DOC > General Information

General Information

DAI Policy
+

The Division of Adult Institutions recognizes the public's interest in accessing divisional policies and procedures. The policies provided on our website are intended only for informational purposes and are routinely updated to comply with changes to federal and state laws, Department procedures, and correctional best-practices. The division does not post policies that could compromise the security of a correctional facility. Policies are available on the DAI Policies page.

Information on Programs and Services that are Available to Inmates
+

Information about Division of Adult Institutions programs can be found on the Office of Program Services webpages, where you will also find the Opportunities and Options Resource Guide that contains specific program details and a list of sites that currently provide each program.

Locating an Inmate
+

Use the Inmate and Offender Search tool to locate an inmate sentenced to state prison and currently housed within a DOC facility. If you cannot locate the inmate you are inquiring about, they may be held in a city or county jail, which are administered separately from DOC facilities. You may contact the jail in the county or city of conviction to inquire or check VINELink.

Ordering Hobby and/or Personal Property Items for an Inmate
+

State of Wisconsin has a multi-vendor contract for hobby and property purchases. PIOC family and friends may purchase items from by contacting the following vendors:

Jack L Marcus

Order Online: www.jlmarcuswisconsin.com

Email: customerservice@jacklmarcus.com

Telephone: 1-800-236-2611

Fax: 1-800-643-9992

Storefront Location: 5300 W. Fond du Lac Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53216-1348

Union Supply

Order Online: www.wiinmatepackage.com

Email: WIcustomerservice@unionsupplydirect.com

Mailing Address:
- Wisconsin Package Program
- c/o Union Supply Direct
- Dept. 500, P.O. Box 619059
- Dallas, TX 75261-9059

Phone: (562) 361-5706

Fax: (310) 603-1188

Phone Hours:
- Labor Day Hours: 6am - 3pm CST
- Monday - Friday: 6am - 10pm CST
- Saturday: 7am - 3pm CST
- Sunday: Closed

PIOC in Reception Status at Dodge Correctional Institution may not order from or receive orders from the vendor until they are classified as General Population.

Scheduling Court Calls and Virtual Court Appearances
+

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) has videoconferencing capabilities for court hearings between persons in our care and the Wisconsin Court System. Court calls and virtual court appearances may be scheduled by contacting the Court Scheduler at the facility where the person is currently housed.

The Inmate and Offender Search tool may be used to locate a person in our care housed within a DOC facility. If you cannot locate the person you are inquiring about, they may be held in a city or county jail, which are administered separately from DOC facilities.

The Court Scheduler List (2023 Court Schedulers) may be used to identify the designated facility contact.

Request shall be made at least two working days prior to the scheduled appearance. Each facility has different schedules and availability of equipment.

Sending/Receiving an Inmate Electronic Message
+

Electronic messages can be sent to and from DOC inmates through the CorrLinks system, sometimes also referred to as the kiosk. Inmates must initiate the contact by adding the friend or family member to their contact list. An auto-generated request that includes the inmate name and DOC number is then sent by CorrLinks to the friend/family member’s email address.

To accept the request, click the link in the email to be taken to the CorrLinks website where you can create an account at no cost. Any individual who receives a contact request or message from an inmate can also choose not to accept, not to respond, or may block a request, which prevents the inmate from contacting you further.

The cost to send an electronic message is $0.10 per message. Messages stay within the CorrLinks system and will not be sent to your personal email account; you will need to log in to CorrLinks each time you wish to send/receive a message. CorrLinks is similar to an email service and is not “instant messaging.” All messages are reviewed by staff for appropriateness.

It is important to note that not all facilities are able to offer inmates the same frequency of access to kiosks. An inmate at a correctional center likely has more frequent access to a kiosk than an inmate at a maximum security facility.

Visit the CorrLinks website (también en español) for more information. From the website, you can register for a new account, log in, or block an inmate-initiated request. You can also view terms and conditions, FAQs, or reach customer support.

Sending an Inmate Mail
+

An inmate’s full name and DOC number must be included on all mail. Mailing addresses differ, depending on the type of mail. Visit the Money, Mail, & Property page for general rules and facility mailing addresses.

Sending an Inmate Money
+

Family/friends have several options for sending money to a DAI inmate, including via internet, phone, walk-in, and mail. Visit the Money, Mail, & Property page for specific rules for sending money to an inmate.

Talking to an Inmate via Telephone
+

Incarcerated individuals may only place outgoing calls; incoming calls are not allowed. ICSolutions is the contracted provider for the calling service and billing. ICSolutions can be contacted with questions at (877) 870-3259. Incarcerated individuals are able to establish and fund their own calling accounts. Family or friends wishing to only accept collect calls will need to establish a pre-paid account. Family and friends may set up pre-paid accounts on the website www.icsolutions.com or by calling ICSolutions at (888) 506-8407. Any issues with payment and billing is to be referred to ICSolutions.

Both in- and out-of-state calls will be charged at a flat rate of $.06 plus applicable fees and taxes. International call rates will vary depending on the country called. International calls are debit only.

Visiting an Inmate
+

Review DAI’s Visiting Information page, as well as facility-specific visiting documents available on each institution/center page.

Volunteer Information
+

The Division of Adult Institutions recognizes the valuable contribution community volunteers make to inmate rehabilitation efforts. Volunteers perform tens of thousands of service hours in DAI facilities every year. They assist with a many types of inmate programming such as self-help groups, education tutoring, pastoral visits, religious programming, job fairs, and recreation activities. Volunteers serve as positive role models for inmates and help bridge the gap between prison facilities and the community.

Working with inmates can be a very rewarding experience. Persons interested in volunteering in a Wisconsin prison should contact the facility Volunteer Coordinator to learn about available opportunities, and to begin the screening process.

DAI provides comprehensive training and supervision for volunteers, to enhance facility security and public safety, and to address the unique challenges of working with inmates. The volunteer orientation manual serves as an educational tool and reference for this training. Volunteers are strongly encouraged to direct questions or concerns to their facility Volunteer Advisor or Volunteer Coordinator, to ensure that issues are promptly resolved.

Inmate Classification and Transfers

Interstate or International Inmate Transfers
+

Inmate requests for transfer to a correctional system outside of Wisconsin are restricted by State statute, Interstate Corrections Compact requirements, and U.S. treaties. The operational needs of participating agencies relative to incarcerating the inmate are a primary consideration when evaluating inmate requests. Transfers must be mutually agreed upon by all participating agencies.

Parole vs. Classification Actions
+

BOCM classification and Parole Commission actions are independent processes with distinct decision authority; however, the two often work cooperatively to implement their individual missions.

The Division of Adult Institution’s Bureau of Offender Classification and Movement (BOCM) is responsible for the secure placement of inmates within and movement between DAI facilities. Upon arrival at a DAI inmate intake facility, BOCM uses a method of classification to evaluate inmate security risk. That risk classification is used, in combination with assessed program needs, sentence structure, bed space, and a variety of other factors, to determine inmate facility assignment. Following initial classification, all inmates are reviewed at 12-month intervals (or sooner, as needed) and adjustments are made when appropriate.

The Parole Commission is responsible for the review and release of eligible inmates to the community on parole. Visit the Parole Commission webpage for more information.

Questions Regarding a Specific Inmate’s Classification or Transfer
+

All inmates are assigned a facility social worker who is familiar with the inmates on their caseload and is able to answer most questions about an inmate’s case. Technical questions regarding specific classification procedures should be addressed to the BOCM offender classification specialist at the facility where the inmate is located.