PINCKNEYVILLE Correctional Center

[debbier]

I was there last summer and it was HOT!

[Mrs. G]

One thing for sure pville... takes forever to approve visiting list n phone call lists.. and the mail I remember was horrible last winter... with all due respect I know your desperate to see your lo BUT you should wait till you get either a call or mail saying all is approved and well to go as you said its a far drive and also call before going down there and while ur in ur drive.. they are always on lockdown spontaneously! Hope u get to see your lo soon.

[cdrppIII]

I never thought of calling while on my drive...that is really good advice.  I wanted to arrive at 8:30am so I am not sure how early they will answer their phones. 

[Mrs. G]

I'm sure you have to be there by a certain time to get in and visit and with it being your first time you will have to fill out paperwork. So u probably will drive in to pville and wait till the next morning to see ur lo.

[bmonska]

I never thought of calling while on my drive...that is really good advice.  I wanted to arrive at 8:30am so I am not sure how early they will answer their phones. 

Someone will answer 24 hours a day. The business office/counselors etc, that you might need to call sometime are there between 730am-330pm which is second shift. But calling with a general question you can ask a CO, a CO will always answer.

[Keria2011]

Hey IPT...
I just found out through vine that my bf has been transferred today to pinkneyville. Can anyone provide me information for this correctional facility. I heard that its bad, because the inmates are usually on lockdown for majority of the day??? Do anyone know how long it will take for the phone/visiting list to be apporved??? Also how far is it from chicago??? Sorry i am asking so many questions but as always i am so determined to have all the info needed for i can start seeing my future husband to be.... Thanks in advance! :)

[TimeStandsStill]

According to Google, Chicago to Pinckneyville:
311 mi, 5 hours 25 mins via I-57 S
341 mi, 6 hours 5 mins via I-55 S
 

[Keria2011]

According to Google, Chicago to Pinckneyville:
311 mi, 5 hours 25 mins via I-57 S
341 mi, 6 hours 5 mins via I-55 S
 

thanks for the traveling distance and how long it akes! Is very helpful! But do anyone know about the list approval? He was transferred today how lng will it take for a phone call, n how long will I have to wait to visit??? As always thanks in advance!!!

[LovinDB]

My love was sent to pville when he got out of r&c in stateville.. he called me that weekend.. and as far as going to see him I think it was 2 weeks until the list was approved.. Good luck with everything ..

[Keria2011]

My love was sent to pville when he got out of r&c in stateville.. he called me that weekend.. and as far as going to see him I think it was 2 weeks until the list was approved.. Good luck with everything ..

thank u sooooooo much for the info... I am patiently waiting to hear my baby voice and tell him the good news about us having a boy! I can wait!!! One last question though Ipt:

Is pinckneyville a hard and tough prison? I mean is it like stateville rc in which the inmates are locked up more than 20 hours per day?

[bmonska]

Here is a link to the IDOC Pickneyville facility information.

http://www.idoc.state.il.us/subsections/facilities/information.asp?instchoice=pnk

It's basic info but the phone number is there also in case you need it as well as the mailing address.

I'm not sure if Pville is 23/1 or not. Someone with the answer to that will be along soon to answer you. Try to be patient when posting on IPT. Most of the time you'll get your questions answerer very quickly. Other times, you might have to wait until Mah or a support staff member are online to answer you. Hang in there!

[cdrppIII]

My love was sent to pville when he got out of r&c in stateville.. he called me that weekend.. and as far as going to see him I think it was 2 weeks until the list was approved.. Good luck with everything ..

thank u sooooooo much for the info... I am patiently waiting to hear my baby voice and tell him the good news about us having a boy! I can wait!!! One last question though Ipt:

Is pinckneyville a hard and tough prison? I mean is it like stateville rc in which the inmates are locked up more than 20 hours per day?

Yes they are locked up most of the day.  They get put to eat their meals and one hour a day for dayroom. 

[Keria2011]

I spoke with a couselor today. She told me they come out for 2 hours in the morning, 2 HOURS in the evening, and a hour for lunch and plus everytime they go to classes and etc... When I was speaking with her I remembered addind up 5 hours per day in my head. She also told me that sometimes when the inmate first arrive that their immediate family can come visit without being on the list. But of course she advise me to wait until the list is approved. For I am his girlfriend, and plus she said since its such a long drive she wouldn't reccommend the family trying to come either, for there is alot of things to do before being approved. sO TOMORROW I am going to send my baby some magazines/books/pictures/letters through the postal service. I know he is happy to be out of stateville but then again it dont seem like this facility gives alot of movement either...

[Sunidaze67]

Good Morning IPT
My honey just got moved from Pontiac seg to PCC yesterday.  I have read thru this section and still have a couple of questions.  Are the visiting rules still the same (4 hour visits strictly, 5 per month, only 2 weekend days per month)?  Does it still take a couple of weeks for the visitor list to be approved? Are the vending cards still $1?  I'm sure I'll have more questions later, but thats it for now.
Thanks so much.
Suni

[Forevermah]

Please go to the P'ville link here on IDOC, the current visiting times and rules should be there:

http://www2.illinois.gov/idoc/facilities/Pages/pinckneyvillecorrectionalcenter.aspx

You may want to to continue your questions on the Board Visiting Illinois Prisons, where more answers to visiting issues are posted.

[LovinDB]

Yes visits are 4 hours and vending cards are 5$ so make sure u have a 5 dollar bill with u.. I believe it gives u a credit for 1 dollar after u get the card.. My l/o was moved and is no longer at Pville but those are the rules ... hope this helps you.. good luck

[MeetTheBrowns]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the site. I found this site just browsing through the web & it is very helpful. Im new to the "prison" thing however my boobie has been in this position before so he's able to help me understand ALOT of how things go, what can fly & what can't. One piece of advice that I can give is to mail your letters in the BIG manila envelopes, they're considered priority & your l/o will recieve it within 2-3 business days opposed to 3-4 plus weeks via regular envelopes. So good luck to all of you & Happy Holidays to you & your l/o's! I hope that my advice helped someone!

[as3sons]

Hi everyone. My LO was just moved here from Menard this morning so I am taking in all the new info that I can. You all have been so helpful in this link. I think from starting at page one & reading them, all of my wondering &/or questions have been answered. I was so used to Menard, the rules there, the friends I met there & the CO's. Time for me to do it all again.

[Sunidaze67]

Hi Everyone
I got to visit for the 2nd time this weekend and found some useful info to share.  Vending cards are $1, thank goodness, and you can put up to $20 on a card.  You can only wear 1 ring, 1 bracelet, 1 pair of earrings and 1 necklace but nothing can have writing on it; otherwise you have to remove it and put it in your locker. 
Hope this helps.
THanks
Suni

[boop]

You are allowed to wear a watch but not bracelet....also Medical alert bracelets are allowed....