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DuPage County Jail

501 North County Farm Road
Wheaton, IL 60187
(630) 407-2255

Interview with Sam, Ron, Scott, Michael and Bruce

JM: How long was your sentencing for?
Sam: I was in jail for 90 days waiting for a bed to open in rehab.
Ron: I received first offender felony probation although that's currently in the process of being revoked because I was re-arrested on another class 4 felony narcotics possession.
Scott: I was sentenced to 3 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections where they transferred me to Taylorville Correctional 2 days after pleading guilty.
Michael: I was sentenced to 14 days in Dupage County Jail, and to 24 months of probation. They always cut the actual sentence time in half that the judge hands down so that meant 7 days needed to be served. I only had to serve 5 days because they needed to release me due to overcrowding problems. The probation period was still for 24 months.
Bruce: i was in du page for 6 monthes and my charges carried 1 to 3

JM: Did you spend time in a holding cell after your sentencing? If so, what was that like? If you didn't where did they they take you instead?
Sam: yes It sucked you spend most of the day there freezing because it is cold and meals suck.
Ron: Nope. I received probation.
Scott: After being sentenced your no longer jailed with general population. They put you in a jail pod with current sentenced inmates waiting to be transferred or deported to other institutions.
Michael: No, i was sentenced on 06/02/2007 and was free to go home after sentencing. I had to return to Dupage County Jail on 07/27/07 by 6:00 pm to begin my sentence of 7 days.
Bruce: since i used drugs i was in a holding cell were i did not get to come out for a week it was like a seg cell with all of these people yelling and complining and i just rember being in there hearing the new year count down

Life On The Inside
Every detention facility in the country goes through an accreditation process provided by the American Correctional Association. This is a top to bottom review of the jail to see if it is meeting with various state regulations.

If a jail doesn't boast their accreditation status it might be because they don't have one. The DuPage County Jail has received the highest overall ratings of any correctional facility in the United States. That's good news for the state and good news for the inmates.

The original jail was built next to the courthouse back in 1868 and cost $20,000. Today, after a major expansion, the jail can accommodate 825 inmates which is a reflection of the growing population of DuPage County.

Inmates in DuPage County Jail
The inmates are housed in various pod units. They have access to board games and cards to help pass the time. There is also a television and gym privileges for inmates who remain on good terms with the staff. All it takes is one "rotten apple" to ruin things for the entire population. There is no outdoor time but there is an indoor gym that is available every day.

One of the big issues for inmates is the food. Even with the accreditation, the food at DuPage doesn't get high marks from former inmates. For many the lifeline to combating hunger was their commissary account.

Good Behavior Policy
The DuPage County Jail good behavior policy follows that of the rest of the state. This is a day earned for a day served. Essentially, this can cut a prisoner's sentence in half if they stay on the straight and narrow. An inmate who is written up or spends any time in solitary confinement for fighting or other issues puts that good behavior time in jeopardy.

Visitor and Phone Policy
Inmates are allowed one 30 minute visit a week. If an inmate has achieved trustee status that time is doubled. Any visitor who is 16 years old or older must provide a current photo I.D. upon arrival at the jail. These I.D. have to be state issued.

Phones are situated in every pod unit for inmates to make collect calls on. The charges vary depending on where they might be calling to but there is always an initial connect charge of around $2.50 per call.

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