MENARD Correctional Center

[Dazzler]

Please post any information you have about the visiting rules, mail restrictions, hospitality houses, transportation and your experiences while visiting.



Menard Correctional Center
Michael P. Atchison, Warden

Facility Data

Menard Correctional Center
Opened: March 1878
*Operational Capacity: 3,739
Maximum Security Adult Male
*Population Menard Correctional Center: 3,083
*Population Menard Medium Security Unit: 442
*Population Menard Reception & Classification Center: 94
*Total Current Population: 3,619
Average Age: 34
FY2010 Average Annual Cost Per Inmate: $19,492.00

*As of 11/30/2011.  Reflects bed space capacity analysis as outlined in the January 1, 2012 Quarterly Report to the Legislature.

Menard Correctional Center is the parent institution for Menard Medium Security Unit and Menard Reception and Classification Center.
Visiting Hours
The facility is on lockdown with limited visits.  Please call the facility for visiting status.

IDOC Visitation Rules and Information

Visitors to any correctional facility will be required to produce photo identification and verification of date of birth.  Please be sure to bring 2 forms of identification with you; these would include a current photo ID such as a driver’s license, a state ID card, government ID card, military ID/driver’s license, or acceptable documentation of non-U.S. citizenship including a current Passport, or Visa, documentation must contain the visitor’s date of birth.  Expired forms of identification will not be accepted.  Visitors will also be required to provide vehicle information and other pertinent data, such as government identification, official credentials, attorney registration, and or law student certification.

Menard Correctional Center’s Visiting Rules and Regulations

General Population Contact/Non-Contact Visits

8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Sunday through Friday
Visitors must be signed in by 2:00p.m.
8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Saturday
Visitors must be signed in by 4:00p.m.

Visitors are normally allowed a two (2) hour visit, unless extenuating circumstances exist as designated by the Warden or Duty Warden.  The frequency and duration of visits may be limited in accordance with space and staff.

Contact Visits:  Inmates not under visit restriction are allowed five (5) visits per month.  Three (3) adult visitors may visit simultaneously.  This number includes children three (3) years and older.

Non-Contact Visits:  Level "E" inmates are allowed five (5) visits per month.

Orientation status inmates are not permitted visits with the exception of legal visits.

Segregation/Administrative Detention Non-Contact Visits
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. daily.
Visitors must be signed in by 12:00p.m.  Visits are a maximum of one (1) hour.

Inmates not under visit restriction are allowed two (2) visits per month.  Segregation inmates may only visit once per day.  Two (2) adult visitors may visit simultaneously.  This number includes children three (3) years and older.  Each adult may accompany one (1) child less than three (3) years old.

Administrative Detention offenders shall be allowed no more than two (2) visits per month (excluding attorney and chaplain visits).  All visits except attorney visits must be scheduled by the offender submitting a request in writing to the Assistant Warden of Operations office.
Infirmary Visits

If an offender’s condition allows, visitation will be done in the Visiting Room.  In the case where a patient’s condition does not allow for visitation in the Visiting Room, a visit may be approved in the Infirmary.  This must be preapproved by the Warden or Assistant Warden of Programs.  Such visits will be one (1) hour or less in duration depending on the offender s condition and treatment program.  No vending items are permitted.
Attorney/Clergy/Agency Visits

Legal visitors and government officials who request to visit an offender for the purpose of conducting business on behalf of the Department or other governmental agency shall be exempt from completing the Perspective Visitor’s Information form.  Legal visitors and government officials shall be required to list only their names and business address on the Visitor Sign-In Log.  Legal visitors and government officials shall be required to show photo identification including government identification, official credentials, attorney registration or law student certification.  Legal Visits will be arranged through the Litigation Coordinator at least two days in advance.  Attorneys, student lawyers, etc. need not be on the inmates visiting list.

Special Clergy visitation will be approved in advance through the A/W of Programs.  The requesting clergy must provide proof of legitimacy prior to entering the facility.  Bibles and Korans are allowed during Pastoral Counseling.

