IA DOC - Iowa State Penitentiary (ISP)

You can support your loved ones at Iowa State Penitentiary on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 319-372-5432.

Located at 2111 330th Ave in Fort Madison, IA, Iowa State Penitentiary carefully assigns inmates based on their custody level, considering factors like criminal history. Iowa State Penitentiary offers diverse educational and vocational programs aimed at equipping offenders for successful reintegration into society and reducing recidivism. Through these initiatives, inmates gain skills and confidence, fostering personal growth and resilience.

When someone you care about ends up in a state prison, it can be tough to navigate the ins and outs of the system. From figuring out how to stay in touch to understanding what you can do to make their time easier, it can feel overwhelming. That's where this webpage comes in handy. It's here to help you get the lowdown on IA DOC - Iowa State Penitentiary (ISP) so you can stay connected and support your loved one during their time inside.

Communication is important, the prison offers a phone program for outbound calls only, with inmates unable to receive incoming calls. Accepting collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, especially if the communication with your inmate is frequent. It's important to remember that all phone calls are recorded, and discussing sensitive legal matters over these lines is discouraged.

While incarcerated, reading is often the best use of time. Please note that books and magazines, puzzles, and word searches ordered for inmates must come directly from the publisher. This policy ensures that the items are new, untampered, and comply with the facility's regulations. Prisons and jails enforce this rule to prevent the introduction of contraband or prohibited materials. By restricting orders to publishers, the facility can better maintain security and control over the content entering the institution. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected and not delivered to the inmate. You may, however, send letters and selfies to inmates with this easy-to-use app, packages starting at only $8.00.

The Iowa State Penitentiary is the only maximum-security prison in the state capable of housing about 843 inmates. It was established in 1839, the year after Iowa became a territory and seven years before it became a state and was patterned after the Auburn, New York Penitentiary - a prison within a prison, a cell for each convict. The Penitentiary underwent an 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.