North Idaho Correctional Institution (NICI) – Overview and Information
North Idaho Correctional Institution (NICI) is a medium-security facility located in Cottonwood, Idaho, operated and managed by the Idaho Department of Corrections along with five other prisons in the State. Established in April 1975, NICI has a capacity of 654 beds with housing for minimum security inmates, general population medium security inmates, and segregation cell inmates.
The primary mission of NICI is to ensure the safety of staff, inmates, and the public while providing correctional program services and responsibility of security. The facility supervises and provides safe and humane custody, security, and programs for all inmates in its care and custody.
Inmates at NICI are offered a variety of opportunities for self-improvement through vocational and educational programs, as well as leisure activities and religious services. Vocational education opportunities are available through the facility’s partnership with local community college partners. Inmates at NICI also have the chance to pursue onsite education courses such as GED, adult basic education, reentry, and alcohol and drug abuse prevention classes.
Inmate safety is a top priority at NICI. The facility has an aggressive zero-tolerance policy for contraband and offenders are subject to random searches and cell searches to ensure the safety of other inmates and staff at all times. All campus security measures comply with state and federal law, and the facility has also implemented an unrestrained access program, allowing visitors access to the facilities without an escort.
NICI offers a variety of services and programs for both inmates and their families members. The facility has a Family Services Department which provides assistance to families of inmates. They offer family reunification, emotional support, a reentry program and other various programs helping families to get through the challenges associated with incarceration.
At NICI, correctional staff help inmates build a better future and transition to a life of stability and peace. This includes providing inmates with the skills and support needed to become successful, productive members of society upon their release.
North Idaho Correctional Institution (NICI) – Classes, Services, and Programs
Located in Cottonwood, Idaho, the North Idaho Correctional Institution (NICI) is an Idaho State Correctional Center. It is the only mixed-custody, secure-facility and medium-security prison in Idaho. NICI is a minimum-security facility and holds offenders who pose the least risk to society. It is the home of the Idaho Department of Correction’s Pre-Release and Reentry program.
Classes
NICI offers educational courses to its inmates. These include basic literacy, student success, technical writing, effective communication, and reading to name a few. Offenders can also take courses in areas such as health and wellness, food safety, computer skills, and industrial skills.
Services
NICI has a mental health unit that offers psychological testing and assessments, medication management services, group therapy, and individual counseling. The unit also has a team of social workers and counselors who help offenders with behavioral health issues. The staff connected with the unit also works to make sure that the inmates are well integrated into their family and are making progress in managing their day-to-day affairs.
Programs
NICI offers inmates the opportunity to participate in a variety of programs designed to give them skills in order to transition back into society in a better way. One such program is the offender work program. This program gives inmates the opportunity to gain work experience in a variety of areas, such as landscaping, custodial work and more. Another program offered is an art therapy program. This program allows inmates to express themselves artistically in activities such as drawing, painting, sculpting, and photography. In addition, inmates can also take part in a life skills program, which teaches them the necessary skills to lead successful, productive lives once released from prison.
Overall, NICI has a wide variety of classes, services, and programs that can help inmates get back on their feet and transition back to society successfully. All these different components can help the inmates develop the skills they need to either remain out of prison or better cope with their situation. With the support they receive from the staff, inmates can better prepare for their future.
Inmate visiting application in North Idaho Correctional Institution (NICI)
In North Idaho Correctional Institution (NICI), inmates can have visitors provided that the visitors follow all the visitation guidelines established at the prison. This includes completing the Inmate Visiting Application.
The application must be completed with the name, address, phone number, and date of birth for both the applicant and the inmate. The application requires the applicant to provide information such as his or her criminal and drug history, any prior or current charges, if the applicant has ever been denied visitation, if the inmate is related to the applicant, if alcohol, drugs, or weapons are prohibited in the visiting area, and the length of the intended visit.
Once the Inmate Visiting Application is completed, applicants must present a valid form of government-issued ID in order to prove identity. Without these forms, applicants may be denied visitation.
Once approved, all visitors must then attend an orientation prior to the visit for additional guidelines. This includes details such as no smoking, no cell phones, no excessive physical contact with the inmate, no weapons, and no drugs or alcohol in the visiting area.
Each visitor is allowed to bring up to $40 in cash, coins, or money orders. Checks are not accepted. Gifts must be approved by the prison staff and cannot exceed $20 in value. Money orders and coins must be in their original packaging and without a name or address on it. All mail addressed to an inmate must be valuable and without food.
By following the Inmate Visiting Application guidelines and requirements established at NICI, visitors can visit inmates in the prison.
North Idaho Correctional Institution (NICI): Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Q: Where is the North Idaho Correctional Institution (NICI) located?
A: The North Idaho Correctional Institution (NICI) is located in Cottonwood, Idaho, which is approximately 110 miles north of Boise.
Q: What types of offenders are incarcerated at the North Idaho Correctional Institution?
A: NICI houses minimum, medium, and maximum security offenders.
Q: What programs and services are available at the North Idaho Correctional Institution?
A: NICI offers a range of educational, work, and medical services to its inmates in order to provide them with the resources and opportunities to successfully reenter society upon release. Programs include substance abuse treatment, pre-release preparation, and vocational training.
Q: When can family members visit inmates at the North Idaho Correctional Institution?
A: Visitation is allowed every weekend from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Visitation will not be allowed on state-observed holidays.
Q: Are there rules I need to know before I visit an inmate at NICI?
A: Yes. All visitors should be aware of the visitor’s policy prior to their visit. Visitors are not allowed to bring in any electronics (including cell phones and cameras), alcohol, tobacco, narcotics, or weapons to the visiting room. Visitors must remain seated and must conduct themselves in an orderly fashion.
Q: What can I send to an inmate at NICI?
A: You can mail books, newspapers, magazines, photographs, and postcards to inmates. However, food items, tobacco products, and prohibited items, such as any item containing metal wires, will be refused or returned to the sender.
Q: How do I contact an inmate at NICI?
A: Inmates at NICI can be contacted in writing, or you can call the institution directly. The mailing address for NICI is North Idaho Correctional Institution, 1000 Main Street, Cottonwood, ID 83522 and the phone number is (208) 962-3529.