Government agencies must coordinate with the A/W Operations prior to visiting.
Facility Address

Business Mail:
711 Kaskaskia Street
P.O. Box 711
Menard, IL 62259

Inmate Mail:
Inmate Name & IDOC#
P.O. Box 1000
Menard, IL 62259

Phone: (618) 826-5071
Fax: (618) 826-1141

Facility Information

The mission of Menard Correctional Center is to confine adult male offenders in a safe, secure and humane manner; preserve and promote individual rights and responsibilities; and in turn, ensure ultimate protection of society.  Inherent within this purpose is the offering of program activities for inmates housed within the institution.  Inmates are afforded the opportunity to explore and participate in programs designated to assist them toward a successful reintegration into society.  ˜It is essential that these functions be conducted within the realities of the security needs of a maximum-security correctional center.

Menard Correctional Center was established on the banks of the Mississippi River in 1878.  The maximum-security facility changes in elevation over 200 feet and includes more than 2,600 acres with 41 acres enclosed by perimeter.  The facility is comprised of 155 buildings totaling 1,294,000 square feet.  Menard is the state’s largest maximum security adult male facility.  The center consists of five housing units, a receiving and orientation unit, segregation unit and a health care unit.  Also included is the Menard medium-security unit.

Inmate Programs

Academic:

    ABE (Adult Basic Education)
    GED (General Education Development)
    Special Education Services
    Job Preparedness and Correspondence Classes

Vocational:

    Construction Trades

Industries:

    Meat Processing
    Janitorial and Cleaning Supplies
    Knit and Sewing
    Waste Removal and Recycling

Volunteer Services:

    Religious

Other:

    Anger Management
    Chaplaincy
    Community Work Crews
    Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program
    Leisure Time Activity
    Library
    Life Skills
    Sex Offender Program
    Substance Abuse
    Health Care Services

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


Menard Medium Security Unit
Michael P. Atchison, Warden

Facility Data

Menard Medium Security Unit
Medium Security Adult Male
Opened:  May 1996
*Population Menard Medium Security Unit:  442

*As of 11/30/2011.  Reflects bed space capacity analysis as outlined in the January 1, 2012 Quarterly Report to the Legislature.

Menard Correctional Center is the parent institution for Menard Medium Security Unit
Visiting Hours
 

IDOC Visitation Rules and Information

Visitors to any correctional facility will be required to produce photo identification and verification of date of birth.  Please be sure to bring 2 forms of identification with you; these would include a current photo ID such as a driver’s license, a state ID card, government ID card, military ID/driver’s license, or acceptable documentation of non-U.S. citizenship including a current Passport, or Visa, documentation must contain the visitor’s date of birth.  Expired forms of identification will not be accepted.  Visitors will also be required to provide vehicle information and other pertinent data, such as government identification, official credentials, attorney registration, and or law student certification.

Menard Correctional Center’s Visiting Rules and Regulations

8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily.  Visitors must be signed in by 5:00p.m.
Visitors will not be processed for a visit during shift change (2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.)
8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily.  Visitors must be signed in by 5:00p.m.Visitors will not be processed for a visit during shift change (2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.)

Visits are normally allowed two (2) hour visits.  Under normal circumstances and space availability, length of time may be extended.  In no case will visits be allowed past the established visiting hours.

Inmates not under visit restriction are allowed five (5) visits per month.  Three (3) adult visitors may visit simultaneously.  This number includes children three (3) years or older.  When more than six (6) visitors (three years or older) visit, it will be counted as two (2) visits.

NOTE:  If the child is under the age of three (3) and can be held on an adult visitor’s lap, they will not be counted as one of the three (3) visitors.

Facility Address

Business Mail:
711 Kaskaskia Street
P.O. Box 711
Menard, IL  62259

Inmate Mail:
Inmate Name & IDOC#
P.O. Box 1000
Menard, IL  62259

Phone:  (618) 826-5071
Fax:  (618) 826-1141

Facility Information

Menard Medium Security Unit is located on the grounds of Menard Correctional Center, located in Randolph County.  It is an X-house design, and is a medium security adult male facility.

Inmate Programs

Academic:

    ABE (Adult Basic Education)
    GED (General Education Development)

Other:

    Job Preparation
    Parole School
    Re-Entry Summits
    Life Style Redirection
    Orientation
    Trac 1
    Community Work Crews

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




Menard Reception and Classification Center
Michael P. Atchison, Warden

Facility Data

Menard Reception & Classification Center

Opened:  July 2004
*Population Menard Reception & Classification Center:  94

*As of 11/30/2011.  Reflects bed space capacity analysis as outlined in the January 1, 2012 Quarterly Report to the Legislature.

