Yes, the CDU or Complex Detention Unit is essentially segregation housing. There are two types of this unit, one is for disciplinary and the other is administrative. Disciplinary segregation, referred to by prisoners as “the hole,” is applied as a short-term punishment for breaking prison rules. Most prison units have a CDU which is reserved for this purpose. By contrast, administrative segregation is based on administrative rationale. The Department of Corrections has almost total discretion over these administrative decisions, most importantly a prisoner’s...

The starting point is knowing what state he was convicted in, because inmate search systems are organized by state DOC. If you know the state, go directly to that state's Department of Corrections website and use their public offender search. Most state DOC sites let you search by name and date of birth and will return his current facility, his inmate number, and sometimes his projected parole eligibility or sentence details. If you are not sure which state he is in,...

Food and toiletry items cannot be sent directly to inmates at most county jails through Amazon or any other outside retailer, and Monroe County Jail in Illinois is no exception to that general rule. Correctional facilities restrict outside food shipments primarily for security reasons. Packages arriving from outside sources are difficult to screen thoroughly and have historically been used to introduce contraband. Unless a facility has a specific arrangement with an approved commissary package vendor, outside food simply does not get...