If someone you love is locked up in Illinois, several things changed recently that families need to know. The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) has implemented a new process for all non-privileged incoming mail - letters, cards, and photos are now scanned in color or photocopied in color before being distributed to the person in custody. The phone and electronic messaging system transitioned from GTL/ConnectNetwork to ICSolutions - messages sent through GTL are no longer delivered. And a new multi-factor authentication system for legal mail took effect July 1, 2026.
IDOC refers to incarcerated people as "individuals in custody." That's the terminology used throughout this article.
This article covers IDOC state correctional facilities. Cook County Jail and other county facilities in Illinois operate independently under the sheriff and are addressed at the end.
Sending mail - letters, cards, photos
Mail goes directly to the facility where the individual is housed. To ensure prompt processing, include the individual's IDOC number near their name on the envelope. Find the IDOC number and current facility using the Individual in Custody Search at idoc.illinois.gov.
Facility mailing addresses are listed at idoc.illinois.gov/facilities.
How mail is processed - scanning and photocopying
IDOC now processes all non-privileged incoming mail by one of two methods:
Scanning in color - the front and back of the envelope and each item inside are scanned and uploaded digitally to the individual's electronic device, or
Photocopying in color - the front and back of the envelope and each item inside are photocopied and the copies are physically delivered.
Write in black ink. IDOC strongly recommends black ink for all correspondence. Light-colored inks and pencils reduce image quality when viewed on a tablet. This is an important practical detail - if your letter is hard to read on screen, it may as well not have been sent.
Do not use glue, glitter, paint, crayon, adhesives, ribbon, cloth, or string on correspondence. These can damage the scanners and prevent processing.
The following are not scanned or photocopied (they follow separate processes or are rejected): publications; photos sent directly from photo printing service companies; official government documents mailed from a government entity (birth certificates, Social Security cards); internal Department mail; unauthorized mail items; any envelope or paper larger than 8.5 x 14 inches.
Sending photos
Photos sent in an envelope as part of personal correspondence are scanned or photocopied along with the letter. Photos sent directly from photo printing service companies (like Shutterfly or Snapfish) are not included in the scan/photocopy process and are handled separately.
Prohibited photo content: alcohol and suspected drugs; gang-related images; bodily fluids; incarcerated photos and mug shots; money; nude images; scratched-out or marked-off hand signs or gestures; sexually explicit materials; threatening or gang-related hand gestures. Photo albums or photo books are not allowed. Photos larger than 8 by 10 inches are not allowed. Photo negatives or slides are not allowed.
Sending publications - books, magazines, newspapers
Individuals in custody may receive new or used publications - including hard or soft-covered books, booklets, magazines, newsletters, or newspapers - mailed directly to them by a publisher.
"Publisher" is defined broadly: any publisher, book club, or bookstore, any other book, magazine, or newspaper distributor, a religious organization or ministry, an educational institution, or a unit of government conducting mail order business or otherwise delivering publications to readers.
Publications are not scanned or photocopied - they are delivered separately in physical form if they are free of contraband and do not violate IDOC publication standards.
What cannot be mailed
The following are unauthorized and will not be delivered. This list covers the major categories - it is not exhaustive:
Paper: paper-clipped or stapled pages; paper that has been glued together; paper larger than 8.5 x 14 inches; thermal or photosensitive paper.
Stationery items: postage stamps or stamped envelopes; Post-it notes; return address stickers or labels; unused paper, stationery, envelopes, postcards, or greeting cards.
Envelopes or packaging: corrugated cardboard boxes from family or friends; incomplete or missing return address; envelopes padded with gray diamond dust.
Money and financial instruments: cash or coins; lottery tickets; money orders; personal checks.
Other physical items: CDs; cloth or clothing; jewelry; medication; contact lenses; electronic devices; feathers; dried flowers; metal spiral or wire binding; musical cards; napkins or tissues; magnets; posters; recording devices; audio tapes; beads, ribbon, yarn, or craft materials; layered cards; leather; hard plastic covered or laminated items; glasses; personal hygiene products.
Unauthorized communications: coded communications; third-party communications (content from someone other than the named sender); unapproved mail from current or former individuals in custody; unapproved mail from individuals on parole.
If unauthorized mail is received, the individual in custody is given a Notification of Unauthorized Mail form and the opportunity to choose how the items are disposed of.
Privileged and legal mail
Privileged mail is opened in the individual's presence, inspected for contraband, and the sender's identity is verified.
Privileged mail includes correspondence from: the IDOC Director and senior staff; registered attorneys providing legal representation; state's attorneys; federal and Illinois legislators; the Governor; courts; state and federal law enforcement; the Office of the Illinois Inspector General; the John Howard Association; rape crisis centers with an executed MOU; and several other specified entities.
Beginning July 1, 2026, IDOC uses a multi-factor authentication (MFA) system to verify the identity of the sender of privileged mail. Attorneys and legal staff must register with the MFA system. Envelopes missing the required Sender ID or Control Number will be returned to sender. More information is at idoc.illinois.gov/aboutus/attorneyfaq.html.
Electronic messaging - ICSolutions CorrLinks (GTL no longer works)
IDOC transitioned from GTL/ConnectNetwork to ICSolutions for both phone and electronic messaging.
Electronic messages are sent through ICSolutions' CorrLinks system. Register and send messages at corrlinks.com. Messages are screened and monitored. A delay feature is in effect for all facilities.