Menard Correctional Center is the parent institution for Menard Reception & Classification Center
Visiting Hours
 
Offenders housed at the Menard Reception and Classification Center are not allowed regular visits, except legal when working on a current legal case.
Facility Address

Business Mail:
711 Kaskaskia Street
P.O. Box 711
Menard, IL  62259

Inmate Mail:
Inmate Name & IDOC#
P.O. Box 1000
Menard, IL  62259

Phone:  (618) 826-5071
Fax:  (618) 826-1141

Facility Information

Menard Reception and Classification Center is located in Randolph County and is on the grounds of Menard Correctional Center.

It is the policy of the Department of Corrections and Menard Correctional Center that all offenders will be provided with a thorough orientation in their own language.  The program shall include all aspects of the correctional center’s expectations of them, and what they may expect to derive from institutional programs.  Upon transfer from any facility, including a Reception Center, all offenders will be placed into orientation status and will be housed separately from general population until completion of the orientation process.

Offenders that are newly admitted into IDOC shall be placed into reception status (this includes parole violators and ATC violators that are returned to IDOC).  All offenders in reception status will be housed in the designated Reception and Classification unit.  Reception status is terminated once the offender is transferred to an assigned correctional facility.

During the reception process, various tools are used to determine appropriate placement for the newly received offender.  These tools include, but are not limited to; counselor, mental health, medical, substance abuse screener interviews, and criminal history.  Every effort is made by Reception staff to place an offender into a facility that best suits that offenders programming needs.

While in reception status, the offender may expect the following:

    Access to medical services, mental health services and the chaplain.
    Will be allowed to send and receive mail.  Will not be allowed visits except legal.  Will not be allowed telephone calls, except legal, court ordered or in case of an emergency.
    Will not receive any state pay.
    Will be given commissary privileges, up to a maximum of $15, one time per month, limited to basic hygiene items, writing supplies, gym shoes and a cup.  Clothing (adequate for the season), towels, bedding, and soap shall be provided.  Audio visual equipment will not be allowed.
    Will be granted access to reading materials and shall have access to materials from the facility Law Library.
    Any movement shall be escorted.  All meals will be served in the offender’s cell.  Out of cell movement shall be limited to recreation, showers, legal visits, medical, mental health services and classification interviews.

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

[Jims]

Menard changes daily, but here's what I know TODAY.

Menard is a maximum security prison. It has 4 cell houses, East, West, North I and II, and South Uppers and Lowers. They also have an R&C facility for incoming new prisoners who await transfer to their permanent facility.

Visits run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, plus Sunday; Saturdays are 8:30 to 5:30 and sometimes 6:00 if it's really crowded. A bus from Chicago comes down at least twice a month, but not necessarily on an every other week schedule. It's best to call the prison, 618-826-5071, and ask for the Electric Eye to see if a bus is coming down or not. If it is, it will arrive t the prison about 8:10 a.m. It is a madhouse when the bus is there, so avoid a visit between 8:10 a.m. and 12:00-12:30 p.m. In fact, even after the bus departs, it is still usually pretty crowded and wait times will be longer than usual.

Take two I.D.'s with you when you come for your first visit. I don't know if they're still requiring that one of the I.D.s be a social security card. I had heard that all Illinois prisons had done away with that requirement. However, you MAY submit it as one of your forms of I.D. along with a driver's license or state identification card, or passport. There are other documents that are accepted, but I'm not sure what they are. If in doubt CALL BEFORE YOU GO. Subsequent visits require two id's, but definitely do not require the ss card, though it is accepted.

Lockers are 50-cents, and once they're locked you can't get back into them without putting in another 50-cents. I know that sounds obvious, but just today a visitor thought that since she had the key, she could use it to get in and out of the locker. Wrong. She didn't have another 50-cents, and I'm not sure what she ended up doing as I was going through the Eye. Sometimes the desk sergeant will allow another visitor to offer change to a visitor who needs it, and sometimes he will not. Don't ask me why. I've seen him tell visitors they cannot exchange money in the facility and have to go out to the visitor's parking lot.

Vending machine cards cost $1.00 and you can then put up to $40 on the card (which will give you $41.00 counting the first dollar). But -- a word of advice. Rather than putting $40 on one card, put $20 on two cards. Cards get wiped out in the vending machines quite often. Sometimes you get reimbursed and sometimes not. If you submit a claim and the claim gets lost (it happens) you're SOL.

