COVID-19 Response

Confirmed Cases

Data is updated Monday-Friday at approximately 5:00 PM

COVID-19 Vaccine

IDOC medical and mental health staff are included in phase 1A of the State’s vaccination plan and all remaining corrections staff and incarcerated individuals are included in phase 1B. The Department will begin vaccinations for all 1B staff, as well as the incarcerated population, the week of February 14 at East Moline Correctional Center. Local health departments are responsible for storing the vaccine and transporting it to correctional facilities. The vaccine is being administered to staff and the incarcerated population by medical technicians with the Illinois National Guard. All individuals choosing to be vaccinated now will receive their second shot no later than mid-April. IDOC is providing vaccine education to staff and those in custody so they can make an informed decision.

Illinois Vaccination Locations

IDOC Medical Director Vaccine Message

Congressman Danny Davis Video Message

Vaccination of Staff

Staff Vaccination Guide

Understanding the COVID-19 Vaccine

Westside Justice Center Vaccine FAQs

Amend Vaccine FAQs

5 Things You Should Know About the COVID-19 Vaccine

Vaccine Facts

THE COVID-19 VACCINE: thoughts from the team at Restore Justice

Dentons Get Vaccinated Video

Get the Shot PSA

Handout for Rasho Class Members

Congressman Danny Davis Letter

Two Roads: The Vaccine Issue

COVID-19 Testing

IDOC is taking aggressive steps to protect staff and men and women in custody by implementing surveillance and outbreak mitigation testing strategies beginning the week of December 6, 2020. Surveillance testing identifies staff who may have been exposed to COVID-19 infection, regardless of whether symptoms are present at the time. This strategy will be phased in with plans to implement statewide. When implemented at a facility, all staff will be routinely tested and the frequency of testing will be determined by the Office of Health Services based on the positivity rate of the county in which the facility is located. When the Office of Health Services identifies an outbreak at a facility, all staff and individuals in custody at that facility will be tested approximately every three days until no new cases are identified for 14 days. At that time, the outbreak will be considered under control and staff will undergo COVID-19 testing in accordance with the facility surveillance testing protocol. All incarcerated men and women who present COVID-19 symptoms will continue to be tested.

Intra-Agency Transfers and County Jail Intakes

IDOC resumed county jail intakes on August 3, 2020. The Department is making every effort to follow these guidelines as closely as possible to ensure the health and safety of staff, the incarcerated population and the surrounding community. No matter the capacity of our reception centers, individuals who have completed their sentences can still be scheduled for transfer to IDOC where they will be processed and released the same day.

County Jail Intakes 2-23-21

County Jail Intakes Form

Custodial Transfer Summary Form

COVID-19 Supplies

Chemical Inventory 02-24-21

Medical Inventory 02-24-21

Visitation

To prevent the potential for COVID-19 exposure, the Illinois Department of Corrections, after consultation with the Illinois Department of Public Health, temporarily suspended visitation on March 14, 2020 until further notice. We recognize the importance of visitation as an essential component of rehabilitation, family connection and quality of life for those in our care. The Department has expanded opportunities for video visits and phone calls. We encourage families to write to their incarcerated loved ones as often as possible.

Administrative Quarantine

All correctional facilities, Impact Incarceration Programs, and work camps are currently under Administrative Quarantine with no visits. Regular phone and video visit privileges will continue as normal. Administrative Quarantine is an intentional form of restricted movement within a facility to accommodate for unusual needs or circumstances, such as a pandemic outbreak. This measure must be taken to ensure the health and safety of those who live and work in our facilities.

We will continue to ensure men and women in custody receive all necessary treatment and services:

• Showers
• Medical and mental health treatment
• Alternative educational, clinical and substance abuse programming
• Access to the phone and GTL kiosks
• Cleaning supplies
• Law Library
• Commissary
• Leisure Time Services

Medical Quarantine

Facilities with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are placed on Medical Quarantine. Due to the unique characteristics of each facility, a meeting between facility leadership, the Office of Health Services, Mental Health Services, and Operations is held to determine how services can be safely provided to men and women in custody. These services include, but are not limited to: medical care, mental health care, showers, phone access, meals, yard, etc.

Department Communication with Men and Women in Custody

The Department is communicating regularly with people in custody to ensure they feel safe. In addition to memos, information is also being communicated verbally and via television, tablets and MP3 players.

Amend COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs

Additional Free GTL Services

IDOC Responds to Second Wave of COVID-19

Latest COVID-19 Information

New COVID-19 Information

Free Weekly GTL Messages

Yoga Techniques 7

Yoga Techniques 6

Surgical Masks

Yoga Techniques 5

Yoga Techniques 4

Yoga Techniques 3

Yoga Techniques 2

Yoga Techniques 1

COVID-19 Update 4

COVID-19 Update 3

COVID-19 Update 2

Proper Handwashing Technique

Exercise During the Pandemic

COVID-19 Update

Coping with the Stress of COVID-19

Confirmed Cases

John Howard Association

Free GTL Services

Administrative Quarantine

Communication Efforts

Preventative Measures

Limiting Exposure

Proactive Steps to Stay Healthy

News

Governor JB Pritzker and IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike are holding daily press briefings at 2:30PM.  All media inquiries should be emailed to COVID.media@illinois.gov.

IDOC Outbreaks Looking Good Compared to Other States

Kewanee Prison has so far Confined COVID-19

Inmate at Shawnee Correctional Center Sews More than 200 Masks for Seniors

Danville prison keeps positive COVID-19 cases low

IDOC’s Response to House Republicans

Public Health Officials Report Death of Incarcerated Man

Governor JB Pritzker's Executive Orders

On July 27, 2020, Governor JB Pritzker issued an executive order resuming the transfer of individuals from county jails to the Illinois Department of Corrections. All approved transfers to IDOC shall follow the protocol established by IDOC in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Public Health, available here. The Director of IDOC will work closely with county sheriffs and other partners in the criminal justice system to determine whether transfer from specific county jails is feasible and to ensure that the guidelines will be implemented.

On April 6, 2020, Governor Pritzker issued an executive order allowing the time period for medical furloughs to be extended for up to the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations as determined by the Director of IDOC and consistent with the guidance of the IDOC Acting Medical Director. In an effort to protect medically vulnerable offenders from the risk posed by COVID-19 within a correctional setting, the Illinois Department of Corrections is considering offenders for medical furlough who meet the required criteria.

On March 26, 2020, Governor Pritzker issued an executive order suspending all admissions to the Illinois Department of Corrections from all Illinois county jails. The Director of IDOC will work closely with county Sheriffs and other partners in the criminal justice system to discuss any potential exceptions that may be necessary.

Questions about IDOC's Response to COVID-19?

A list of frequently asked questions can be found here.

The Department can be reached by phone or email here. For any medical-related questions, please contact the Illinois Department of Public Health at 1-800-889-3931 or dph.sick@illinois.gov.

Employee Resources

The health and safety of staff is a top priority for the Department. These employee resources will be updated as new information becomes available.

A Message from Director Jeffreys and AFSCME