30 Prisons in Illinois – An Overview of Local Facilities

Prisons are an integral part of the criminal justice system, serving as a means of punishment and rehabilitation for individuals convicted of crimes. In Illinois, the prison system plays a crucial role in maintaining public safety and upholding the rule of law.

With a population of over 12 million people, Illinois is home to a diverse range of correctional facilities, including maximum-security prisons, medium-security facilities, and minimum-security camps.

These prisons house individuals convicted of a wide range of offenses, from drug possession and theft to more serious crimes like murder and sexual assault. This article aims to provide an overview of the prison system in Illinois, including its history, current state, and future prospects.

Illinois Prison Map

Use the Illinois prison map below to locate any facility. Click on the map markers to read our detailed guide of that facility.

State Parks

Prison Name	Location	Inmate Capacity	Security Level	Gender	Operator/ Manager
Big Muddy River Correctional Center	Jefferson County, IL	2,130	Medium	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Centralia Correctional Center	Illinois	1,669	Medium	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Danville Correctional Center	Illinois	1,944	Medium	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Decatur Correctional Center	Illinois	1,114	Minimum	Female	Illinois Department of Corrections
Dixon Correctional Center	Illinois	2,147	Medium	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
East Moline Correctional Center	Illinois	1,580	Minimum	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Graham Correctional Center	Hillsboro, IL	1,984	Medium	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Hill Correctional Center	Galesburg, IL	2,014	Medium	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Illinois River Correctional Center	Canton, IL	1,152	Medium	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Jacksonville Correctional Center	Jacksonville, IL	1,665	Medium	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Lawrence Correctional Center	Sumner, IL	1,728	Medium	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Lincoln Correctional Center	Lincoln, IL	1,900	Medium	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Logan Correctional Center	Lincoln, IL	1,868	Medium	Female	Illinois Department of Corrections
Menard Correctional Center	Chester, IL	3,658	Maximum	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Pinckneyville Correctional Center	Pinckneyville, IL	1,602	Medium	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Pontiac Correctional Center	Pontiac, IL	1,938	Multiple	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Robinson Correctional Center	Robinson, IL	1,722	Minimum	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Shawnee Correctional Center	Johnson County, Southern Illinois	1,054	Medium	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Sheridan Correctional Center	Sheridan, Illinois	1,610	Medium	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Southwestern Illinois CC	East St. Louis, Illinois	2,272	Maximum	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Stateville Correctional Center	Crest Hill, Illinois	3,536	Maximum	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Taylorville Correctional Center	Taylorville, Illinois	1,200	Minimum	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Vandalia Correctional Center	85 miles southeast of Springfield, IL	1,056	Medium	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Vienna Correctional Center	Southern Illinois, adjacent to Shawnee National Forest	1,896	Minimum	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections
Western Illinois Correctional Center	Illinois	1,968	General Population	Male	Illinois Department of Corrections

Big Muddy River Correctional Center

The Big Muddy River Correctional Center, located in Jefferson County, Illinois, is a medium security adult male facility spanning over 78 acres of land. The facility is home to 20 buildings, which cover more than 39,000 square feet of space.

The goal of the center is to provide a safe and secure environment for employees while ensuring that individuals in custody are afforded a safe and humane environment with programming opportunities to better themselves. The programming opportunities provided by the center are designed to prepare individuals for life in the community upon release.

The living units at the center include four X-type housing units, one receiving and orientation unit, one segregation unit, and a 15-bed health care unit. Out of the 78 acres, 38 acres are enclosed by fencing.

Centralia Correctional Center

Centralia Correctional Center is a medium-security adult male facility located in Illinois. The facility aims to create a healthy and secure environment that provides inmates with a humane term of incarceration.

The prison consists of 46 buildings, covering a total area of 335,689 square feet. The living units comprise three housing unit clusters with 14 housing units, a receiving unit, a segregation unit, and a 15-bed health care unit.

