DOC > General Information

General Information

ADA Coordinator List
+

The DOC maintains a list of ADA Coordinators and Advisory Committee Ambassadors:
DOC ADA Coordinator List

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 Available to Persons in our Care (PIOCs)
+

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 a PIOC
+

Use the Inmate and Offender Search tool to locate a PIOC sentenced to state prison and currently housed within a DOC facility. If you cannot locate the PIOC 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 a PIOC
+

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 may be used to identify the designated facility contact.Court Schedulers.pdf

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 a PIOC Electronic Messages and Photos
+

Family/friends wanting to send electronic messages or photos to a person in our care (PIOC) with an ICS tablet will need to create a Getting Out account. There is no cost to create an account. Funds to send ICS messages and photos will be applied in the same manner as phone calls and video visits.

Both parties must choose to accept the contact request before messaging will occur. For those with the ICS tablet, download the Getting Out app or visit https://www.gettingout.com. Click here for instructions on how to create an account (Spanish version). For those with the Advanced Technology Group (ATG) tablet, refer to the CorrLinks website to create an account.

The cost to send an electronic message is $0.15 per message. The messaging service is similar to an email service versus “instant messaging." All messages are reviewed for appropriateness and approved for delivery by DOC staff. ICS will provide three free messages to be used each week.

Visit the CorrLinks website (ATG tablet) or https://www.gettingout.com (ICS tablet) for more information. From either website, you can register for a new account, log in, and choose to accept or reject a contact request. Terms and conditions, FAQs and customer support are also available.

***DOC is in the process of transitioning to the ICS tablet. This change is happening at a few sites each month. You can read more about this change in service and the roll-out schedulehere (Spanish version).

A Getting Out account will be used to send electronic messages and photos to PIOCs with an ICS tablet, and a CorrLinks account will be used to send electronic messages to those with ATG tablets. Please note that a message sent through Corrlinks after the go-live date for the new ICS tablet will not be received or refunded. PIOCs are responsible for sharing the ICS tablet go-live date with friends and family. Please discontinue purchasing ATG tablets as we prepare for this transition.

Sending a PIOC Mail
+

A person in our care'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 a PIOC Money
+

Family/friends have several options for sending money to a person in our care, 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 a PIOC via Telephone
+

Persons in our care 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. Persons in our care 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 a PIOC
+

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 PIOC rehabilitation efforts. Volunteers perform tens of thousands of service hours in DAI facilities every year. They assist with a many types of PIOC programming such as self-help groups, education tutoring, pastoral visits, religious programming, job fairs, and recreation activities. Volunteers serve as positive role models for PIOCs and help bridge the gap between prison facilities and the community.

Working with PIOCs 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 PIOCs. 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.

PIOC Classification and Transfers

Interstate or International Transfers
+

PIOC 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 person in our care are a primary consideration when evaluating 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 persons in our care within and movement between DAI facilities. Upon arrival at a DAI intake facility, BOCM uses a method of classification to evaluate PIOC 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 facility assignment. Following initial classification, all PIOCs 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 PIOCs to the community on parole. Visit the Parole Commission webpage for more information.

Questions Regarding a Specific PIOC's Classification or Transfer
+

All persons in our care are assigned a facility social worker who is familiar with the PIOCs on their caseload and is able to answer most questions about a PIOC's case. Technical questions regarding specific classification procedures should be addressed to the BOCM offender classification specialist at the facility where the PIOC is located.