appropriate length)
• Exposed undergarments
• Clothing with revealing holes, tears or slits
• Clothing or accessories with obscene or profane writing, images, or pictures
• Gang-related clothing, headwear, shoes, logos or insignias; or any clothing that may have the potential to cause undue attention. 

*Finger-tip length is defined as standing with proper posture with arms straight down, fingers extended.

Sender's name and address must be indicated on the return address portion of the envelope. Inmates in an A&E Unit at this institution are not allowed to receive most items of personal property either through the mail or on visits. 

How to Call an Inmate

How to Send Money

Programs For Inmates

Anger Management, Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Pre-Release Services, and Thinking For A Change.

Pictures of Dodge Correctional Institution

Careers at Dodge Correctional Institution

If you are interested in a career with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and would like more information about job openings at the Dodge Correctional Institution, click here.