The facility sits on 100 acres of land, 50 acres of which are enclosed by fencing. The center’s focus is on rehabilitation, and it offers various programs to help inmates prepare for re-entry into society.

Danville Correctional Center

Danville Correctional Center is a medium-security adult male institution located in Illinois. The facility spans 85 acres and consists of 17 buildings, including three X-type housing units, one T-type housing unit, one receiving unit, one segregation unit, and a 15-bed health care unit.

The center’s goal is to provide a safe and secure environment for staff, individuals in custody, and the community. To achieve this, the facility encourages positive attitudes, programs, and work opportunities for adult males incarcerated at the center.

Danville Correctional Center houses general population individuals in custody and operates under the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Decatur Correctional Center

The Decatur Correctional Center is a minimum security female facility located in Illinois. Its mission is to provide a continuum of programs and services that help female individuals in custody reestablish and strengthen their relationships with their children, as well as enhance their ability to grow within the family structure.

The facility offers a variety of programs that address the diverse needs of the individuals in custody, including medical, social, psychological, and educational needs. All programs are aimed at equipping female individuals in custody for successful reintegration back into the community.

The Decatur Correctional Center received its first female individuals in custody on Jan. 24, 2000, and has eight dormitory-style housing units.

Dixon Correctional Center

Dixon Correctional Center is the largest medium security facility in Illinois and is dedicated to supporting the mission of the Illinois Department of Corrections. The center’s main focus is providing a comprehensive mental health program to address the individual and group needs of the mentally ill.

It strives to create a safe and secure environment for individuals in custody who are in need of placement in a correctional psychiatric setting.

The facility is unique in its diversity, with specialized areas for general population individuals in custody, older individuals with special needs, individuals with disabilities, and an infirmary.

The Special Treatment Center and Dixon Psychiatric Unit are medium security centers that serve the needs of mentally handicapped and developmentally disabled individuals in custody through specialized programs and a therapeutic environment. The facility is situated on 462 acres of land and is fully ADA-compliant.

East Moline Correctional Center

The East Moline Correctional Center in Illinois is a minimum security adult male facility that was converted from a mental health facility in 1980. The facility is situated in northwest Illinois, with a view of the Mississippi River.

It consists of 26 buildings, which span over 430,000 square feet and includes housing units, work camps, an administration building, one segregation unit, and a 12-bed healthcare unit. The facility occupies more than 80 acres, with 60 acres enclosed by fencing.

The East Moline Correctional Center is designed to provide multiple programs and services to help individuals in custody prepare for community reintegration. It also provides support to surrounding communities by assisting with storm and general cleanup.

The facility is committed to individual accountability, increased staff performance, and the continuum of programs and services to ensure a safe, secure, and holistic correctional environment for staff and the individuals in the custody population.

Graham Correctional Center

Graham Correctional Center is a medium-security adult male correctional facility located in Hillsboro, Illinois. The facility covers 117 acres and has 50 buildings within its walls.

Graham is unique in that it houses several special populations, including individuals in a kidney dialysis program, substance abuse treatment, and sex offender treatment.

Despite being a correctional facility, Graham offers numerous academic and vocational programs to help inmates gain skills and knowledge to help them re-enter society successfully.

As a medium security facility, Graham provides a balance between security and rehabilitation, with a focus on preparing inmates for a successful return to society.

Hill Correctional Center

Hill Correctional Center is a medium-security adult male prison located in Galesburg, Illinois. The facility spans 71 acres of land, 38 of which are within the security fences. The prison is situated in the southwest corner of Galesburg and is made up of a total of 29 buildings.

The living units consist of four housing units and one orientation/receiving unit, as well as one segregation unit, a 17-bed infirmary unit, and two main recreational yards. While Hill Correctional Center is a prison, it also serves as a place for rehabilitation and education for the inmates.

The prison offers a variety of educational programs, including adult basic education, vocational training, and college courses, to help inmates prepare for life after incarceration.

