How to send messages, photos, and packages
Pontiac Correctional Center uses scanned mail delivery. The mailroom scans color images of envelopes and each mailed item, then uploads the PDFs to the individual's Bulletin Board with a notification to view them on their tablet. For in-person visits, hours are 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and you must arrive by 1:30 p.m. Call ahead to confirm your authorized visiting day before traveling. If your loved one is in the Maximum Security Unit, visiting days alternate monthly between even and odd days—confirming the correct day matters. The facility's phone number is (815) 842-2816, and the fax is (815) 842-3420. Phone calls, video visits, and electronic messaging typically require registration with the approved vendor. Communications are monitored.
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Sending mail to someone at Pontiac? Here's the key thing to know: most regular mail gets scanned and delivered digitally to tablets, while privileged and legal mail follows a separate process.
Mailing letters to someone at Pontiac Correctional Center? The biggest thing to know: most non-privileged mail gets scanned or photocopied instead of delivered as the original paper. Here's how the IDOC process works, how your loved one views their mail, and how they can request a color print of something special.
Visitor hours are listed as 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and you must arrive by 1:30 p.m. Call ahead to confirm the authorized visiting day before you travel.
Pontiac’s mailroom scans color images of envelopes and each mailed item and uploads the PDFs to the person’s Bulletin Board. The individual is notified to view the uploads on their tablet.
Phone calls, video visits, and electronic messaging go through the facility's approved vendor, so you'll need to register and complete any required verification. Video visits are scheduled through the vendor's system—log in a few minutes early. All communications are monitored.
Yes. Incoming non-privileged mail is scanned and/or photocopied, and color images of the envelope and contents are uploaded to the individual’s Bulletin Board for viewing on their tablet.
Yes, but only if they’re mailed directly from the publisher starting Sept. 30, 2025—publications won’t be accepted from visitors. Publications postmarked after Sept. 30, 2025 will be returned to sender.
No. IDOC can’t return original mail documents after they’ve been scanned. Privileged and legal mail are not scanned and will continue to be handled under existing procedures.
Getting approved to visit someone at Pontiac Correctional Center starts with one key step: the Prospective Visitor's Interview (PVI) form (DOC 0148). Here's who needs it, how to fill it out, and what happens when you show up for your first visit.
Scheduling your first in-person visit with someone in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) takes a few setup steps before you ever get in the car. Confirm where your loved one is housed, get approved to visit, and reserve a time online—then your first visit goes much more smoothly.
Visiting someone at Pontiac Correctional Center takes a little prep, but it's straightforward once you know the rules. The biggest trip-stoppers? Showing up without the right ID, arriving after the processing cutoff, or traveling on a day your loved one isn't authorized for visits—especially if they're in the Maximum Security Unit.
