Difference Between Illinois Prison and Federal Prison
What is the Difference Between Federal Prison and Illinois State Prison?
State and federal prisons hold persons convicted of violating crimes; however, while state prisons hold state convicts, federal prisons hold persons convicted of violating federal laws. State criminal statutes, such as the Illinois Criminal Code, offer guidelines for what constitutes criminal offenses in the state and the appropriate penalties. Examples of state crimes include gun-related crimes, arson, assault, and rape. Federal laws, particularly the Federal Criminal Code, highlight federal criminal offenses and corresponding penalties. Some federal crimes include fraud, identity theft, money laundering, credit card theft, and racketeering. Persons convicted of federal crimes may serve federal prison terms in any federal prison. In contrast, state criminal convicts must serve prison terms where the criminal event occurred or where the state sentenced the offender.
Federal prisons typically hold inmates for longer because federal prisons do not grant parole and federal prison sentences are longer than state prison sentences. There are more state prisons than federal prisons in the United States. State and federal prisons have security levels where inmates are held according to the inmates' risk to society and risk to other inmates. State departments such as the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) oversee state prisons and correctional facilities. On the other hand, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) manages federal correctional facilities and prisons.
The Illinois Prison System
Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) promotes change in inmate behavior, reduces victimization, and provides re-entry programs to inmates. IDOC operates 25 adult correctional facilities. The agency also operates and oversees work camps, adult transition centers, life skill re-entry centers, Multidisciplinary treatment centers, mental health in-patient treatment centers, and boot camps. The Illinois Department of Corrections employs 11,600 people, supervises 44,400 inmates, and oversees the supervision of 28,000 persons on parole. In addition, the IDOC manages day reporting centers, the Prisoner Review Board, parole re-entry groups, and parole policy compliance checks. The agency also provides addiction recovery management services, adult education, vocational services, health services, chaplaincy, sex offender services, and community notification.
How to Lookup Inmates in Illinois
State and federal prisons provide inmate lookup systems where interested parties may search for inmate incarceration details and inmate location to promote public safety.
Using the Inmate Search tool that IDOC provides to the general public, interested parties may request inmate location and incarceration information. Requesting parties may search using the offender's last name, IDOC number, or birth date.
The Inmate Locator tool on the BOP website also allows parties to locate federal inmates and search for incarceration records, including inmates' release dates. The inmate locator has information about inmates from 1982 to date. Older records are maintained by the National Archives Records Administration (NARA). Requesting parties may search for inmate information using the following criteria:
- BOP register number
- INS number
- FBI number
- DCDC number
- Name
- Age
- Race
- Sex
Interested persons may correspond with IDOC inmates by electronic messaging or by mail. IDOC does not allow inmates to receive phone calls; however, inmates may call approved persons. Additionally, inmates may receive up to $5000 electronically and up to $999.99 by money order from friends and family.
Persons interested in obtaining Illinois inmate records or visiting IDOC inmates must apply. Inmates may only receive one (1) visitor a day, and the visitor must abide by the IDOC visitation rules and guidelines. IDOC's correctional facilities are listed below:
Big Muddy River Correctional Center
251 N. Illinois Highway 37
Ina, IL 62846
Phone: (618) 437-5300
Fax: (618) 437-5627
Centralia Correctional Center
9330 Shattuc Road
P.O. Box 1266
Centralia, IL 62801
Phone: (618) 533-4111
Fax: (618) 533-4112
Danville Correctional Center
3820 East Main Street
Danville, IL 61834
Phone: (217) 446-0441
Fax: (217) 446-9505
Decatur Correctional Center
2310 East Mound Road
P.O. Box 3066
Decatur, IL 62524
Phone: (217) 877-0353
Fax: (217) 875-6539
Dixon Correctional Center
2600 N. Brinton Avenue
Dixon, IL 61021
Phone: (815) 288-5561
Fax: (815) 288-9713
East Moline Correctional Center
100 Hillcrest Road
East Moline, IL 61244