Illinois River Correctional Center

Illinois River Correctional Center is a medium security adult male correctional facility located in Illinois.

Its main goal is to protect the public from criminal individuals in custody through a system of incarceration, supervision, programs, and services designed to reintegrate appropriate individuals back into the community with skills and attitudes that will help them become useful and productive citizens.

The center consists of a total of 29 buildings, which comprise more than 409,000 square feet. The living units consist of four X-type housing units, one receiving and orientation unit, one segregation unit, and a 15-bed health care unit. The facility sits on a 100-acre site, with 40 acres enclosed by fencing.

The facility also houses general population individuals in custody. Illinois River Correctional Center also has a special management unit, which provides special security for individuals in custody housed there.

Jacksonville Correctional Center

The Jacksonville Correctional Center is a secure facility in Illinois that houses adult males who have been placed under its jurisdiction. The facility aims to provide its inmates with the necessary skills and programs to ensure a positive and successful reintegration back into society.

With a focus on both first-time offenders and recidivists, the center provides opportunities for program participation and increases the range of the individual’s responsibility and decision-making authority. The center is spread across approximately 70 acres, with 24 acres located within the perimeter fencing.

The 13 buildings within the facility encompass over 152,000 square feet and include five housing units, one segregation unit, and a 7-bed health care unit. Additionally, the Jacksonville Correctional Center oversees the Pittsfield Work Camp and Greene County Incarceration Program.

Lawrence Correctional Center

Lawrence Correctional Center is a Medium Security Adult Male facility located in southeastern Illinois, committed to providing secure and humane correctional services. The facility consists of 16 buildings, covering more than 364,000 square feet, with housing units that are T-design.

It prioritizes the successful reentry of individuals into the community and the reduction of recidivism by providing evidence-based programming and enhanced mental health treatment services. The facility promotes a team-building administrative model with innovation, collaboration, and high performance emphasized for positive staff morale and overall job satisfaction.

The warehouse, mailroom, vehicle maintenance, and maintenance departments are located outside of the perimeter fence, which assists in the safety and security of the facility. Lawrence Correctional Center is ADA-approved and houses several ADA individuals in custody.

The focus for the cognitive and behavioral modification of individuals in custody is delivered via a service approach in education, recreation, religious, and medical treatment opportunities.

Lincoln Correctional Center

Lincoln Correctional Center in Illinois is a facility that houses adult male individuals in custody. The facility’s mission is to protect society through secure incarceration based on legislative and judicial decisions.

The administration aims to instill responsibility and mature decision-making in the individuals in custody. The facility provides extensive and high-quality educational programs, work assignment opportunities, public services, leisure time activities, and religious avenues.

With a total of 14 buildings comprising approximately 25 acres, 11 of the buildings are within a double security fence surrounded by five strategically located towers. The living units consist of five dorm-style housing units along with a segregation unit and a 7-bed health care unit.

The facility’s provisions go beyond the minimum necessities of food, sanitation, clothing, housing, and medical services.

Logan Correctional Center

Logan Correctional Center is a women’s prison located in Lincoln, Illinois, about 30 miles north of Springfield. The center’s primary mission is to provide appropriate custodial care, programs, and services for the female individual in custody in a safe and humane environment.

The center offers education, vocational, and industrial-based programming to enhance and support skill-building within an entrepreneurial approach. Logan’s living units consist of seven E-style units, three C-style units, one X-house, a segregation unit, and a 15-bed infirmary health care unit.

The facility encompasses 150 acres with 57 acres enclosed by fencing. It serves a multifaceted population consisting of reception and classification, segregation, protective custody, and mental health units, as well as a state-of-the-art medical facility designated to provide care to pregnant and critically or terminally ill female individuals in custody.

The center’s goal is to provide independence for the female individual in custody and her dependents while addressing their special needs.

Menard Correctional Center

Menard Correctional Center is the largest maximum-security adult male facility in the state of Illinois. Established in 1878, the facility is situated on over 2,600 acres on the banks of the Mississippi River.

