State of Iowa, Department of Corrections
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Institution Descriptions
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The Iowa Department of Corrections operates nine institutions throughout Iowa. Of these, one is a maximum-security facility, one is a coed facility, and one institution is for women. The Department employs approximately 2,882 staff and supervises approximately 8,200 adult inmates in its institutions.

You must specify the institution or institutions in which you are interested when you complete the State of Iowa Application form so your name can be referred to the institutions of your choice.

Clarinda Correctional Facility
  • Clarinda (Page County)
  • Medium security
  • 712-542-5634
  • 286 Staff
  • 906 Inmates ±

The Clarinda Correctional Facility was established in 1980 as an adult male medium-security prison to serve primarily chemically dependent, mentally retarded and socially inadequate offenders. The facility is located on the grounds of the Mental Health Institute. Numerous programs and services are offered at the Clarinda facility. The Special Learning Unit provides individual treatment for inmates who are mentally retarded, mentally ill, or socially inadequate. This unit also offers protection for persons prone to be victimized by other inmates. Intensive substance abuse programming, licensed by the Iowa Department of Public Health, is provided through the T.O.W. (The Other Way) program. T.O.W. offers many group activities through a “phase” system that uses principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. The program involves a personal examination of the reasons for abuse, obstacles to treatment, and special planning for release. Other programs and services are: computerized educational instruction, industrial arts, a series of social skills classes, special education for eligible individuals, and minimum and medium outside work details.

Correctional Institution for Women
  • Mitchellville (Polk County)
  • Medium security
  • 515-967-4236
  • 190 Staff
  • 510 inmates ±

The Iowa Correctional Institution for Women is a medium/minimum security prison. ICIW houses inmates in its dorm-like living units and celled housing. In addition, a 60 bed return-to-confinement facility provides intensive treatment and programming of repeat offenders who have violated the terms of their probation and parole. ICIW provides educational and vocational services to inmates including Adult Basic Education, special education for eligible individuals, G. E. D., and high school diploma certification. Internal work assignments and vocational training courses in painting and a dietary managers program provide vocational training opportunities. An Iowa Prison Industries print shop also provides on-site vocational training. The institution emphasizes responsibility and accountability in preparing women offenders for successful return to the community. Programs offered focus on interpersonal relationships, domestic violence, career assessment and exploration, self-esteem, parenting, independent living, decision-making skills and thinking patterns, and health education. A substance abuse prevention, assessment, and referral program is licensed by the Iowa Department of Public Health. The facility also houses an in-patient substance abuse treatment program.

Iowa Medical & Classification Center
  • Oakdale (Johnson County)
  • Medium security (Co-ed facility)
  • 319-626-2391
  • 325 Staff
  • 900 inmates ±

The Iowa Medical and Classification Center, located near Oakdale, currently houses approximately 900 inmates. The Center includes a 46-bed accredited psychiatric hospital providing inpatient psychiatric and evaluation services to criminal offenders. IMCC also serves as the reception and classification center for all new commitments to the adult institutional corrections system. A medium security general population unit and a 20-bed special management unit for high-risk female offenders also are in operation at the Oakdale facility. IMCC provides psychiatric, psychological, nursing, pharmacy, pathology, education, and social services to some extent to the other institutions. Educational opportunities available to IMCC patients/inmates include instruction in General Education Development and Adult Basic Education, special education for eligible individuals, and a high school diploma may be earned.

Iowa State Penitentiary
  • Ft. Madison (Lee County)
  • Maximum security
  • 319-372-5432
  • 510 Staff
  • 950 Inmates ±

The Iowa State Penitentiary was established in 1839, the year after Iowa became a territory and seven years before it became a state. The Penitentiary was patterned after the Auburn, New York Penitentiary - a prison within a prison, a cell for each convict. The Penitentiary underwent extensive renovation of its cell houses when “unitization” was introduced in 1982. Unitization divided large cell houses into smaller, self-contained living units that are more easily managed. The Penitentiary is the state’s only maximum-security institution, housing repeat and violent male offenders. The Penitentiary complex includes ISP itself with a court-ordered capacity of 550. In addition, the complex includes the John Bennett Correctional Center, a medium security dormitory adjacent to the Penitentiary currently housing 169 inmates; two minimum security farms located within a few miles of Fort Madison with a combined population of 170, and a ten-bed multiple care unit. A Special Needs Unit for inmates with severe mental health/clinical care needs opened in August, 2002, with 40 inmates and will increase in stages to a population of 120 inmates.

Inmates at the Penitentiary are offered Adult Basic Education and General Education Development classes, special education for eligible individuals, as well as vocational training in upholstering, commercial cooking, auto mechanics, machining, and printing, as well as providing labor for a large crop farm and a cattle and swine operation. Work opportunities with hourly wages are available in Iowa Prison Industries shops at the Penitentiary. A six-month substance abuse program is offered to inmates with drug or alcohol problems, and Alcoholics Anonymous groups operate at the Penitentiary and the John Bennett Center.

Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility
  • Mt. Pleasant (Henry County)
  • Medium security (Co-ed facility)
  • 319-385-9511
  • 340 Staff
  • 960 inmates ±

The MPCF is a medium security institution, which currently houses approximately 875 male inmates. It is designed programmatically for the treatment of male offenders with treatable character disorders and substance abuse problems. The programs focus specifically on sex offenders and substance abusers with a substance abuse program licensed by the State Department of Public Health, and are designed for preparing the inmates for transition back to the community. In addition, MPCF inmates are offered educational and vocational programs, as well as social skills classes, to prepare them for their eventual return to the community setting. The facility is ACA accredited.

A separate unit for approximately 100 female inmates with special programming needs opened in 1999. Fifty-one staff work in the women’s unit.

Anamosa State Penitentiary
  • Anamosa (Jones county)
  • Med-Max security
  • 319-462-3504
  • 357 Staff
  • 1,280 Inmates ±

The Anamosa State Penitentiary is a maximum/medium security institution that currently houses over 1,200 inmates. Programs are offered which provide opportunities to acquire academic and vocational skills. Through a contract with a local community college, inmates may pursue training in welding, horticultural and janitorial services, earn a high school diploma or GED, special education for eligible individuals, or take classes leading to an Associate of Arts degree. Iowa Prison Industries offers a variety of inmate jobs in its metal stamping, custom wood, printing, metal furniture, sign, and cleaning products shops at the Penitentiary. Inmates with substance abuse problems may join Narcotics Anonymous/Alcoholics Anonymous groups, and Corrections staff conduct specialized treatment groups. Luster Heights Work Camp, housing approximately 50 additional inmates, is located in the Yellow River State Forest in northeast Iowa (Allamakee County) and is a minimum custody satellite of the Penitentiary. The facility provides a substance abuse program licensed by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Inmates assigned to this facility work for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and maintain the camp.

North Central Correctional Facility
  • Rockwell City (Calhoun County)
  • Minimum security
  • 712-297-7521
  • 107 Staff
  • 475 Inmates ±

The North Central Correctional Facility houses medium and minimum custody inmates who have been classified low risk offenders, including misdemeanants and felons, which comprise approximately 80% of the population. The institution emphasizes individual accountability and responsibility. In assisting the inmates in this endeavor and in preparing for successful return to the community, the institution offers a wide variety of programs. The education programs are grant-funded and contracted through the local area community college, and include GED, special education for eligible individuals, and the Learning Resource Center, which is a self-study, instructor-assisted curriculum in over 120 academic, pre-vocational and social skills areas. Self-help organizations consist of Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Jaycees.

Work opportunities for inmates are varied, and attempts are made to assign inmates to jobs that utilize their skills. Inmates are assigned in general janitorial work, maintenance of the grounds, care of the extensive yard area and gardens which produce in excess of 30,000 pounds of vegetables annually, assist the instructors in the educational programs so that other inmates can learn, act as cooks and kitchen helpers in the food service operation, and are employed in the maintenance department, as well as in outside work assignments.

Newton Correctional Facility
  • Newton (Jasper County)
  • Medium security
  • 515-792-7552
  • 330 Staff
  • 1,050 Inmates ±

The Newton Correctional Facility is located five miles south of Newton on a 1,476-acre tract of land and includes a minimum-security facility as well as a medium security facility. The Correctional Release Center currently houses inmates in a variety of low-secure living areas and is charged with preparing inmates of Iowa’s correctional institutions for parole or discharge. Correctional Release Center programs emphasize the need for individuals to take responsibility for their own actions and fall into three primary categories: release preparation, challenging criminal thinking, and substance abuse treatment. The substance abuse treatment program, licensed by the Iowa Department of Public Health, includes a substance abuse relapse treatment unit for parolees and work releases who have had substance abuse problems while on release, and a longer-term treatment program for inmates who are preparing for release.

Adult Basic Education, GED classes and special education are provided for eligible individuals. Inmate work may include on-grounds work assignments or, if approved, participation in community service work programs at state agencies or private sector employment. Inmates involved in community service work programs are transported to work sites each day and work under the supervision of non-correctional state employees.

Ft. Dodge Correctional Facility
  • Ft. Dodge (Webster County)
  • Medium security
  • 515-574-4700
  • 366 Staff
  • Rated Capacity - 1162

The Fort Dodge Correctional Facility (FDCF) is a medium security prison originally designed to house 762 adult male offenders in a double occupancy celled environment. Construction began in October 1996 and the facility opened in April 1998. The facility is located on 60 acres of land in southern Fort Dodge. Recognizing the on-going need for public safety even before the first offenders arrived at the facility the legislature and Governor approved an expansion for an additional 400 beds and program space. Work on this addition was completed in late 1999. In FY01 127 two-man cells were converted to house three offenders. Current rated capacity is 1162.

The Unit Management concept is employed at FDCF. The facility’s seven housing units are organized to support positive behavior. In addition to the housing units the facility consists of administration and treatment buildings, a power plant, and a warehouse. Primary perimeter security is provided by a double fence system with electronic detection. FDCF offers a variety of programming and the New Frontiers Substance Abuse Program is licensed by the State of Iowa. FDCF’s Young Offender Program, RIVERS (Redirecting Individual Values, Energy, Relationships, and Skills), is a 5-month voluntary intensive program. In addition to programming offenders are provided work opportunities including private sector jobs inside the fence to assist in developing the skills needed to become a productive and successful citizen.