The Calhoun County Correctional Center (CCCC) first opened in 1994 in Battle Creek, Michigan. As one of the major correctional facilities in Calhoun County, CCCC serves the surrounding communities by housing inmates and operating rehabilitation programs. It is owned and administered by the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office. In 1999, CCCC began housing detainees for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations under the oversight of ICE's Detroit Field Office. As an ICE contracted detention facility, CCCC operates according to the National Detention Standards set in 2019.
Physical Description and Layout
Conveniently located in Battle Creek, CCCC was well-positioned to serve the surrounding metro area with a population of over 50,000 residents. The state-of-the-art facility was specially designed as a modern correctional complex with inmate management and rehabilitation in mind.
With a maximum capacity of 630 inmates, CCCC contains multiple housing units divided by gender and security levels. Lower risk inmates are kept separate from high risk and disciplinary cases. The female inmate pod has its own dedicated common areas and cells. Housing pods contain bunks, sanitary facilities, common areas for meals and activities, as well as officer stations to monitor the populations around the clock.
CCCC utilizes a direct supervision model within its housing units, meaning correctional officers are stationed directly within inmate living areas rather than isolated in separate control rooms. This allows for closer monitoring and better relationship building between officers and inmates. Direct supervision facilities promote enhanced safety, security and rehabilitation practices.
In February 2020, CCCC received prestigious accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC). This rigorous accreditation process verifies that CCCC meets industry healthcare standards in areas like patient care, health records, grievances, confidentiality, staff training, and quality assurance. Achieving NCCHC accreditation demonstrates the facility’s commitment to upholding best practices in the field.
Staffing and Oversight by ICE and Local Authorities
While day-to-day administration is handled by a fully trained facility administrator, CCCC employs approximately 120 staff members, including corrections officers working 24/7 supervision across three shifts. Officers monitor housing units, escort inmates, process intakes and releases, assist with programs, and carry out other key duties revolving around safety and rehabilitation.
The Calhoun County Sheriff oversees all jail operations as the highest ranking law enforcement official. The sheriff and his appointed administrators collaborate with local courts and the prosecuting attorney's office to manage the inmate population housed at CCCC.
Additionally, CCCC remains under the authority of ICE's Detroit Field Office. Onsite ICE staff include a supervisory detention and deportation officer, a full-time deportation officer, and a detention service manager who visits monthly. This ongoing federal oversight ensures compliance with ICE detention standards and policies related to the care, custody and control of immigration detainees. Regular inspections and constant communication helps address any issues or concerns.
Programs Offered to Inmates
Inmates at CCCC have access to various self-improvement and educational opportunities even while incarcerated. These programs aim to enrich inmates' time as productively and positively as possible. Educational offerings include GED preparation classes to work towards a high school equivalency diploma, an important step towards gaining viable employment after release. Various vocational training programs are also sometimes offered when teachers and resources are available.
Religious services provide spiritual counseling and support. Clergy and religious volunteers offer non-denominational services as well as access to faith leaders for specific denominations, such as Catholic and Islamic services. Inmates can pursue reasonable accommodations for religious dietary needs or other practices in line with their beliefs.
Recreational activities are also organized to relieve stress, occupy time, and promote physical fitness. These programs help inmates maintain mental and physical health during their detention. Access to recreation yards, exercise equipment, games, music, and television provide engaging outlets.
CCCC contracts with outside providers to supply essential inmate services. Tiggs Canteen provides regular nutritious meals in the dining halls and meal delivery to restricted housing units. YesCare Corporation manages healthcare needs by operating a clinic with doctors, nurses and support staff onsite. And Keefe Commissary supplies the facility store where inmates can purchase approved commissary items like snacks, stationery, personal hygiene items and over-the-counter medications.
Communication Policies and Visitation Rules
While CCCC does not limit the amount of mail inmates can send or receive, all non-legal mail is monitored and screened for security purposes before delivery. CCCC reserves the right to inspect, reject or seize contraband contained in mail. Packages also undergo similar inspection procedures before inmates can receive them. All mail should be addressed directly to the facility.
Visitors cannot personally deliver packages or letters but can send funds to an inmate's account online or by money order. These funds cover commissary purchases, phone call charges, and other approved expenses. Visitors should verify current deposit procedures on the facility website before sending money.
Phone calls are recorded and restricted to 20 minutes per session to allow all inmates access. In-person visitation is available 7 days per week during specified hours from 7:30am to 9pm daily. Social and legal visits take place in the onsite visitation center. Special visits can be requested for family emergencies or other needs.
All visitors must provide government-issued photo ID and go through a check-in process for approval. Minors can visit when accompanied by authorized adults. Visitation policies aim to balance facility security with an inmate's essential connections to loved ones. Violation of rules may result in suspension of privileges.
Intake, Release and Inmate Populations
New detainees go through intake processing upon admission to CCCC. After changing into facility garb, new inmates are photographed, fingerprinted and undergo medical and mental health screenings. Background checks identify security classifications, special needs and healthcare factors.