Messages sent through GTL/ConnectNetwork are not delivered. If you have funds with GTL, visit GTL's ConnectNetwork help page for refund information.
Electronic messaging is available at all IDOC facilities except Adult Transition Centers (ATCs).
Phone calls - ICSolutions (ICS)
Phone calls from IDOC facilities run through ICSolutions (ICS). Call ICS customer service at 888-506-8407 or email Customer@icsolutions.com.
Individuals in custody cannot receive incoming calls. They can make outgoing calls to people on their approved calling list. To receive calls, you must be on the individual's approved calling list - write to them and ask to be added.
Three-way calls are strictly prohibited and result in disciplinary action.
Two ways to fund phone calls:
Friends and Family Prepaid - create and fund a prepaid account at icscorrections.com/facilities/il_idoc.html.
Commissary minutes - deposit funds into the individual's trust account; they can then purchase phone minutes from commissary.
Sending money - JPay, Western Union, MoneyGram
IDOC no longer uses GTL (ConnectNetwork/ViaPath) for deposit services.
Three current methods for electronic deposits (up to $5,000, except MoneyGram which is limited to $3,000):
JPay: jpay.com
MoneyGram: Blue MoneyGram Express Payment Form at retail locations; receiving code is 7364. MoneyGram funds post within 72-96 business hours.
Send2Corrections (Western Union): send2corrections.com. Funds post within 24-48 business hours.
For all electronic transfers, use the individual's IDOC number and last name.
Money orders: Maximum $999.99. Must be sent with a lockbox deposit slip (available at each facility or at jpay.com/moneyorder.aspx). Make payable to JPay. Include the individual's name, IDOC number, and the sender's name and address. Mail to: JPay / PO Box 260250 / Hollywood, FL 33026. Do not mail money orders to the facility.
Illinois county jails: different rules
Illinois has 102 counties, each with its own jail under the county sheriff. Cook County Jail in Chicago is one of the largest single-site jails in the United States. County jails are entirely independent of IDOC and set their own mail rules, vendors, and addresses.
What to know before you send anything
Mail goes to the facility where the individual is housed - find the address at idoc.illinois.gov/facilities using the individual's IDOC number and facility from the Individual in Custody Search.
All non-privileged mail (letters, cards, photos in envelopes) is now scanned or photocopied in color. Write in black ink. No light ink, no pencil.
No glue, glitter, paint, crayon, adhesives, ribbon, cloth, or string on correspondence.
No stamps, stickers, return address labels, unused stationery, greeting cards (unused), Post-it notes, or padded envelopes.
No cash, money orders, or personal checks inside envelopes.
Publications (books, magazines) must come from a publisher, bookstore, or distributor and are delivered physically (not scanned).
Photos from photo printing services are handled separately (not scanned). Photos in personal envelopes are scanned.
Phone and electronic messaging: use ICSolutions and CorrLinks. GTL is no longer active at IDOC.
Money: JPay, MoneyGram (code 7364), or Western Union (Send2Corrections). GTL deposits no longer accepted. Money orders to JPay lockbox in Hollywood FL, not to the facility.
Related pages:
/prisons/illinois
How to send money to an Illinois inmate
Send mail and photos through InmateAid
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I mail a letter to an Illinois DOC inmate?
To the facility where they are housed. Find the facility address at idoc.illinois.gov/facilities. Include the individual's IDOC number near their name on the envelope. Find the IDOC number using the Individual in Custody Search at idoc.illinois.gov.
What happens to my letter after it arrives at the facility?
It is scanned in color (front and back of envelope and contents) and delivered digitally to the individual's tablet, or photocopied in color and delivered as a physical copy.
Should I use black ink?
Yes. IDOC strongly recommends black ink. Light-colored inks and pencil reduce image quality when the letter is viewed on a tablet.
Can I send photos?
Photos in envelopes are scanned with the rest of the mail. Photos from photo printing service companies (like Shutterfly) are handled separately. No photos larger than 8x10, no nudity, no gang-related content, no money or drug images.
Can I send books or magazines?
Yes - mailed directly from a publisher, book club, bookstore, or distributor. New or used, hard or soft cover. Publications are physically delivered (not scanned).
Can I send a greeting card?
Not an unused one - unused greeting cards are on the unauthorized mail list. A filled-out card that is part of correspondence may be included, but the card itself cannot be blank/unused.
Can I use GTL/ConnectNetwork for messaging or deposits?
No. GTL is no longer used by IDOC. Messages sent through GTL are not delivered. Deposits through GTL are not accepted. Contact GTL directly for refund information.
How do I send an electronic message?
Through ICSolutions' CorrLinks system at corrlinks.com. Available at all IDOC facilities except Adult Transition Centers.
How do I set up phone calls?
Through ICSolutions (ICS) at icscorrections.com/facilities/il_idoc.html. Call ICS customer service at 888-506-8407. Fund calls through a Friends and Family Prepaid account or by depositing to the individual's trust account for commissary phone minutes.
How do I send money?
JPay (jpay.com), MoneyGram at Blue MoneyGram Express Payment locations (code 7364), or Western Union via Send2Corrections (send2corrections.com). Money orders payable to JPay, mailed to PO Box 260250, Hollywood FL 33026 with a lockbox deposit slip. Do not mail money orders to the facility. GTL deposits no longer accepted. ====================================================================