IN DOC – Wabash Valley Correctional Facility

IN DOC – Wabash Valley Correctional Facility basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 812-398-5050

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at Wabash Valley Correctional located at 6908 S Old US Hwy 41 in Carlisle, IN are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

Established – 1992
Security Level – Minimum and Maximum
Average Daily Population – 2061
Housing – Dormitories and Celled space

The Wabash Valley Correctional Facility has the responsibility of managing some of the most problematic offenders in the state (maximum-security, restricted status housing, and offenders with mental and physical challenges, end of life offenders).

Minimum-security is a dormitory setting, located outside the maximum-security fence. It consists of two open-bay wings housing up to 198 offenders.

Maximum-security north has three housing units, three with 88 two-man cells. Another unit (DHU) has a unique mission, housing offenders in the (SNAP) Special Needs Acclimation Program with 28 cells on the left side. An additional wing, with 16 cells, is a pre-hearing restricted status housing unit. The right-wing, with 44 cells, houses general population. All cells are double bunked. Average cell size is 8 by 12 feet.

The north side Secured Confinement Unit is a disciplinary/administrative restricted status housing complex, housing up to 288 offenders in single cells.

Maximum-security south includes five units, each housing up to 200 offenders in two-man cells, except for K-Unit, which has been designated as a Special Needs Unit for mentally ill offenders. There is also a 72 single cell unit on the south campus devoted to administrative and short-term restricted status housing offenders. An infirmary unit houses up to 14 offenders.

The perimeter of the facility is surrounded by two fences with rolls of razor ribbon at the bottom, center and top of the outer chain link fence, which is 14 feet high. The two fences are approximately twenty feet apart. The inner fence is a 15 feet high non-lethal $750,000 electrified “stun fence” installed in March of 2011. A microwave movement detection system is installed between the inner and outer fences. Positioned at points around the perimeter fence are 6 security towers, with armed officers in 2 strategic-need towers, providing 24-hour surveillance on the perimeter (the stun fence addition negated need to staff 4 towers); a seventh “high” tower is centrally located in the South-side recreation yard. The perimeter fence is penetrated by 2 sally-ports. Two armed motor patrol officers are also assigned outside the perimeter fence 24 hours a day. Approximately 88 acres are enclosed within the perimeter fence. At the front entrance, on the west side of the facility, rest the Administration/Visitor Processing Building and the Radio Building.

Offenders are involved in the production of a wide variety of products offered through the Prison Enterprises Network. PEN Products includes a Print, License Tag, Wiring Harness and Web Gear operation, which produces products for our armed forces. A minimum-security labor line has been instrumental in providing much-needed services to area communities, providing labor for projects which otherwise would be impossible to complete. Additional crews are assigned to the Department of Natural Resources.

The Education Department offers a wide range of opportunities to offenders. The facility T.A.S.C. program is coordinated through a contract with Oakland City University. Vocational Education focuses on a comprehensive Building Maintenance program. Literacy and Special Education programming is also offered to offenders through Oakland City University.

U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship Certificates is available to offenders in eight different occupational titles including the facility printing operation and food service, enhancing their employability upon release.

Community Services at Wabash Valley coordinates a wide variety of programs to offenders, depending on strong volunteer support from area communities. Over 375 volunteers provide services to Education, Religious Services, Recreation, Substance Abuse and Re-Entry Programs. The facility Fatherhood Program is a character based education and support endeavor that helps incarcerated fathers develop skills to become more involved and supportive with their children.

Another P.L.U.S. for the facility is Purposeful Living Units Serve, a faith and character-based housing unit. Emphasis is placed on spiritual, moral and character development for offenders choosing to take part, all determined to improve their lives as they return to society as law-abiding citizens. The PLUS program received the Indiana Correctional Association 2008 Program of the Year award.

The facility operates an extensive recycling program. Waste paper and other cardstock, cardboard, steel food cans, beverage cans, scrap steel, aluminum, copper, brass and motor oil solvents are recycled through contractors, and pull-tabs from aluminum soda pop cans are recycled for the Ronald McDonald House.

New in 2012, recycling barrels have been placed in all housing units (with the exception of the SNU unit). Aluminum soda cans and plastic bottles are being placed in the barrels for recycling. The recycling effort also created four new offender jobs for separation and movement of the materials.

The Indiana Department of Correction offers a wide selection of programming, courses, and activities based on the facility’s need and the offenders’ needs, as well as available resources. Listed below are a number of current programming opportunities available at the facility. While some are led by staff, many are volunteer-driven. If you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities, please visit our Volunteer page. For more information on these programs and/or a complete listing of the programs the IDOC offers, please visit the IDOC Programs page.

• Thinking For A Change
• Oakland City University Correspondence Classes
• Purposeful Living Units Serve (PLUS)
• Fatherhood Program (Inside Out Dads)
• Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT)
• Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP)
• Substance Abuse
• AA / NA
• Re-Entry Programming – S.T.A.R.T. / T.I.P.S.
• Reentry Program
• ABE/TASC (Adult Basic Education / Test Assessing Secondary Completion / High School Equivalency)
• Vocational Education
  • NCCER – Building Trades
  • MS/ME – Master Student to Master Employee (JHU Only)
• Developing Problem Solving Strategies
• Compassionate Companion Program
• Literacy Life Skills
• Suicide Watch Companions
• U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship Programs
• PEN Products
  • Bindery Worker
  • Offset Press Operator 1
  • Sewing Machine Repair
  • Machine Operator 1
  • Electronic Prepress System Operator
  • Material Coordinator
  • Assembler Electromechanical
  • Assembly Technician
  • Housekeeper Commercial Residential Industries
  • Inspector Quality Assurance
  • Office Manager Administrative Services
  • Patternmaker
• Aramark IN2Work
  • Office Manager
  • Cook
• Facility
  • Machine Operator 1
  • Barber
  • Housekeeper
  • Landscape Technician
  • Teacher’s Aide
  • Officer Manager
  • Maintenance Worker

Wabash Valley Correctional Facility is located in Carlisle Indiana. It is a mixed custody level prison, housing inmates from minimum to maximum security. Currently this institution can house approximately 2,199 male inmates. Offenders in minimum security are housed in a dormitory setting just outside of the maximum security perimeter fence. The maximum security units are surrounded by two fences one of which is electrified. A movement detection system and security towers with armed guards prevents any attempts of escape.

Inmates can receive an education while incarcerated and can even earn a GED. Vocational programs offer skills to inmates in building maintenance and food service. Substance abuse treatment, parenting classes, and a variety of counseling is also made available for inmates. Offenders can work in the correctional industries as a bindery worker, an offset press operator, sewing machine operator, computer operator, assembler in electromechanical, housekeeping, material coordinator, office management, quality assurance inspector and other work details.

visitation Info

IN DOC – Wabash Valley Correctional Facility – Visitation

Visitation hours for all areas of Wabash Valley Correctional Facility, EXCEPT J-Housing Unit, are from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

Visiting hours for J-House Unit (Minimum Security Offenders) is from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Tuesdays and Wednesday; Weekends/state holidays from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Holidays: All Housing Units from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Please remember to always contact the facility before coming to visit, for the latest visit updates.  Call 812-398-5050, extension 3165. For additional facility information,  please call 812-398-5050, extension 4500.

• WVCF Visitation Guidelines
• IDOC Visitation Policy