Indiana State Prisons
16 facilities- IN DOC - Branchville Correctional Facility (BCF)
- IN DOC - Chain O' Lakes Community Re-Entry Center
- IN DOC - Correctional Industrial Facility
- IN DOC - Edinburgh Correctional Facility (ECF)
- IN DOC - Indiana State Prison (ISP)
Federal Facilities in Indiana
2 facilitiesIndiana County Jails
92 facilities- Adams County IN Detention Center
- Allen County Jail
- Bartholomew County Jail
- Benton County IN Jail
- Blackford County Security Center & Jail
Indiana Department of Corrections
Indiana's Offender Search allows searches by DOC number or name. Indiana operates a large system relative to its population, with both state-operated and contract facilities. The state has recently expanded re-entry and community corrections programming.
The official inmate search is available at www.in.gov/apps/indcorrection/ofs. FCI Terre Haute and USP Terre Haute - home to the federal death row - are in Indiana.
Visitation in Indiana Facilities
Indiana DOC visitor approval requires a Visitor Registration Form. Processing takes 2 - 4 weeks. Background checks for adult visitors. No gray, khaki, or camouflage clothing.
Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our Indiana prison directory.
Sending Mail to Indiana Inmates
IDOC mail requires the inmate's DOC number. Standard 4x6 photos accepted. Indiana has been expanding electronic mail systems at some facilities - verify current mail policy for your specific facility.
InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to Indiana facilities. Want to receive letters without sharing your home address? Our Letters From Inmates service scans and delivers inmate mail to your account.
Phone Calls from Indiana Facilities
Indiana is not currently among the states that offer free inmate phone calls. GTL/ViaPath holds the IDOC contract for most facilities.
Following the FCC's Martha Wright-Reed Order (effective April 6, 2026), per-minute rates for inmate calls are now federally capped at state and federal facilities. Find current carrier and rate information on each facility's page in our Indiana prison directory.
Sending Money to Indiana Inmates
Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for Indiana:
- JPay (primary for IDOC)
- Money orders mailed to facility trust fund
- Lobby kiosks at some facilities
See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.
Reentry Resources in Indiana
Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in Indiana:
- Indiana DOC Reentry - Official reentry programs
- Indiana Legal Services - Free civil legal help statewide
- RecycleForce - Indianapolis reentry employment program
- Exodus Refugee Immigration - Reentry and immigration services in Indianapolis
Frequently Asked Questions About Indiana Prisons
What is Indiana's federal death row?
The United States Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana houses the federal death row and serves as the site of federal executions in the United States. It is operated by the Bureau of Prisons - not Indiana state corrections - and houses people convicted of federal crimes who have been sentenced to death by federal courts. Federal death row is entirely separate from Indiana's state system, and families of federal death row inmates navigate BOP policies, BOP visiting rules, and BOP case managers. USP Terre Haute also has a companion medium-security facility, FCI Terre Haute, for non-death-row federal inmates. The BOP contact number for USP Terre Haute is 812-238-1531. If your family member is on federal death row, BOP's specialized policies around visiting and communication are your framework - not Indiana DOC's.
What is the DOC number in Indiana?
The DOC number is the unique identification number assigned by the Indiana Department of Correction to every person sentenced to Indiana state prison. It must appear on the outside of every envelope you mail to an IDOC facility - without it, your mail is likely delayed or returned. Find your inmate's DOC number through Indiana's Offender Search at in.gov/apps/indcorrection/ofs - search by name and the DOC number appears in the results along with current facility and projected release information. Keep the number written somewhere accessible - you'll need it for mail, JPay money deposits, visitor applications, and any direct communication with facility staff or IDOC's central office.
Does Indiana have free prison phone calls?
No - Indiana has not eliminated phone call fees for state inmates. GTL/ViaPath holds the IDOC contract for most Indiana facilities. The FCC's April 2026 rate caps reduced per-minute rates from historical levels, but calls in Indiana are still charged per minute. Indiana is a large state with significant distances between some facilities and where families live - Westville Correctional Facility in LaPorte County, for example, is a long drive for families in Indianapolis or southern Indiana, making phone calls especially important as a primary form of regular contact. If calls are unaffordable, JPay electronic messaging and written mail are the most cost-effective alternatives.
How do I visit Indiana State Prison in Michigan City?
Indiana State Prison is in Michigan City in LaPorte County, on the southern shore of Lake Michigan about 60 miles east of Chicago and roughly 100 miles north of Indianapolis. It houses Indiana's death row and maximum-security inmates. All visitors must be pre-approved - your name must be on the inmate's approved visitor list before any visit is permitted. Contact ISP directly at 219-874-7256 to request visitor applications. Non-contact visits apply to death row and some segregation classifications - confirm the visiting conditions for your inmate's specific housing before traveling. Plan for thorough check-in procedures at a maximum-security facility and arrive well before your session starts. Michigan City has limited dining near the prison - plan accordingly if you're coming from a distance.
What is the difference between IDOC and community corrections in Indiana?
Indiana DOC operates state prisons for felony-sentenced inmates. Community corrections programs are locally operated alternatives to state prison - work release centers, day reporting programs, and residential facilities run at the county level rather than by the state. Some Indiana judges sentence people directly to community corrections rather than IDOC. If you're searching IDOC's database and cannot find your family member, they may be in a county-operated community corrections program. In that case, contact the sentencing court or the county probation department where the conviction occurred to identify which program they're assigned to and where it is located. Community corrections placements appear in county records, not in the statewide IDOC system.
Can I send books to an Indiana inmate?
Yes, with restrictions that apply across most IDOC facilities. Books must be sent directly from the publisher or an approved retailer like Amazon - you cannot mail books from home, from a used bookstore, or from any source that isn't a publisher or approved vendor. Most IDOC facilities accept only paperback books - hardcovers are typically rejected because they can be used to conceal contraband. Religious texts are generally permitted with somewhat more flexible rules about source. When ordering through Amazon, ship directly to the facility using the inmate's full name and DOC number as part of the address. Always check the specific facility's book policy before ordering - rules can vary between facilities and change over time.