The following is a detailed summary of the Rhode Island State Prison System, with citations, research sources, and weblinks:
Overview
The Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) operates the state’s prison system. As of 2021, Rhode Island had an incarceration rate of 232 per 100,000 residents, the 3rd lowest in the United States.[1] The RIDOC operates 6 correctional facilities housing approximately 2,300 inmates.
Locating an Inmate
Inmate information can be located using the RIDOC Inmate Search online database. Searches can be conducted by inmate ID number, name, or date of birth.
Visitation
Each facility has its own visitation schedule and rules. Generally, visits are allowed on weekends and holidays and must be scheduled in advance. Visitors must be on the inmate’s approved visitor list. The number of visitors, length of visits, dress code, and items allowed vary by facility.
Security Classifications
- High Security – houses inmates considered high risk
- Maximum Security – houses inmates who pose a significant threat
- Medium Security – houses inmates with a moderate risk
- Minimum Security – houses low-risk, non-violent inmates
- Women’s Facilities – house female inmates of all security levels
Parole
The Rhode Island Parole Board uses a variety of risk assessment tools to help inform their decisions about whether to grant or deny parole to an inmate. These assessments aim to predict the likelihood that an offender will re-offend or violate the conditions of their parole if released.
One of the main risk assessments used by the Rhode Island Parole Board is the Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R). The LSI-R is a widely used assessment that measures an offender’s risk of recidivism based on factors such as:
- Criminal history
- Education/Employment
- Financial situation
- FamilyMarital status
- Accommodation, leisure/recreation
- Alcohol/Drug problems
- Emotional/Personal issues
- Attitudes/Orientation
The board also considers the results of other assessments, such as:
- Domestic Abuse evaluations
- Substance abuse evaluations
- Mental health evaluations
- Sex offender risk assessments
The above-specialized assessments provide more detailed information about an offender’s specific risk factors and treatment needs to be related to their type of offense. In addition to these formal assessments, the parole board also takes into account information from the inmate’s institutional record, such as their:
- Disciplinary history
- Participation in programming
- The overall behavior while incarcerated
- The input from victims and law enforcement
It’s important to note that while risk assessments are an important part of the parole decision-making process, they are not the only factor considered. The board must weigh all the available information and use their professional judgment to make a decision that balances the inmate’s potential for rehabilitation with the need to ensure public safety.
Rehabilitative Programs
The RIDOC offers academic education (secondary and post-secondary), vocational training (e.g. welding, carpentry, culinary arts), substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, sex offender treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, anger management, parenting classes, and other programs aimed at rehabilitation and successful reentry.
Pros and Cons of the Rhode Island Prison System:
PROS
- Low incarceration rate compared to other states
- Offers a range of rehabilitative programs
- Most facilities are centrally located in Cranston
CONS
- Old and aging infrastructure, some facilities over 100 years old
- Persistent issues with overcrowding
- High recidivism rates, with over 50% reincarcerated within 3 years of release
Rhode Island Prison News
Rhode Island Prison System Struggles To Recruit Correctional Officers For Its Prisons:
Web Sources and References
https://www.sentencingproject.org/the-facts/#rankings?dataset-option=SIR
http://www.doc.ri.gov/institutions/facilities/
http://www.doc.ri.gov/family-friends/lookup.php
http://www.doc.ri.gov/institutions/facilities/visiting.php
http://www.doc.ri.gov/institutions/facilities/classification.php
https://paroleboard.ri.gov/ http://www.doc.ri.gov/rehabilitative/
https://csgjusticecenter.org/publications/confined-and-costly-how-supervision-violations-are-filling-prisons-and-burdening-budgets/ri/
RHODE ISLAND STATE PRISONS:
Anthony P. Travisono Intake Service Center
Anthony P. Travisono Intake Service Center
8 Wilma Schesler Ln
Cranston, RI 02920
Telephone: (401)-462-2258
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
Anthony P. Travisono Intake Service Center
P.O. Box 8249
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920
Dorothea Dix/Bernadette Minimum Security Facility
Dorothea Dix/Bernadette Minimum Security Facility
Fleming Road
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920
Telephone: (401)-462-3134
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
Dorothea Dix/Bernadette Minimum Security Facility
P.O. Box 8312
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920
Gloria McDonald Awaiting Trial Maximum and Medium Security Facility
Gloria McDonald Awaiting Trial Maximum and Medium Security Facility
15 Fleming Road
Cranston, RI 02920
Telephone: (401)-462-2366
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
Gloria McDonald Awaiting Trial Maximum and Medium Security Facility
P.O. Box 8312
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920
High Security Center
High Security Center
Regan Court
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920
Telephone: (401)-462-2028
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
High Security Center
P.O. Box 8200
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920
John J. Moran Medium Security Facility
John J. Moran Medium Security Facility
40 Howard Ave
Cranston, RI 02920
Telephone: (401)-462-3771
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
John J. Moran Medium Security Facility
P.O. Box 8274
Cranston, RI 02920
Maximum Security
Maximum Security
40 Howard Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920
Telephone: (401)-462-2034
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
Maximum Security
P.O. Box 8273
Cranston, RI 02920
Minimum Security
Minimum Security
40 Howard Ave
Cranston, RI 02920
Telephone: (401)-462-2162
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
Minimum Security
P.O. Box 8212
Cranston, RI 02920
