How to send messages, photos, and packages
Address mail to P.O. Box 3066, Decatur, IL 62524, and include the person's full name and IDOC number so it reaches them. Non-privileged incoming mail is opened and inspected, then the envelope and each enclosed item are color-scanned. Staff convert those scans into PDF images and upload them to the individual's Bulletin Board for tablet viewing. Original photographs mailed directly from photo-printing vendors (with the vendor watermark/logo) are normally delivered as originals unless otherwise prohibited. Publications can't be dropped off by visitors. Starting Sept 30, 2025, publications must come directly from publishers—items postmarked after that date will be returned. If someone needs a paper copy, they can request a hard-copy print using DOC 028 with the document number.
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Mail rules can feel like a moving target, especially when you're just trying to send something thoughtful. Here are five things to know about Decatur Correctional Center's mail process so your letter actually gets through.
Getting the address right matters—especially the P.O. Box and IDOC number. Use the format below so your letter reaches the right person at Decatur Correctional Center.
Getting the address format exactly right matters. Even small mistakes can delay your mail or prevent it from reaching your loved one. Here are the official formats Decatur Correctional Center requires.
When you send letters or photos to someone in the Illinois Department of Corrections, they usually won't receive the original paper. Most non-privileged mail gets scanned and delivered digitally—and certain materials will get your mail rejected before it ever reaches them.
Sending mail to someone at Decatur Correctional Center? Most non-privileged mail gets scanned or photocopied before delivery. Books and magazines follow different rules—starting September 30, 2025, they must come directly from a publisher. Photos have their own exception if they're sent straight from a photo-printing vendor.
Use P.O. Box 3066, Decatur, IL 62524, and include the person’s full name and IDOC number on the envelope.
Non-privileged mail is opened, inspected, and color-scanned (the envelope and each item), then uploaded as PDF images to the individual’s Bulletin Board for tablet viewing. Original photos sent directly from photo-printing vendors are normally delivered as originals unless otherwise prohibited. For a paper copy of a scanned item, the individual must submit DOC 028 with the document number.
No. Visitors can’t drop off books or magazines. Starting Sept 30, 2025, publications must be mailed directly from publishers, and items postmarked after that date will be returned to sender.
Before you make the trip for an in-person visit at an Illinois DOC facility, you need to be on the approved list. The process is straightforward, but a few rules catch first-time visitors off guard.
Getting approved to visit someone at an Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) facility comes down to a few specific steps done in the right order. Here's what you need to know to get on the approved visitation list and prepare for your first in-person visit.
IDOC is switching its prison phone system from Securus to ICSolutions. Here's what the February 2025 rollout means for call service, rates, and any money still sitting in your Securus Advance Connect account.
