Recognizing that the experience of having a loved one or friend incarcerated can be difficult and stressful, the Rhode Island Department of Corrections has centralized the most sought-after offender-related information under one link on its website. By clicking the “Friends, Family and Visitors of Inmates” link on the left-hand pull-down menu on the home page, www.doc.ri.gov, visitors to the site will find a list of applicable policies, the visitor dress code, links to frequently asked questions, specifics on how to contact facilities and whom to contact
“Much of this information was already elsewhere on the site,” notes Corrections Director A.T. Wall II, “but it was difficult to access and somewhat buried. By consolidating it under one link,” he continues, “we hope to cut down on unnecessary calls and correspondence and provide quick and helpful answers under one heading.”
The RIDOC overhauled its website in March of 2007 with the technical assistance of Ri.gov and the Department of Administration’s Division of Information Technology (DoIt). In May of 2007, it added the Public Inmate Search function, allowing visitors to search for information on currently incarcerated inmates. Updates to the site are made on a continuous basis.