5 Things to Know Before Sending Your First Letter to Danville Correctional Center
Sending your first letter is easier when you know the exact addressing format and what happens to mail once it arrives. Here are five Danville Correctional Center details that prevent the most common delays and disappointments.
Mail goes to 3820 East Main Street, Danville, IL 61834. Include the person's full name and their IDOC number on the envelope - missing the IDOC number is the fastest way to slow down delivery or get mail rejected.
At Danville, non-privileged incoming mail doesn't get handed over as-is. Mailroom staff scan the front and back of the envelope and each item inside - your letter, cards, photos - in color. Those scans become PDF images uploaded to the individual's Bulletin Board. They'll get a notification when new documents are ready to view on their tablet.
Note: Your loved one sees the scanned PDF version on their tablet, not the original. Write with scanning in mind - clear handwriting, dark ink, and nothing you'd be upset to lose.
Since general correspondence is scanned and delivered electronically, treat anything you mail as something you may not get back. Sending a child's original drawing or a one-of-a-kind photo? Keep the original at home and mail a copy instead.
Accepted Items and Photo Exceptions
- ✓ Written correspondence
- ✓ Greeting cards
- ✓ Drawings
- ✓ Photographs
Photos have one helpful exception. Original photographs mailed directly from a photo printing vendor - showing the vendor watermark or logo - will be delivered as originals, unless the photos are otherwise unauthorized.
Worried about stuffing too much into one envelope? Good news: IDOC does not intend to limit the number of photos or pieces of paper you send in a single envelope.
Planning to send books, magazines, or newspapers? The rules are different than for regular letters. Beginning September 30, 2025, publications will only be accepted if mailed directly from the publisher - visitors can't drop off publications at the facility for a specific individual. Under IDOC policy, "publisher" is broad and includes online retailers like Amazon.com and Walmart.com.
- Check the postmark - Publications received with a postmark of September 30, 2025 or earlier will be accepted.
- Avoid late mailing - Any publications with a postmark after September 30, 2025 will be returned to the sender.
Find an Inmate at Danville Corrections Facility, IL
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
