WRC is a work release state correctional facility in Winnebago, WI, operated by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. Inmates here are serving sentences of one year or more under Wisconsin law. This page was last verified August 2026.
"WRC is a state correctional facility in Winnebago, WI, operated by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections."
InmateAid has been helping families navigate state prisons, county jails, and federal facilities since 2012. Our founder served 66 months in federal custody. We know what long-term incarceration looks like from the inside, and we built this resource so families do not have to figure it out alone. InmateAid holds a BBB A+ rating.
"My husband has been at a state prison for three years. InmateAid helped me figure out visits, calls, and how to support him through programs. It made an impossible situation manageable."
-- A spouse in Wisconsin
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If your family member has been transferred into Wisconsin Department of Corrections custody, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections maintains an online inmate search you can use to confirm their current location and assignment. You can also use InmateAid's inmate locator to search by name across Wisconsin facilities.
State prison assignments can change - people are moved between facilities for classification, programming, disciplinary reasons, or population management. If they were recently transferred into DOC custody, give the system 24 to 48 hours to update before assuming results are wrong. You can also pull their arrest record and conviction details to confirm the case status. For direct questions, call WRC at 920-426-4310.
Most people do not go directly from arrest to a state prison. After sentencing, your family member is transported from the county jail to a Wisconsin Department of Corrections intake or reception facility where they are processed, evaluated, and assigned to a permanent institution. That process typically takes two to six weeks depending on the state and current facility capacity.
During the reception period communication is often limited and the facility assignment is temporary. Do not set up phone accounts or plan visits until you have confirmed the permanent assignment - it will almost certainly not be the reception facility. Once the permanent assignment is made, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections inmate locator will update with the new location. That is the moment to set up calls, plan your first visit, and get money on the books. Read InmateAid's what to expect in prison guide for a full walkthrough of the intake and transfer process.
WRC is a work release security facility. Security level determines the level of supervision, freedom of movement, programs available, and the general daily experience for the people inside.
In most state systems: minimum security means lower supervision, more movement, and access to work programs and community activities. Medium security is the most common level - structured but not maximum restriction. Maximum or close custody means the highest supervision, most restricted movement, and most limited program access. Security levels can change based on behavior, new charges, or sentence stage - your family member's level may shift over time. Contact WRC at 920-426-4310 or the Wisconsin Department of Corrections directly for specific information about what work release means at this facility.
"Contact WRC at 920-426-4310 or the Wisconsin Department of Corrections to confirm the security classification at this facility and what it means for daily life, programs, and visitation."
Your family member calls you - you cannot call them.
Calls from WRC go through the facility's contracted phone provider. Visit InmateAid's prison calls page to find the current provider for this facility and get your account set up before the first call.
Regular phone contact is one of the most consistent factors in how well someone manages a long sentence. It matters more than most people on the outside realize.
State prison visitation requires advance registration in most Wisconsin facilities. You cannot show up without being on the approved visitor list. Contact WRC at 920-426-4310 or visit the Wisconsin Department of Corrections website to begin the registration process - approval can take days to weeks, so start early.
Once approved, visitation hours and rules are set by the facility and can change. General rules across most Wisconsin state prisons: dress conservatively, avoid colors or patterns that resemble inmate clothing, leave your phone and valuables in your car or facility lockers, bring valid government-issued ID, and follow the facility dress code strictly - violations mean a turned-away visit. Children require specific authorization in most state systems. Read InmateAid's prison visitation guide for a full checklist and Wisconsin-specific registration guidance.
Visits are worth the effort. For someone serving years, a face-to-face visit is something they think about for weeks before and after. Do not let the process discourage you.
WI DOC - Wisconsin Resource Center (WRC)
Family members, friends, and others who provide support to our residents are encouraged to visit.
- Visitors must be on the resident's approved visitation list through the completion of a visitor questionnaire generated by the resident.
- Visitors must pre-schedule their visits for both in-person and Zoom visit requests.
- Residents are allowed one Zoom visit per week, and two in-person visits per week. Only one of the in-person visits can be on the weekend (Saturday or Sunday). The visiting week is defined as Monday through Sunday.
