Mailing an Incarcerated Person at Western Illinois: Address Format That Gets Through

Mail to Western Illinois Correctional Center goes to: 2500 Rt. 99 South, Mount Sterling, IL 62353. This is the address for all incoming mail, including personal letters - as long as you label them correctly.

On the envelope, write the person's name and IDOC number first, then the facility address below. Here's the format: Individual in Custody Name & IDOC# 2500 Rt. 99 South Mount Sterling, IL 62353

The IDOC number isn't optional. It's how mailroom staff match your letter to the right person - even when two people share similar names. Include both the full name and IDOC# to make sure your mail reaches the correct individual.

At Western Illinois and other IDOC facilities, incoming non-privileged mail gets scanned or photocopied, then digitized. The recipient views it on their tablet bulletin board. So expect most personal letters to arrive as digital copies, not physical ones.

1. Mail is opened and inspected - non-privileged mail is opened and checked for contraband.
2. Each piece is scanned in color - staff scan the front and back of the envelope and each item inside.
3. Scans are uploaded to the tablet bulletin board - the scanned pages are uploaded as PDF images.
4. The individual gets a tablet notification - they’re notified that new scanned documents are available to download and view.

Photos work differently when they come from a printing vendor. Original photographs mailed directly from a photo printing vendor - with the vendor's watermark or logo visible - will be delivered to the recipient in physical form, unless the images themselves violate content rules.

A rule change for publications takes effect September 30, 2025. After that date, books, magazines, and newspapers must be mailed directly from the publisher. Visitors won't be able to drop off reading material at the facility anymore. If you want someone at Western Illinois to receive a book or magazine after that date, order it through the publisher.

Practical Tips

• ✓ Write the person’s name and IDOC number clearly on the first line(s) of the address block.
• ✓ Use the facility delivery address exactly as listed: 2500 Rt. 99 South, Mount Sterling, IL 62353.
• ✓ Assume non-privileged mail will be scanned and digitized for tablet viewing when it arrives.
• ✓ If something is one-of-a-kind, consider sending a copy instead of the only original - scanning is part of the intake process.

For books, magazines, and newspapers, use publisher-direct mailing - especially starting September 30, 2025. Publications that don't come through a recognized publisher channel are more likely to be rejected or delayed.

Want photos delivered in their original printed form? Use a photo printing service that mails directly to the facility. That vendor origin - usually shown by a watermark or logo - is what allows physical delivery, as long as the images don't violate content rules.