The center comprises 155 buildings, covering a total area of 1,294,000 square feet, and includes five housing units, a receiving and orientation unit, a segregation unit, a health care unit, and a medium-security unit.

The center’s mission is to confine adult male individuals in custody in a safe, secure, and humane manner while preserving and promoting individual rights and responsibilities. The center offers program activities designed to assist individuals in custody toward successful reintegration into society, within the confines of a maximum-security correctional center.

Pinckneyville Correctional Center

Pinckneyville Correctional Center is a medium-security adult male facility in Illinois that is committed to providing a humane and secure incarceration environment based on legislative and judicial decisions.

The facility administration aims to instill responsibility and mature decision-making in its individuals in custody through high-quality educational programs, work assignment opportunities, leisure time activities, and religious avenues. The institution is dedicated to going above and beyond the minimum necessities of food, sanitation, clothing, housing, and medical services.

The administration and staff strive to maintain a clean and safe environment, encouraging a positive adjustment while acquiring employment skills and educational advancements that will lend to rehabilitation and reduced recidivism.

The center is comprised of 19 buildings, totaling 434,000 square feet, contained on 148 acres of land. The center has living accommodations built to American Disabilities Act (ADA) specifications, meeting the needs of its disabled population.

Pontiac Correctional Center

Pontiac Correctional Center is a prison located in Illinois that serves to protect the public through incarceration, supervision, programs, and services designed to prepare individuals for reentry into the community.

The facility is comprised of 63 buildings that encompass over 744,000 square feet, situated on a 37-acre site, with 32 acres enclosed by fencing. The prison houses a variety of individuals in custody, including those in segregation, protective custody, mental health, administrative detention, reintegration management, and medium security.

The mission of Pontiac Correctional Center is to help those in custody develop the skills necessary to become productive members of society upon release.

Robinson Correctional Center

Robinson Correctional Center is a minimum security adult male facility located in southeastern Illinois, just one mile northeast of the City of Robinson in Crawford County.

The facility provides more than 200,000 square feet of serviceable space, which includes six housing units, each containing 10 dormitory rooms, an administration building, a control center, a mailroom, an armory, and a main gate.

Additionally, the facility has an academic/vocational building, a multi-purpose building with a gym and non-denominational chapel, a medical unit, a segregation unit, a food service building, and a building housing identification, personal property, commissary, and laundry.

The entire complex sits on approximately 100 acres and comprises 23 buildings, including a maintenance building, warehouse, and training facility outside the perimeter fence. It is located approximately 6.5 miles from the Indiana border and 230 miles due south of Chicago.

Shawnee Correctional Center

Shawnee Correctional Center, located in rural Johnson County in southern Illinois, is a medium security adult male facility that spans 369,029 square feet and consists of 24 buildings.

Its mission is to provide for the protection of society through the humane and secure incarceration of adult male individuals in custody while instilling responsibility and mature decision-making.

In addition to the minimum necessities of food, sanitation, clothing, housing, and medical services, the facility provides extensive and high-quality educational programs, work assignment opportunities, public service, leisure time activities, and religious avenues for the individuals in custody.

The living units consist of four X-type units, one receiving and orientation unit, two segregation units, and a 16-bed health care unit. The facility sits on 60 acres, with 40 acres inside the fence.

Sheridan Correctional Center

The Sheridan Correctional Center in Illinois is a medium-security prison solely dedicated to substance abuse treatment. It is one of the largest substance abuse treatment programs in the United States.

The prison was reopened on January 2, 2004, to address the increasing prison population in Illinois and reduce the high recidivism rates of released individuals in custody. The facility uses the Therapeutic Community approach to equip men in custody with evidence-based substance abuse treatment services, helping them to return to drug-free, crime-free lives upon release.