Both pre-trial inmates awaiting sentencing as well as sentenced individuals nearing release are housed at CCCC. The average length of stay ranges from a few months for those awaiting trial or serving short sentences to a few years for extended sentences. Inmates out on community supervision may also return to serve revocation time.
While CCCC mainly houses local county inmates and ICE detainees, its agreements with the Michigan Department of Corrections allow the facility to take in state prisoners when space is available. At times, CCCC also houses inmates from nearby counties if requested. This diverse mix of residents includes low-risk trusties as well as high-risk inmates requiring segregated cells. Classification assessments determine each inmate's security level, restrictions, eligibility for work programs and more.
Security Levels and Supervision Practices
As an accredited facility, CCCC follows strict security protocols and standards. Correctional officers supervise inmates in the housing units 24/7 with constant observation and regular rounds. Various surveillance systems including cameras, intercoms and mirrors reinforce security coverage. Officers in central control carefully monitor access points and respond to incidents.
Inmates housed in higher security units or administrative segregation receive closer supervision and additional restraints when outside their cells. Violent behavior, possession of contraband, or rule violations result in disciplinary sanctions through due process hearings. Use of force is a last resort when inmates pose threats.
CCCC operates under a zero tolerance policy for drugs, weapons, fighting and other crimes. Ongoing security procedures, surveillance, discipline and skilled supervision aim to uphold safety and order onsite. Facility administrators regularly evaluate programs and protocols to identify opportunities for improvement that balance control, justice and rehabilitation.
Looking Forward for Calhoun County Correctional Center
With its current 630 bed capacity, CCCC continues housing around 275-300 detainees on average. This allows them to rent out unused bed space to other jurisdictions in need. As ICE's demand for detention beds across the country increases, CCCC may take in more federal detainees through contracted arrangements.
Potential future upgrades and capital improvements could also increase overall capacity if needed. But CCCC already fulfills an important role for Calhoun County and surrounding regions as both a local jail and ICE contracted detention facility. CCCC will likely continue its mission for years to come through prudent management, safe operations and secure facilities.
Final Thoughts
For over 25 years, the Calhoun County Correctional Center has provided secure yet humane detention and rehabilitation services through its comprehensive operations. CCCC's trained staff oversees diverse inmate populations ranging from local pre-trial detainees to ICE immigrant detainees awaiting immigration hearings or deportation.
Strict policies reinforced by facility design, technological surveillance and correctional best practices enable the controlled environment and zero tolerance approach needed to maintain safety, justice and order. With strong community partnerships, effective programming and proper funding, CCCC will likely continue as a key component of the local law enforcement and criminal justice landscape well into the future.
**What types of inmates are housed at CCCC?**
CCCC houses county inmates from Calhoun County and surrounding areas. They also have contracts to take in state prisoners and ICE detainees, so populations run the gamut from local pre-trial detainees to sentenced state offenders to federal immigrant detainees.
**How can you visit or contact an inmate at CCCC?**
In-person visitation is available daily onsite in the visitation center from 7:30am to 9pm with registration required. Phone calls and mail can also stay connected. Onsite video visitation is free but remote video visits via ICSolutions have per-minute fees.
**What services or programs are provided to inmates?**
Educational offerings like GED preparation and vocational skills as well as religious services and recreational activities aim to facilitate rehabilitation. Medical, dental and mental healthcare is available onsite. Commissary, correspondence courses, library access further enrich time spent confined.
**How much does it cost to make phone calls to inmates?**
Phone calls are charged by the service provider ICSolutions. Rates start at $1.65 for debit calls and $3.15 for collect calls, plus additional fees. Call length is limited to 20 minutes at a time before automatic disconnection.
**What security measures are in place at the facility?**
Accreditation requires strict policies for controlled movement, surveillance, cell searches, discipline and segregation to maintain safety. Officers supervise housing units 24/7 and the control center coordinates response to incidents. Searches aim to eliminate contraband.
Phone: 313-568-6049
Physical Address:
Calhoun County Correctional Center
185 E Michigan Street
Battle Creek, MI 49014
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & A-Number
Calhoun County Correctional Center
185 E Michigan Street
Battle Creek, MI 49014
Other Jails and Prisons
When someone that is not a US Citizen gets arrested in the United States, and they are here illegally, depending on what state or city they are arrested in, the person may be turned over to ICE.
Many states such as New York and California, as well as hundreds of US cities, have declared themselves 'sanctuary cities' and do not turn over foreigners here illegally, even if they are committing crimes in their jurisdiction.
However, when an alien here illegally is turned over to ICE, and sent to one of the over 100 Immigration Detention Centers in the United States, the only way to try and locate where they are being detained is using the Online Detainee Locator System.
You can look them up using their assigned A-Number.
You can also try and look them up by using their name.
