Metropolitan Correctional Center

The Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Chicago is an unusual federal holding facility noted for its striking triangular structure and central placement within the Chicago Loop. This top-security center fulfills a pivotal function in the federal correctional system, accommodating a wide-ranging inmate community.

Key Details

• Address: 71 W Van Buren St, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
• Phone: +1 312-322-0567
• Opened: 1975
• Capacity: Roughly 560 inmates
• Classification: Administrative-security federal institution
• Inmates: Both male and female prisoners across all security levels

Facility Features

• 28-story triangular tower conceived by architect Harry Weese
• Rooftop exercise yard encircled by towering 30-foot concrete barriers
• Cells featuring unusual floor-to-ceiling slit windows (7 feet in length by 5 inches wide)
• Recreation zone nestled in the basement
• Secure Housing Unit (SHU) dedicated to male detainees

Contact Information

• Main Phone: 312-322-0567
• Fax: 312-347-4012
• Email: [email protected]
• Federal Bureau of Prisons: https://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/ccc/

Important Web Pages

• Inmate Locator: https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/
• Sending Money: https://www.bop.gov/inmates/communications.jsp

History and Significance

• Birthed from the mind of famed architect Harry Weese
• Construction took off in 1971, culminating in the facility’s opening in 1975
• Celebrated for its iconic architectural flair and bustling urban location
• Over the years, the site has housed an array of notorious prisoners

Unique Aspects

• Its triangular form sets it miles apart from typical prison configurations
• Nestled within the bustling core of downtown Chicago
• Accommodates both pre-trial detainees and short-term convicted inmates
• Provides an assortment of educational and rehabilitative services

Inmate Services and Programs

• Literacy training, GED preparation, and English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) classes
• Parenting workshops and Adult Continuing Education (ACE) sessions
• Health Unit offering dental care, medical services, x-ray imaging, and lab work
• Leisure and legal libraries stationed on the ninth level

Visitation Information

• Visitation times differ by housing unit and inmate’s surname
• All guests must be pre-approved and clear security checks
• Reach out to the facility for the latest visitation protocols

Notable Events

• 1985: Two inmates made a daring escape by busting open a window and crafting a makeshift rope
• 2012: Two convicted bank robbers fled using bed linens as a rope, sparking an intense manhunt

Additional Resources

• Public Defender’s Office: 312-435-5900
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois: 312-435-5670