The program provides a coordinated approach to treatment interventions and access to other services, collaborating with a cadre of service providers, the Illinois Department of Corrections, and Adult Parole to affect community reintegration of returning individuals in custody and improve public safety.

The Sheridan Correctional Center applies clinical best practices and uses a modified therapeutic community model with cognitive self-change to help individuals in custody recover from addiction.

The staff also collaborates with other organizations to provide clinical reentry management services and community reintegration, including continuing care provided by community-based substance abuse treatment providers.

Southwestern Illinois Correctional Center

Southwestern Illinois Correctional Center (SWICC) is a substance abuse treatment community dedicated to protecting the public from criminal individuals in custody. Its mission is to provide a safe and secure environment for individuals in custody while offering programs and services to assist them in successful re-entry into the free community.

All individuals in custody housed at SWICC attend substance abuse treatment groups five days per week for a minimum of 15 hours per week. The 91-bed Work Camp on-site provides community service to government and non-profit groups within a 45-mile radius of the institution.

The facility comprises a total of 19 buildings, which consist of four dorm-style housing units, the Work Camp, one 8-bed segregation unit, and a 6-bed health care unit.

The living units participate in evaluating and assessing the performance of the individuals in custody under its direction. The facility sits on a 24-acre site, with 22 acres being enclosed by fencing.

Stateville Correctional Center

Stateville Correctional Center, located in Illinois, is a maximum-security facility designed to provide safe and secure conditions for individuals in custody and staff members. Spanning 2,264 acres of land, the facility is surrounded by a 33-foot wall and guard towers.

It comprises a 32-bed infirmary and three living units that accommodate the general population, segregation, protective custody, and temporary writ individuals in custody.

Additionally, the Northern Reception and Classification Center (NRC) functions as the major adult male intake and processing unit for the entire state, containing 1,800 beds in 24 housing units.

The NRC also features a minimum-security unit that can house up to 384 individuals in custody in two units. Overall, Stateville Correctional Center aims to foster positive attitudes among individuals in custody and provide work and program opportunities to guide them toward successful reintegration into the community.

Taylorville Correctional Center

Taylorville Correctional Center is a Minimum Security Adult Male facility located on Illinois Route 29, 30 miles southeast of Springfield.

The facility opened in 1990 and serves justice in Illinois and the Taylorville community by increasing public safety in an environment that promotes the successful execution of effective reentry programs to positively impact the lives of individuals in custody, thereby reducing recidivism and victimization.

In managing the population, programs provided by the facility are also important. These programs assist with population management and provide opportunities for individuals in custody to improve their life and work skills to enhance their chance of success upon release.

Vandalia Correctional Center

The Vandalia Correctional Center in Illinois has a mission to maintain a safe and secure environment for all staff and individuals in custody while providing programs designed to assist those in custody in their reentry into society.

The center places a high priority on security and accountability to achieve maximum success for these programs. Established as the original prison farm operation in Illinois, the center is located 85 miles southeast of Springfield and houses entirely misdemeanor individuals in custody.

The center has a dorm-type setting with 113 buildings, totaling 412,000 square feet. The total acreage is 1,520 with eight acres contained within the perimeter fence.

Vienna Correctional Center

Vienna Correctional Center is a minimum-security adult male facility located in southern Illinois, adjacent to the Shawnee National Forest.

Its mission is to protect the public through a system of incarceration, supervision, and education by securely supervising individuals in custody while providing a rehabilitative foundation for their reintegration into society.

To encourage positive behavior and rehabilitation, Vienna Correctional Center offers individuals in custody access to a variety of programs. The facility sits on 3,500 acres, with 40 acres enclosed by fences.

Vienna Correctional Center is also the parent facility of the Dixon Springs-Impact Incarceration Program (IIP), which is located in Pope County.

Western Illinois Correctional Center

Western Illinois Correctional Center is a state prison located in Illinois that houses general population individuals in custody.

The center strictly adheres to the mission of the Illinois Department of Corrections, which aims to protect the public by securely segregating individuals in custody from society, while ensuring that their constitutional rights are respected.

