Indiana Department of Correction

06/05/2026

Congratulations, Ofc. Lonzo Eans, on your recent retirement! Thank you for three decades of dedication to the IDOC and the State of Indiana! 👊

06/03/2026

The Indiana Department of Correction recently hosted a ceremony for 14 graduates of a rigorous culinary academy that prepares incarcerated individuals for employment after release.

The 16-week training course, IN2WORK (I2W), is tailored to those serving time in correctional facilities.

To graduate from the program, participants must pass the national ServSafe certification exam, qualifying them for jobs in the food and beverage industry.

“Not being able to find a job after release is a big risk factor for returning to prison,” IDOC Commissioner Lloyd Arnold said. “That’s what makes IN2WORK so valuable: employed parolees are much more likely to successfully reintegrate into their communities.”

The program is administered by Aramark, food-services partner of the Indiana Department of Correction.

06/02/2026

Congratulations to Janna Anderson, who works at Wabash Valley Correctional Facility, for 50 years of state service! Thank you, Janna, for your outstanding commitment to the Hoosier state. 👏🎉

06/01/2026

Train. Prepare. Achieve as a team. 🤝

The IDOC Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) includes specially selected and trained personnel skilled in entry tactics, precision weapons, hostage rescue, high-security transportation, and other specialized areas.

Photos below are from a recent exercise in which the team continued to expand its knowledge of mission readiness as a part of its continued commitment to public safety.

05/26/2026

2025 brought another year of progress, prosperity, and productivity for the Indiana Department of Correction.

From major projects, including the continued construction of the new state-of-the-art Westville Correctional Facility, to new technology for our officers and more graduates from our successful programs, the IDOC continues to promote public safety by providing effective opportunities for successful reentry.

Want to know what the IDOC was up to in 2025? Take a look at our annual report here:

2025 YEAR IN REVIEW Strengthen • Inspire • Reform INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION Table of Contents 03 04 06 10 12 14 16 20 22 24 26 28 Welcome Message Ab

05/25/2026

Once a month, young people gather at Elkhart’s Tolson Center for a haircut. The haircuts are free, and the barbers are residents of the Indiana Department of Correction’s South Bend Community Reentry Center.

See story link in comments.

05/18/2026

Leaders at the IDOC are committed to constantly learning and growing, and that's why these individuals completed the Executive Leadership Program!

It's a four-day training program held at the Correctional Training Institute that provides foundational knowledge of capital projects, facility management, organizational classification, Community Advisory Boards, and legislative affairs. Participants are able to take part in small group discussions and engage with IDOC’s executive leadership team to learn from their experience. Participants will continue to develop their professional careers through a year of mentorship with previous graduates of IDOC’s Executive Leadership Program.

Congratulations to Nicholas Sprague, Ty Robbins, Michael Gilbert, Dustin Wrightsman, Sonya Phipps, Kristal Shriner, Madison Kelly, Carolyn Hulett, Bobby Yarborough, Christopher Meredith, Chris Tanis, William Phipps, Travis Goffinet, Colin Wonder, and John Tomaw!👩‍🎓👨‍🎓🎉

05/15/2026

🇺🇸 The Indiana Department of Correction honored the lives lost in the line of duty at a Fallen Staff Ceremony yesterday at the Correctional Training Institute in New Castle.

The ceremony, led by Deputy Commissioner Christine Blessinger, included the Posting of Colors by the Honor Guard, a prayer, remarks from Commissioner Lloyd Arnold, a moment of silence and a memorial tribute by Chief of Staff James Basinger, followed by the Retiring of Colors.

As the name of each fallen staff member was read, a memorial bell was rung and a rose was placed in their honor.

The names of the staff members remembered include:
Michael R. Keel (2023) - Indiana State Prison
Eugene L. Lasco (2021) - Indiana State Prison
Timothy A. Betts (2012) - Wabash Valley Corr. Facility
Robert J. Statzer (2008) - Pendleton Correctional Facility
Jerome Brewer (2007) - Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility
Virgil A. Reel (2001) - Putnamville Correctional Facility
Phillip K. Curry (1994) - Indiana State Prison
William W. Wilson (1987) - Westville Correctional Facility
Vanessa Cook (1980) - Gary Parole
Harold E. Rice (1976) - Indiana State Prison
John H. Grimm (1921) - Indiana Reformatory – Jeffersonville
Charles V. Orem (1919) - Indiana Reformatory – Jeffersonville
David M. Lovette (1918) - Indiana Boys School
Paul Stokeberry (1918) - Indiana Boys School
Ora D. Ambrose (1913) - Indiana Boys School
William H. Spears (1913) - Indiana Boys School
Hiram B. McWilliams (1911) - Indiana Reformatory – Jeffersonville
George A. Chamberlain (1874) - Indiana State Prison – Jeffersonville

Through these efforts, IDOC aims to remember and recognize those who have bravely served the department.

05/14/2026

A behind-the-scenes look at the progress happening at the new Westville State Prison: The Southern Indiana Regional SITCON team recently visited the site to learn more about the transition process, ongoing construction efforts, and the planning taking place across multiple areas of the agency.

The new state-of-the-art facility is designed to support modern correctional practices and long-term operational needs.

IDOC broke ground in 2023 on the $1.2B new facility, which will replace the current Westville Correctional Facility in La Porte County.

Westville Correctional Facility, originally a state-run mental hospital, has operated as a correctional facility since 1979, and its infrastructure can no longer support
our growing population.

The new facility is scheduled to open in 2027.

🎥 Watch the Work: You can view a time lapse of the construction from the groundbreaking in 2023 to today on our YouTube channel, . 👀

05/12/2026

ViaPath Service Update: ViaPath is currently working to resolve issues affecting AutoPay notifications and some payment functions within the iPhone mobile app. Android devices are operating normally at this time. Additional updates will be shared as they become available.