You are allowed to wear one necklace, one ring, two earrings; no hats, scarves, bracelets, wigs, jewlery with initials or logos, clothing with logos or alcoholic symbols or wording; skirts can't be too short (subjective analysis by the staff); shirts have to cover your midriff (again, subjective analysis by the staff); shirts can't be too low or show too much cleavage, and can't be too transparent. Belts will probably cause the metal detector to alarm, so just take it off before going through. Since visitors have to leave the front gate and walk a short distance to the Admin building, you are allowed to take your coat or jacket -- but pockets must be empty. No change, no gloves, etc. Babies have to get changed right there on the table. They will give you a new diaper as well as a diaper to take with you on your visit. In other words, you can't bring your own into the facility. You are allowed to take a bottle, but there could be some restrictions. CALL if in doubt. In the waiting room, there is a soda machine. You can buy a soda and drink it while you wait -- but you can't take it with you upstairs. They are pretty cheap, though, and you are allowed to take bottles with you on your way out. I often grab one for the trip home because it's better than paying $1.25 at the gas station or store. No chewing gum is allowed. They're really strict about this. I was so naive that I assumed it was because they didn't want to clean gum from beneath chairs and the floor. Silly me. I was told that gum can be used to keep a cell or gate from locking, thus facilitating an escape. That's one thing I learned about some of their "silly" rules. What often sounds ridiculous to me DOES have a good reason behind it. (Some I'm still searching for the good reasons...)

Visits are usually pretty low key. The sergeants they have now are usually pleasant and leave you alone. But there are cameras all over the room and you never know when they are being manned by Internal Affairs. I have seen couples busted right there in the visiting room. The inmate got whisked away to Seg in cuffs, and his visitor was barred from visits for 6-12 months. I've heard women talk about trying to get away with different things. I don't do it. I just don't. It's not worth it to me to have my guy sent to Seg for a few minutes of touchy-feely stuff in a crowded visiting room. Or to lose my visits. Not my idea of romance. What I'm saying is, it may LOOK as if the sergeant is paying little or no attention to what's going on in the room, but that look is deceiving.

I once visited during a tornado warning! Sirens blaring, wind blowing, black sky. SPOOKY! They made all the inmates go over to one side of the room and sit against the wall, while we visitors had to stay on the other side of the room until the all clear sounded. I felt like I was at a 7th grade dance - boys on one side, girls on the other.

The vending machine food is....well, vending machine food. If you're lucky, they'll have pizza and Big-Az burgers. Most of the guys like those best. Occasionally they'll get a fresh salad, and even more rarely, fresh fruit of some kind. Really it's not all that bad. And lately they've been keeping them pretty well stocked. Watch out for the juice machine. Bottles like to get stuck, and at least once a day it seems like one of the officers or worker will come over and kick the machine and scare the crap out of the visitors. And the kick seldom works.

There is a nice hospitality house up the road about a mile from the prison. There is a post of it hanging on the bulletin board inside the visiting room.

You can bring up to 5 books and/or magazines with you to the front gate and put it into the big box. Eventually they will get to the inmate. All books and publications whether they come in from the front gate or from the mail have to first go to the Publications Review Committee (a secretary told me this "committee" consists of one officer working one afternoon a week). Therefore, they take 2-3 weeks to get delivered, and sometimes longer. Especially newspapers. Menard has not yet issued any new mail regulations like they did at Stateville. So far, we have not been told that we can't send in padded envelopes, or boxes, or that there is a restriction on the number of publications that can be sent in at one time.

Phone calls are at different times depending on which gallery and cell house the inmate lives. Some are allowed calls once a week; some get the phone every 4 days. They can all use the phone on the yard/rec if they go. And again, rec time varies from cell house to cell house.

I'm sure I'll think of more. If anyone has questions, just ask. If I don't know, I can probably find out.

[dancer]

I learned something from a friend about the debit cards at Menard.  Her son had a friend go visit him, and he put $30 on the card.  It would not work!  He tried one machine after the other and was very frustrated.  Finally he tried rubbing the card on his shirt and put it back in the machine and it worked!
I had to get an officer to help when I had food get hung up in the vending machines at Robinson and one of the officers came and rattled the machine until it dropped!  I saw him do that for several people. 