The facility has a perimeter fence surrounding 32 acres with 21 buildings inside. These include four housing units, an administration building, a health care unit, receiving and segregation unit, a dietary department, a warehouse and maintenance complex, a multi-purpose building for academic, vocational and gymnasium use, and a Correctional Industry meat processing plant.

The center maintains programs to enhance individuals’ success in re-entering society.

Federal Prisons

Federal Prison Name	Location	Inmate Capacity	Security Level	Gender	Operator/ Manager
MCC Chicago	Chicago, IL	764	All security levels	Male/Female	Federal Bureau of Prisons
FCI Greenville	Greenville, IL	1,048	Medium/ Minimum	Male/Female	Federal Bureau of Prisons
Marion USP	Williamson County, IL	1,231	Medium	Male/Female	Federal Bureau of Prisons
FCI Pekin	Pekin, IL	1,376	Medium/ Minimum	Male/Female	Federal Bureau of Prisons
USP Thomson	Thomson, IL	2,100	High/Medium/Minimum	Male	Federal Bureau of Prisons

Chicago MCC

The Metropolitan Correctional Center, Chicago, commonly known as MCC Chicago, is a federal prison located in Chicago, Illinois.

The facility is used to house male and female inmates of all security levels who are awaiting court proceedings in the Northern District of Illinois or serving short-term sentences. MCC Chicago is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which is a branch of the United States Department of Justice.

The facility is designed to provide secure and humane housing for inmates while they are in custody, and it features a range of amenities and services to support their physical and mental well-being.

MCC Chicago is an important part of the federal prison system, and it plays a critical role in ensuring that justice is served in the Northern District of Illinois.

Greenville FCI

The Federal Correctional Institution Greenville (FCI Greenville) is a medium-security federal prison located in Illinois. The facility houses male offenders and is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice.

Additionally, FCI Greenville has a satellite prison camp that is adjacent to the facility and is specifically designed to house minimum-security female offenders.

The prison is designed to provide a safe and secure environment for its inmates, while also offering various programs and services to help them successfully reintegrate into society upon release.

FCI Greenville follows strict guidelines and protocols to ensure the safety and well-being of both staff and inmates.

Marion USP

Marion USP in Illinois is a large medium-security federal prison for male and female inmates. Located in Southern Precinct, unincorporated Williamson County, the facility is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice.

The prison has a capacity of over 1,100 inmates and also includes an adjacent satellite prison camp for minimum security male offenders.

As a medium-security facility, Marion USP is designed to house inmates who have committed more serious crimes than those in minimum-security facilities, but who are not deemed to be the most dangerous or violent offenders.

The facility provides a range of programs and services designed to help inmates prepare for their eventual release and successful reintegration into society.

Pekin FCI

The Federal Correctional Institution, Pekin (FCI Pekin), is a medium-security federal prison located in Pekin, Illinois. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and houses male inmates. In addition, there is an adjacent satellite prison camp that houses minimum-security female offenders.

FCI Pekin is located approximately 10 miles south of Peoria, making it easily accessible for visitors from surrounding areas. The facility is situated within the city limits of Pekin, Illinois, and is about 180 miles southwest of Chicago and 180 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri.

As a medium-security prison, FCI Pekin provides a secure environment for inmates while also offering various programs and services to help prepare them for reentry into society.

Thomson USP

The United States Penitentiary, Thomson (USP Thomson) is a federal prison located in Thomson, Illinois. This high-security facility spans an area of approximately 146 acres and consists of 15 buildings.

The prison is enclosed by a 15-foot electric fence, followed by a 12-foot exterior fence covered with razor wire. USP Thomson comprises eight cell houses with a rated capacity of 2,100 beds, including 1,900 high-security SMU beds and 200 minimum-security beds at the onsite camp.

Officials have suggested the potential use of some of the high-security rated capacity to house up to 400 ADX inmates.

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