The John Howard Association (JHA) visited Stateville Northern Reception & Classification Center (NRC) on July 12, 2011. It is the state’s largest intake, classification, and processing unit for male inmates entering state custody.
Read JHA's most recent report here. (PDF)
Vital Statistics
Population: 1,993
Rated Capacity: 1,800
Average Cost: N/A
Average Age: N/A
(Source: IDOC, 11/07/2011)
Key Observations
- NRC serves as the first point of contact for the majority of male prisoners in the Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC), receiving and classifying approximately 4,000 new inmates each month. The facility also houses inmates scheduled to appear in court in the state’s northern counties and recently released inmates who are charged with violating the conditions of their parole.
- According to DOC medical administration, while NRC screens inmates for tuberculosis, electrolytes, kidney function, liver enzyme abnormalities, and syphilis, it does not currently screen for HIV or Hepatitis C.
- NRC must rely upon inmates self-reporting their mental health and medical conditions because the state lacks a reliable system to pass information between county jails, mental health facilities, and the prison system.
- According to administration, the typical length of stay for inmates sent to NRC for processing is 14 days depending on bed space, while the average length of stay for inmates charged with parole violations is between two to three months.
- NRC inmates live in double-bunked cells that do not contain windows. They are permitted one shower, five hours of yard time, and one ten-minute phone call per week.
JHA's work on healthcare in the Illinois Department of Correction is supported by a generous grant from the Michael Reese Health Trust