Visiting hours
-
Mondays and Tuesdays: 30-minute Zoom visits
6:20 p.m. to 6:50 p.m.
7:10 p.m. to 7:40 p.m.
8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. -
Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays: 2-hour in-person visits
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. -
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays: 2-hour in-person visits
8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
In-person visitation will be hosted on holidays. Holidays include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. Zoom visitation will not take place on holidays recognized on a Monday or Tuesday.
We can host up to four Zoom visits at one time during the Zoom visitation time slots.
We can host up to eight in-person visits at one time during the in-person visitation time slots. Each resident is permitted six in-person visitors per visit.
Prior to any visit starting, all visitors will be required to show valid identification. Children and minors are able to visit as long as they are on the approved visitation list and have an approved adult present.
How to schedule a visit
Visits are scheduled in the order they are received.
To schedule a Zoom visit or an in-person visit, send the following information to dhswrcvisitation@dhs.wisconsin.gov (or call 920-426-4310, ext. 4182):
- Name and DOC number of the person you wish to visit.
- Preferred date and time of the visit, within the days and hours listed above.
- Any alternative dates/times that work within the days and hours listed above.
- Names and dates of birth of all visitors who will be present either on the Zoom call or in-person.
Staff will respond to your message within three business days.
Notes: Staff may cancel visits at any time. Visits also may be canceled if the resident is in disciplinary status or medical quarantine. Zoom visits will be canceled if technology issues prevent a connection from being established. Staff will try for 15 minutes after the scheduled start time to make a connection before canceling the visit. Zoom visits will not be extended past the scheduled time slots if the start of the visit was delayed for any reason, including technology issues.
Visiting rules
- Please review the Resident Visitor Information Pamphlet, P-20402 (PDF).
- The tone and subject of the conversations must reasonable. One warning will be issued before a visit is terminated due to inappropriate conversations.
- Visitors are not permitted to record or photograph visits.
- Appropriate visiting room attire is required for visitation. Visitors cannot have any of the following:
- Exposed undergarments
- Clothing with revealing holes, tears, or slits
- Clothing or accessories with obscene or profane writing, images, or pictures
- Gang-related clothing, headwear, shoes, logos, or insignias
- Transparent/translucent (see-through) clothing
- Only those scheduled to visit may be on the visitation screen on Zoom. Visits will be terminated if unapproved visitors are present.
- Visitation will be terminated immediately if there is any suspicion of illegal activities or inappropriate behavior, including:
- A range of provocative or suggestive behaviors including sexual acts, nudity, or posing
- Drug and alcohol use during the visit
- Showing of objects identified as a threat (firearms, weapons, knives, etc.)
- Inappropriate location of visitor (bar, nightclub, etc.) (Zoom visits)
- Operating a vehicle during the scheduled visit (Zoom visits)
Last revised September 15, 2023
The commissary account - also called the trust account - gives your family member access to hygiene items, snacks, phone time, postage, and in some facilities tablets and email services. For a long sentence, keeping money on the books is one of the most sustained practical contributions you can make.
Steps to send money to WRC:
1. Go to InmateAid's send money page to confirm the approved deposit method for this facility
2. Have your family member's full legal name and Wisconsin Department of Corrections inmate number ready - not the old county booking number, the DOC number assigned at intake
3. Choose online deposit, phone deposit, or facility kiosk
4. Use the name and number exactly as they appear in the DOC system - any error will delay or reject the deposit
Mail is a lifeline for people serving long sentences. A letter written on a Tuesday arrives on a Friday and gets read multiple times. Do not underestimate it.
WRC accepts incoming mail addressed to your family member at 1505 North Dr. Include their full legal name and Wisconsin Department of Corrections inmate number on every piece - not the county booking number. Standard rules at most Wisconsin state prisons: plain white paper only, no staples, no glitter, no stickers, no colored ink. Photos should be standard print size with nothing written on the back. State prisons tend to have stricter mail rules than county jails - when in doubt keep it simple or the mail will be rejected without notice.
InmateAid's send mail service prints and mails on approved stock from your phone or computer. Formatting rejection is not a risk.
Books and magazines must come new, ordered directly from the publisher or an online retailer. Order through Amazon or directly from the publisher - anything shipped from a personal address will be rejected.
