Illinois: pen pal rules and how to send mail
We found no rule in this department's published policies that stops people here from being listed on a pen-pal site. Normal mail rules still apply, and no one may ask pen pals for money.
Personal letters go to the person at their prison's mailing address, with their full name and ID number. They are scanned or photocopied, and the person receives a printed copy or a copy on their tablet.
Checked against the department's own pages . How we check, and corrections
Pen pal listings
We found no rule in this department's published policies that stops people here from being listed on a pen-pal site. Normal mail rules still apply, and no one may ask pen pals for money.
Sending mail to someone in Illinois
Personal letters go to the person at their prison's mailing address, with their full name and ID number. They are scanned or photocopied, and the person receives a printed copy or a copy on their tablet.
“Incoming non-privileged mail is scanned or photocopied at IDOC facilities.” Department source
“Mailroom staff will process incoming non-privileged mail, including letters, greeting cards, and photographs, by: Scanning in color, the front and back of the envelope and each item within and digitally distributing it to the individual in custody by uploading it to their electronic device or physically distributing it by printing a copy and delivering it to the individual, or Photocopying in color...”
Electronic messages: On CorrLinks, you make an account, add the person by name and ID number, and pay per message. Step by step for each app. Department page.
Source: Illinois mail page, read 2026-10-07. Rules change; the department's page is the final word.
See also: prison mail rules and your first letter.
Prisons in Illinois (46)
How to write to someone at each one: the mailing format, mail rules and messaging, from the department's own pages.
Find someone in Illinois
Official Illinois inmate locator
We check every profile's name and ID number against this locator within a day of it going live.