How to Write to Someone at Wabash Valley: What to Include on the Envelope
Getting a letter delivered at Wabash Valley starts with the envelope. Miss a key detail or get something wrong, and your mail could be delayed or returned.
Start with the incarcerated person’s full name, written clearly on the first line of the address. Use the name exactly as it appears in IDOC records - nicknames and shortened versions can slow things down, especially if more than one person has a similar name.
Include their DOC (IDOC) number right alongside the name. This is how staff match your letter to the right person - leave it off and you risk misrouting, even if you've written them before.
Address the envelope to the facility where they're currently housed, using the official mailing address. Not 100% sure you have the right address for Wabash Valley? Verify it on the facility's official details page before you send anything.
Sending legal mail? Label it clearly as "legal mail" on the outside of the envelope. Only mail that's properly identified gets treated as such - the sender is responsible for marking it. If the correspondence is privileged, write "privileged" on the envelope so it's routed and handled correctly.
Examples: Mail from a court, an attorney, or a legal organization (such as LSO or the ACLU) is treated as legal mail when it’s clearly identified.
Writing to someone who's also incarcerated (or on parole, work release, or another restricted status)? You'll likely need approval first. Submit State Form 11985 ("Request to Correspond with Another Confined Person") to the Warden or designee for approval.
- Confirm both people’s status - if the person you want to write is also confined (or in another restricted status), plan for the approval step.
- Get State Form 11985 - use the “Request to Correspond with Another Confined Person” form.
- Complete the request fully - incomplete requests are more likely to be denied or delayed.
- Submit it to the Warden or designee - the request must be directed there for approval or denial.
- Wait for approval before writing - send correspondence only after you have permission.
Don't guess on the mailing address. Before you drop your letter in the mail, double-check you're using the official Wabash Valley Correctional Facility address from the facility's details page.
- ✓ Full name (as recorded by IDOC)
- ✓ DOC (IDOC) number
- ✓ Facility name and official mailing address for where they’re housed
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