[Jims]

Yes the rubbing will sometimes work. And the sergeant has some kind of rubbing cloth (alcohol perhaps) that he'll rub on cards that don't work and that sometimes works as well. And then again, sometimes the machine just fries it. Oh yes - they do like to rattle the machines! Especially the juice machine.

[mydyisgod]

Hi, everyone. I'm new to all of this, and was just wondering if anyone knew if marriages were allowed at Menard.

[Jims]

That's a tough one to answer. Menard will tell you that marriages have always been allowed there. All I can tell you is to keep talking to the chaplain and the warden. There's a new warden and no one knows what he may or may not do.

[mydyisgod]

Yes I'm cautiously optomistic that the changing of wardens will effect things in a positive way.

By the way, my son's fiance is planning her first visit to see him during the second week of May and your information under Menard's Prison Profile was extremely helpful. Thanks again.

[Dazzler]

Hi My - is your son in Menard?  The Prison Profile information is something we're really proud of here...it is sooo helpful for new families/friends to the DOC system...we try to provide answers to all your questions.  If you have any other questions we have some great researchers on here that will find you answers....the marriage problem at Menard has been an ongoing concern to many here...there have been many snafus...and not necessarily by the DOC...but from local county officials refusing to go to the prison to do the necessary legal forms.....we've got some information that this may change in the future and as soon as we know for sure we'll put the information up here....does your son want to get married too?

[mydyisgod]

Yes, he's found a wonderful girl and I definitely think they'd both really like to be married if it turns out that its possible. From everything that his sister and I have been able to find out though, Menard is very frugal when it comes to marriages. It seems like the few people that it has been able to happen for all say that it may very well take a long time and the pushing a lot of people's buttons. Neither one of them cares about having it on paper, and I don't want to get their hopes up so I don't dare tell them yet. Its just my little mission for right now and everyone has been so friendly here...thanks again.

[dancer]

Where to stay when you visit Menard:

Hospitality House.
120 Ferry Street, Chester, Il 62233
1- 618 826 9810

Best Western Reid's Inn
2150 State Street, Chester, Il 62233


Hi3 Motel
827 Lehman Drive, Chester Il 62233
1 618 826 4415.

 please add any others

[EMERALD]

Im coming in from UK to visit Tamms, I think the small airpot at Cape Girardeau is around 2 or 3 hours from Menard. Youd have to get an internal flight from ST Louise. Check it out on map quest or Yahoo maps.

[EMERALD]

Somebody I know has just sent her pal a siver chain with a Bhudda hanging on it as a birthday present.. Is he going to be allowed to have this? I did tell her that I dont think they can have anything like that. Would appreciate any info. Thanks ?>

[Scout]

If it's not considered a religious medallion, he won't be allowed to have it.

[Doll4BabyBoy]

Did anyone go to Menard this weekend?  Im curious to if
the visiting rules did change and stay or they went back
to the old ways of running the visiting room?

[Doll4BabyBoy]

WENT TO VISIT TODAY, EVERYTHING IS BACK TO NORMAL AND
LOCKDOWN IS OVER!!!     YEAH!!!  ..)

WAITING FOR MY PHONE CALL NOW :)

[Lissa]

Hi all!
I am reposting this under my new id since I think this info is very important.

I stayed at the Super 8 Hotel on Vincent in Perryville, Missouri. You can do a search for it. I loved it and will stay there again. It is just over the bridge to Illinois. I traveled about 20 miles and the drive was great. Nice country drive and definitly time to think.



Super 8 Motels     
1119 Vincent Drive
Perryville, MO, 63775 US
573-517-7888

[Lissa]

hI MY. MINE IS IN MEANRD ALSO.

[JoeysGirl]

I would love to have information regarding getting married w/ someone in Menard. He asked around and was told you have to write letters and request it but he wasn't sure how it works. If anyone knows, i'd appreciate it.

[Dazzler]

Hi Irma, there's a thread called Menard Marriages in the Hot Topics category.   There has been much discussion about marriages not being allowed at Menard because of the county clerk.  She refuses to go to the prison or send a deputy to do the necessary paperwork.  And the prison won't take inmates to the courthous..it's been a standoff for quite awhile now.  There has been some rumor that the new warden is attempting to work out something with the county clerk to expedite marriages again but so far we haven't been able to substantiate that rumor.  It's an ongoing drama...

[Wolf | Lover]

How many visitors are allowed to visit an inmate at the same time, specifically non-contact?