Maximum security (men) — Indiana's death row for men and the state execution chamber · State Prison · Indiana DOC

Indiana State Prison

Michigan City, LaPorte County, Indiana

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (219) 874-7256 Info last verified: June 2026

Indiana's maximum-security prison for men, in Michigan City — one of the state's oldest prisons, and the site of the men's death row and the state's execution chamber.

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

Indiana State Prison, on Park Row in Michigan City, is a maximum-security prison for men and one of Indiana’s oldest, dating to around 1860. It houses the men’s death row and the state’s execution chamber — by law, executions are carried out here — alongside a maximum-security general population and a smaller minimum-security unit. It holds about 2,200 men. Because of its security level and mission, visiting and movement at the prison can be more controlled than at lower-security facilities, and arrangements vary by housing unit.

What Makes Indiana State Prison Different

It houses the men’s death row and the state’s execution chamber.
It is a maximum-security facility, so visiting, movement, and property are more restricted than at lower-security prisons.
Some housing has non-contact visits, which differ from general-population contact visits — confirm the person’s housing and visit type.
It is in far northwest Indiana, in Michigan City near Lake Michigan, in the Central time zone.

Visiting

The statewide IDOC rules above — the approved visitor list, the dress code, ID, and item limits — apply at Indiana State Prison. The facility’s own arrangements:

The full registration process is in Visiting in Indiana.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on Park Row in Michigan City, in far northwest Indiana.

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

Nearby Services

Michigan City has the full range of gas, food, and lodging. The nearest 24-hour emergency room is Franciscan Health Michigan City.

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.