Minimum security (men) — re-entry center · State Prison · Indiana DOC

Chain O'Lakes Correctional Facility

Albion, Noble County, Indiana

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (260) 636-3114 Info last verified: June 2026

A minimum-security prison for men in Albion, in northeastern Indiana.

Statewide rules that apply at every Indiana state prison

These rules are set by Indiana DOC and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in Indiana.

Dress code

Dress modestly: no revealing, sheer, see-through, or tight clothing; no shorts, miniskirts, or skirts and dresses above the knee; and no tank tops, halter tops, or bare midriffs.
Do not wear clothing that resembles what incarcerated people or staff wear (for example, all-khaki outfits) or any gang-related attire, and wear appropriate undergarments. Each facility sets and enforces the specific dress code, so confirm it before visiting.

ID: Every visitor must first register and be approved on the incarcerated person's visitor list (up to 12 approved visitors) through ViaPath — visitors are not added at the door — and each visitor age 16 or older must show a valid government-issued photo ID at every visit.
What to bring: Bring only what the facility allows — generally a photo ID and a car key; phones, bags, and gifts are not permitted inside, and money for the person is sent through ViaPath (ConnectNetwork), never handed over at a visit. Confirm the specific facility's rules on lockers and any vending.
Scheduling: Register and schedule visits through ViaPath at idoc.gtlvisitme.com; all visit scheduling uses Eastern time, even at facilities in Indiana's Central-time zone. Each prison sets its own visiting days, hours, and limits, so confirm them with the facility. A newly committed person is held at a reception center — the Reception-Diagnostic Center in Plainfield for men, Rockville for women — until classification, then transfers to a permanent prison, with limited visiting during reception.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Indiana

Overview

Chain O’Lakes Correctional Facility, in Albion, is a minimum-security prison for men in northeastern Indiana, near Fort Wayne. IDOC does not publish a current population count for the facility, which is described here by security level rather than a number.

What Makes Chain O’Lakes Different

It is a minimum-security facility, which differs from the close- and maximum-security prisons elsewhere in the Indiana system.
It is in Albion, in northeastern Indiana, near Fort Wayne.

Visiting

The statewide IDOC rules above — the approved visitor list, the dress code, ID, and item limits — apply at the Chain O’Lakes Correctional Facility. The facility’s own arrangements:

The full registration process is in Visiting in Indiana.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is in Albion, in Noble County, in northeastern Indiana.

Distances are approximate, based on map routing. Visitor parking is on site.

Nearby Services

Albion and the nearby Kendallville and Fort Wayne areas have the full range of gas, food, and lodging. The nearest 24-hour emergency rooms are in the Kendallville and Fort Wayne areas.

Mail

Incoming personal mail goes to the prison, but the incarcerated person receives a photocopy, not the original. Indiana does not use an off-site mail vendor — each prison’s mailroom opens and photocopies incoming letters and photos in black and white and delivers the copy. Address mail with the person’s full name and IDOC number to the facility’s mailing address (above). Legal mail is opened in the person’s presence, and books must be new and shipped directly from a publisher or retailer. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone in an Indiana state prison:

Visiting in Indiana — registering visitors, the dress code, and scheduling through ViaPath
Mail & Packages — in-facility mail photocopying and what goes to the prison
Phone & Video Calls — ViaPath calls, tablets, video visits, and GettingOut messages
Sending Money — depositing through ViaPath (ConnectNetwork)
Medical & Mental Health — sick call, the co-pay, and the Ombudsman Bureau
Transfers & Finding Someone — reception, classification, and the locator

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.