What is an ICE Detention Center?
Men, women, and children that are in the United States illegally and are apprehended by the US Border Patrol or ICE will most likely be placed in removal proceedings and may be detained in one of the more than 200 jails and detention centers that make up ICE’s detention system.
Many of the illegal immigrants that are detained are held in county and local jails that contract with ICE to detain immigrants. The rest are held in dedicated immigration detention facilities run by ICE or contracted to private prison corporations, including family detention centers that hold mothers and children.
What Determines if an Illegal Immigrant gets Detained?
ICE will typically detain an immigrant because DHS (Homeland Security) believes that an illegal immigrant is either a “flight risk” and may move to another location within the U.S. or that they pose a public safety threat. Detaining the person allows the government to guarantee that the person will show up for their hearing before an Immigration Court.
Some of the reasons that causes an illegal immigrant to get arrested and held in detention prior to their day in court is as follows:
The illegal immigrant has:
How do you find someone that is in an ICE Detention Center?
The first step to finding out if an illegal immigrant is in ICE or DHS custody is by using the ICE Detainee Locator.
It’s easier to find the person if you have an Alien Number (A#), if one exists. A green card or work permit will show this number. If you don’t have an A# the person is much more difficult to locate.
The information you will need is as follows:
If you are having difficulty, try different spellings and the order of how the name is listed.
If the illegal immigrant was only recently detained, the ICE Detainee Locator may not be updated with the latest information. Keep in mind that ICE does not give information (online or over the phone) for people under 18 years of age. In such cases, you can only get information on them from the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations field office nearest you.
If the person you are looking for is not in an ICE Detention Center, they may have been taken to a local jail that contracts with ICE, so contact their local City and County Jail, all which can be found here.
Another option, short of the expense of hiring an Immigration Lawyer, is to go to this website and use their online form to get their help.
Once an illegal immigrant is located and you find out the facility where they are being held you need to find out the Deportation Officer that has been assigned to their case. The Officer can tell you how to call or visit the detainee, or pay for the detainee to be able to call you, or how you can send any needed items such as clothing, prescriptions, etc.
The last option, and the most expensive, is to hire an experienced immigration attorney to assist you in tracking down the Deportation Officer. If the person being detained requires specific medical care, an attorney can ensure that they receive that care.
If the detained illegal immigrant has been deported from America previously or has an outstanding removal order - in which case they have no right to see an immigration judge - they can be removed within a few days, or even hours, of the initial arrest.
Even if the government does not immediately remove the person, it is possible that they can be moved around to different Detention Centers. There is never a warning that a person is being moved around and during the transfer there is a complete blackout of any information.
How long are people held in ICE Immigration Detention Centers?
The time that an illegal immigrant is held in an ICE Detention Center can vary. It all depends on several factors such as the individual’s personal situation, criminal record, the severity of the crime they are being charged with, previous deportations and the current caseload that the Detention Center is dealing with.
This image portrays the most recent data available on the time a detained illegal immigrant remains in custody before their release and/or deportation.
Can you visit someone in ICE Detention Centers?
The short answer is yes. The person visiting an illegal immigrant in an ICE Detention Center must be lawfully present in the United States. In other words the visitor must have some form of currently valid immigration status at the time of the visit. A detention center or jail will not allow the visit unless visitor can show valid I.D. and offer proof that they are lawfully in the United States.
If you want to become a volunteer that visits illegal immigrants in order to offer emotional support, it may be possible. You can join one of these visitation networks by going here and contacting the network in your area.
What crimes can cause an illegal immigrant to be deported?
(The following information comes from Nolo.com, a trusted legal resource)
These are the straightforward crimes that are mentioned in the immigration law. The statute also lists a number of security violations, such as involvement in espionage, sabotage, terrorism, Nazi persecution, totalitarian parties, and so forth.
Once an illegal immigrant is deported, how long before they can come back to the United States?
If an illegal immigrant has a deportation or removal order in their immigration file, it's possible that they won’t be allowed to enter the U.S. for five, ten, or even 20 years.
The applicable law comes from Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (I.N.A.).
Five-Year Ban: If they were summarily removed or deported upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry because they were found inadmissible, or if they came to the U.S. but were immediately put into removal proceedings and then removed or deported, they may be ineligible to return to the U.S. for five years. The five-year ban also applies if they failed to show up for their removal hearing in the United States.
Ten-Year Ban: If a ‘removal order’ was issued at the conclusion of their removal hearing in Immigration Court, they may not be able to return for ten years after their removal or departure.
Twenty-Year Ban: If they were convicted of an aggravated felony or have received more than one order of removal, they are barred from returning to the U.S. for 20 years. And if they entered without permission after having been removed, or illegally reentered the U.S. after having previously been in the U.S. unlawfully for more than one year, they may be barred from entering the United States for 20 years or permanently.
This facility, known as "Calhoun County Correctional Center" is also known as ICE Detention Facility, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