Programs matter for two reasons: they make the time more bearable and in many states they affect parole eligibility and good-time credits. Encouraging your family member to participate is one of the best things you can do for their long-term outcome.
State prison programs vary by facility and security level but commonly include GED and high school equivalency courses, vocational and trade certification, substance abuse treatment, cognitive behavioral programs, religious programming, and work assignments. Contact WRC at 920-426-4310 to ask specifically which programs are available at this facility and what the enrollment process looks like. Program availability changes based on funding and staffing - what was offered last year may not be offered now.
Most people in Wisconsin state prisons will be eligible for parole consideration before completing their full sentence, depending on the offense and sentencing structure. Parole is not automatic - it requires a hearing, a parole plan, and in most states a review of institutional behavior, program participation, and victim input.
Families play a real role in the parole process. A stable release address, demonstrated family support, and a documented reentry plan all strengthen a parole application. Start thinking about this early - not the week before the hearing but as soon as your family member is assigned to their permanent facility. InmateAid's parole and probation guide covers the process in Wisconsin including how hearings work, what the board looks for, and what families can do to support a successful outcome.
Note on sentencing structure: parole eligibility varies significantly by state and offense type. Some Wisconsin sentences are determinate - meaning the release date is fixed and parole as traditionally understood does not apply. Contact the Wisconsin Department of Corrections or a Wisconsin-licensed attorney for guidance specific to your family member's sentence structure.
People in state prison retain specific legal rights even while incarcerated - the right to medical care, the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment, the right to access the courts, and protections against excessive force. If your family member experiences a serious problem at WRC, there are channels to address it.
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections has a formal grievance process your family member can initiate from inside. If the internal process does not resolve the issue, outside advocacy organizations, legal aid, and in serious cases federal civil rights complaints are available. InmateAid's inmate rights guide explains what rights are protected, how the grievance process works in Wisconsin, and when to involve outside help.
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections system is its own world - policies, programs, visitation rules, phone vendors, and what happens at release all vary in ways that matter to your family. InmateAid's Wisconsin prison resources hub covers all of it in one place, written specifically for families navigating the Wisconsin system.
Have a specific question from someone who has been through it? Browse real questions and answers at InmateAid Wisconsin Q&A.
Frequently Asked Questions about WRC
How long does the DOC intake process take after sentencing?
After sentencing most people spend two to six weeks at a Wisconsin Department of Corrections reception facility before being assigned to a permanent institution. During that period they are evaluated for security level, programming needs, and facility placement. Location will change - do not set up phone accounts or plan visits until the permanent assignment is confirmed in the DOC inmate locator.
What is the difference between state prison and county jail?
County jail is a short-term facility operated by the county sheriff, typically holding people awaiting trial or serving sentences under one year. State prison is operated by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for sentences of one year or more after conviction. WRC is a state prison - your family member has been convicted and sentenced, and their case has moved past the pretrial stage.
How do I find my family member's DOC inmate number?
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections assigns a unique inmate number at reception intake. This number - not the county booking number - is what you need for phone accounts, money deposits, and mail. Find it through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections inmate search online or by calling WRC at 920-426-4310.
Can my family member earn early release through good behavior or programs?
Most Wisconsin sentences carry some form of good time credit or program credit that can reduce time served before parole eligibility. The specific rules depend on the offense, sentence structure, and Wisconsin Department of Corrections policy. Contact WRC or the Wisconsin Department of Corrections directly for information on your family member's specific situation.
What should I do if I am concerned about my family member's safety inside?
Contact WRC at 920-426-4310 immediately if you have a specific credible safety concern. If you do not receive a satisfactory response, escalate to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections central office. For serious concerns involving threats, assault, or retaliation, InmateAid's inmate rights guide covers the escalation process and outside advocacy options.
Long sentences change everything - the rhythms of family life, the way you plan, what you hope for and when. The families who do best are the ones who stay connected consistently over time, not just in the first months. Calls, letters, visits when possible, money on the books. And knowing that when something goes wrong inside, there are people on the outside paying attention.
InmateAid was built for the long road. We are not going anywhere either.