Phone: (309) 755-4511
Fax: (309) 755-0498
Graham Correctional Center
12078 Illinois Route 185
Hillsboro, IL 62049
Phone: (217) 532-6961
Fax: (217) 532-6799
Hill Correctional Center
600 South Linwood Road
P.O. Box 1700
Galesburg, IL 61402
Phone: (309) 343-4212
Fax: (309) 343-4287
Illinois River Correctional Center
1300 W. Locust Street
Canton, IL 61520
P.O. Box 999
Canton, IL 61520
Phone: (309) 647-7030
Fax: (309) 647-0353
Jacksonville Correctional Center
2268 East Morton Avenue
Jacksonville, IL 62650
Phone: (217) 245-1481
Fax: (217) 245-1287
Joliet Treatment Center
2848 West McDonough
Joliet, IL 60436
Phone: (815) 730-4400
Fax: (815) 730-4401
Lawrence Correctional Center
10940 Lawrence Road
Sumner, IL 62466
Phone: (618) 936-2064
Fax: (618) 936-2577
Lincoln Correctional Center
1098 1350th Street
P.O. Box 549
Lincoln, IL 62656
Phone: (217) 735-5411
Fax: (217) 735-5381
Logan Correctional Center
1096 1350th Street
P.O. Box 1000
Lincoln, IL 62656
Phone: (217) 735-5581
Fax: (217) 735-1077
Menard Correctional Center
711 Kaskaskia Street
Menard, IL 62259
Phone: (618) 826-5071
Fax: (618) 826-1141
Menard Medium Security Unit
711 Kaskaskia Street
Menard, IL 62259
Phone: (618) 826-5071
Fax: (618) 826-1141
Pinckneyville Correctional Center
5835 State Route 154
Pinckneyville, IL 62274
Phone: (618) 357-9722
Fax: (618) 357-2083
Pontiac Correctional Center
700 West Lincoln Street
Pontiac, IL 61764
Phone: (815) 842-2816
Fax: (815) 842-3420
Pontiac Medium Security Unit
700 West Lincoln Street
Pontiac, IL 61764
Phone: (815) 842-2816
Fax: (815) 842-3420
Robinson Correctional Center
13423 East 1150th Avenue
Robinson, IL 62454
Phone: (618) 546-5659
Fax: (618) 544-2166
Shawnee Correctional Center
6665 State Route 146 East
Vienna, IL 62995
Phone: (618) 658-8331
Fax: (618) 658-4014
Sheridan Correctional Center
4017 E. 2603 Road
Sheridan, IL 60551
Phone: (815) 496-2181
Fax: (815) 496-2931
Southwestern Illinois Correctional Center
950 Kingshighway Street
East St. Louis, IL 62203
Phone: (618) 394-2200
Fax: (618) 394-2228
Stateville Correctional Center
16830 So. Broadway St.
P.O. Box 112
Joliet, IL 60434
Phone: (815) 727-3607
Fax: (815) 727-5511
Taylorville Correctional Center
1144 Illinois Route 29
Taylorville, IL 62568
Phone: (217) 824-4004
Fax: (217) 824-4042
Vandalia Correctional Center
Route 51 North
P.O. Box 500
Vandalia, Il 62471
Phone: (618) 283-4170
Fax: (618) 283-9147
Vienna Correctional Center
6695 State Route #146 East
Vienna, IL 62995
Phone: (618) 658-8371
Fax: (618) 658-3609
Western Illinois Correctional Center
2500 Rt. 99 South
Mount Sterling, IL 62353
Phone: (217) 773-4441
Fax: (217) 773-2202
Illinois County Jails
Illinois county jails hold persons sentenced to no longer than 364 days imprisonment. Illinois has 102 counties and 92 county jails. Typically, county jails are smaller than state prisons; county jails hold fewer people for shorter periods. County jails also hold persons awaiting trial or sentencing. Local government agencies like County Sheriffs and local police divisions oversee county jails.
Interested persons may visit each county's website for visitation, donation, and correspondence information. However, visitation and correspondence rules may vary from one county to another. Some counties make inmate information available through online inmate rosters and inmate search tools. For counties where inmate information is not available on public websites, interested persons may contact the county Sheriff or jail warden directly for information.
How Does the Federal Prison System Work?
Federal prisons in the United States are under the Federal Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) supervision. The agency ensures that federal inmates serve time in safe and secure facilities and that inmates can access programs that aid successful re-entry into society. There are 152,174 inmates in 112 federal correctional facilities. The BOP's programs and services for federal inmates include services for special needs offenders, including juveniles, treaty transfers, tribal offenders, sex offenders, and female offenders.
Parties interested in visiting federal inmates must be on the inmate's waiting list and BOP-approved. Such persons must then confirm the federal inmate's location and review all visitation guidelines and procedures, including visiting hours and duration, dress code, and general behavior in preparation for a visit. Interested parties may also send money to federal inmates electronically or through the USPS. The BOP allows federal inmates to receive correspondence via phone call, email, mail, and packages. Parties interested in corresponding with federal inmates must review the BOP's communication guidelines.
