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🏛 State Directory

Prisons and Jails in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Department of Corrections manages the Wisconsin state correctional system. Wisconsin DOC's offender search (LOIS) allows searches by DOC number or name. Wisconsin has faced significant racial disparities in incarceration - Bl
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34
State facilities
77
County jails
1
Federal facilities
18K+
State inmates

Wisconsin State Prisons

34 facilities

Federal Facilities in Wisconsin

1 facility

Wisconsin County Jails

77 facilities

Wisconsin Department of Corrections

Wisconsin DOC's offender search (LOIS) allows searches by DOC number or name. Wisconsin has faced significant racial disparities in incarceration - Black Wisconsinites are incarcerated at one of the highest rates relative to the White population of any state in the country.

The official inmate search is available at appsdoc.wi.gov/lop/home.do. FCI Oxford and FCI Pekin (IL) serve Wisconsin federal inmates.

Visitation in Wisconsin Facilities

Wisconsin DOC visitor approval requires a visitor registration form. Processing takes 3 - 4 weeks. Background checks for adult visitors. Wisconsin has 72 county jails with their own visitor policies.

Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our Wisconsin prison directory.

Sending Mail to Wisconsin Inmates

Wisconsin DOC mail requires the DOC number. Wisconsin has been transitioning facilities to digital mail systems. Some facilities now use Smart Communications - verify current mail policy for your specific facility.

InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Facilities

Wisconsin is not currently among the states that offer free inmate phone calls. Securus Technologies holds the Wisconsin DOC contract.

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 Wisconsin prison directory.

Sending Money to Wisconsin Inmates

Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for Wisconsin:

  • JPay (primary for Wisconsin DOC)
  • Money orders at some facilities
  • Lobby kiosks

See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.

Reentry Resources in Wisconsin

Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in Wisconsin:

Frequently Asked Questions About Wisconsin Prisons

What is the racial disparity in Wisconsin's prison system?

Wisconsin has one of the most severe racial disparities in incarceration in the United States. Black Wisconsinites make up approximately 6% of the state's total population but more than 40% of its prison population - a disparity ratio of roughly 7:1. Black men in Wisconsin are incarcerated at a rate approximately 12 times higher than White men. The Wisconsin Policy Forum, the ACLU of Wisconsin, and UW-Madison researchers have documented these disparities in detail. Contributing factors include historic segregation and disinvestment in Milwaukee's Black communities, racial disparities in law enforcement contact and charging decisions, and mandatory minimum sentencing structures. Reforming these disparities has been a central focus of Wisconsin criminal justice advocates for over a decade.

What is the Wisconsin Secure Program Facility?

WSPF in Boscobel, Grant County, is Wisconsin's supermax facility - the most restrictive correctional environment in the state system. Boscobel is in the driftless region of southwestern Wisconsin, characterized by steep hills unusual for the Midwest, about 80 miles northwest of Madison. Inmates at WSPF spend the vast majority of their time in single-person cells with extremely limited out-of-cell time, programming, or human contact. The facility has been subject to litigation related to solitary confinement conditions. Visiting procedures are more restricted than at other Wisconsin facilities - contact WSPF at 608-375-5656 for current procedures.

What is the DOC number in Wisconsin?

Every Wisconsin DOC inmate is assigned a unique DOC number when they enter state custody. It must appear on all mail sent to Wisconsin DOC facilities and is required for the Wisconsin DOC LOIS offender search at appsdoc.wi.gov/lop. County jail detainees have their own booking numbers that are separate from state DOC numbers. If your person was recently sentenced and transferred from county to state custody, allow 24 - 48 hours for LOIS to update. Once assigned, the DOC number is permanent for the sentence regardless of facility transfers.

Does Wisconsin have free prison phone calls?

No - Wisconsin has not eliminated phone call fees. Securus Technologies holds Wisconsin DOC contracts for most state facilities. The FCC's April 2026 rate caps apply to interstate calls from Wisconsin state prisons, reducing costs from historical highs, but calls are not free. Wisconsin's 72 county jails each contract separately for phone services. Set up a Securus prepaid account for state facility calls rather than accepting collect calls.

What is Waupun Correctional Institution?

Waupun Correctional Institution in Waupun, Dodge County, opened in 1851 - Wisconsin's oldest continuously operating prison and one of the oldest in the country. Waupun is a maximum-security facility in central Wisconsin, about 65 miles north of Milwaukee. The facility has been the subject of ongoing investigations and litigation related to conditions, extended use of solitary confinement, and staff misconduct. If your family member is housed at Waupun, document all communications about conditions and contact the ACLU of Wisconsin at aclu-wi.org or the Wisconsin DOC ombudsman if you have safety concerns.

How do I find someone in a Wisconsin county jail?

Wisconsin has 72 county jails - one for each county. The Wisconsin DOC LOIS search covers state prison inmates only. Contact the county sheriff's office directly or check the county's online inmate roster for county detainees. Milwaukee County Jail, Dane County Jail in Madison, Waukesha County Jail, and Brown County Jail in Green Bay are the largest county facilities. Most Wisconsin county sheriffs maintain publicly accessible online inmate rosters. If you don't know which county, start with where the arrest occurred.

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