5 Practical Tips for Mailing Photos to Someone at Joliet Treatment Center

Mailing photos to someone at Joliet Treatment Center? A few small details can mean the difference between smooth delivery and frustrating delays. These tips focus on IDOC's non-privileged mail scanning process, so you can format your photos and paperwork in a way that's easier to process and more likely to reach your loved one quickly.

When possible, send photos directly from a photo printing vendor. IDOC's guidance says original photographs mailed straight from a photo printing vendor will be delivered to the recipient, even if the prints include the vendor's watermark or logo, as long as the photos aren't otherwise unauthorized. Vendor-printed photos tend to be easier for mailroom staff to identify and handle as standard photo mail, which can help avoid confusion during processing.

Put your loved one's IDOC number right next to their name on the envelope, and on each page or photo you include. IDOC specifically calls this out as the way to help ensure prompt processing. It's a simple step, but it matters. Photos and pages can get separated during handling, scanning, or sorting.

• ✓ Write the person’s IDOC number near their name on the envelope
• ✓ Add the IDOC number on each photo or page you’re sending (a consistent spot helps)
• ✓ Use the exact IDOC number your loved one uses officially, and keep the digits clear and readable
• ✓ If a photo vendor prints the shipping label, include the IDOC number with the recipient’s name so it appears on the label too

If you've been holding back because you're worried about a strict "photo limit," here's good news. IDOC says it does not intend to limit the number of photos or pieces of paper that can be sent in a single envelope. That means you can usually send a small stack at once instead of spreading everything across multiple mailings.

For non-privileged mail under the scanning process, IDOC states that only certain item types will be accepted for scanning: written correspondence, greeting cards, drawings, and photos. Stick to those categories. Including anything else increases the chance your envelope gets held up or rejected during review.

1. Sort what you plan to mail - Stick to written correspondence, greeting cards, drawings, and photos.
2. Remove anything outside those categories - Keep the envelope “clean” so it matches what the scanning process accepts.
3. Get clarification if you’re unsure - If an item is borderline, contact the facility before mailing it.

Assume you won't get originals back. IDOC's policy says original mail documents cannot be returned to the sender after they're scanned, and they recommend mailing a copy and keeping the original. This is especially important for one-of-a-kind photos, kids' artwork, or anything you'd be upset to lose.

• ✓ Send reprints or copies of photos you care about, and keep the originals at home
• ✓ If you want “real prints” without giving up your only copy, use a photo printing vendor to produce and mail duplicates
• ✓ Save your originals in a labeled envelope or folder, and mail only what you can afford not to get back

Closing

• ✓ Put the IDOC number near the person’s name on the envelope, and on each photo/page
• ✓ When possible, send original prints directly from a photo printing vendor
• ✓ Mail only written correspondence, greeting cards, drawings, and photos for scanning
• ✓ IDOC says there is no intended limit on photos or pages per envelope, but confirm any temporary restrictions
• ✓ Mail copies and keep originals since originals cannot be returned after scanning

If anything still feels unclear, the safest move is to confirm current mail procedures with Joliet Treatment Center before sending a big batch of photos or anything you can't replace. Policies and day-to-day enforcement can shift, but the tips above align with the core IDOC guidance for getting photos processed and delivered.