Writing to someone in prison or jail
Every prison and jail sets its own mail rules, and letters that break them are returned or thrown away. These guides cover the general rules that apply almost everywhere and show you where to read the official rules for a specific facility.
How do you mail a letter to an inmate?
Look up the person on the official inmate locator to get their full committed name, inmate or register number and facility, then address the envelope to that name and number at the facility's published mailing address, with your full name and return address on the envelope. Before you send, read the facility's mail rules: letters with missing ID numbers, no return address or banned items (stickers, glitter, stains, staples, some photos) are returned or destroyed.
How do I send a letter to an inmate online?
There are two ways: use the electronic messaging service your facility has approved (where one exists), or type a letter online and have a mailing service print it and send it by USPS to the facility like any other letter. Which one works depends on the facility, so check its mail page first.
What are the mail rules for federal prisons (BOP)?
Mail to someone in a federal prison must be addressed to the inmate's full name and eight-digit register number at the facility's mailing address shown on bop.gov, with your return address. The Bureau of Prisons may open and inspect general correspondence, and each facility can add local rules, so check the facility's page on bop.gov before sending.
Where do I find a state prison's mail rules?
Each state's Department of Corrections publishes its own mail (correspondence) rules, usually on a "Mail", "Send mail" or "Family and friends" page, and individual prisons can add local rules. Find the person on the state's inmate search, then read that state's mail page before you write.
Can I send photos to an inmate through an online service?
Only if the facility allows it, and only in the way it allows. Some prisons accept a limited number of printed photos in a letter, some accept photos only through a facility-approved electronic vendor, and some jails accept no photos at all. Check the facility's mail page before you use any photo service.
What's the cheapest way to write to someone in prison?
The cheapest way is usually a handwritten or home-printed letter mailed with a single First-Class Mail stamp, since one stamp covers a standard letter up to 1 ounce (check the current stamp price on usps.com). Facility electronic messaging and print-and-mail services cost more per letter but save you the paper, printer, envelope and trip.
How long does mail take to reach an inmate?
Inmate mail takes the normal USPS First-Class delivery time to reach the facility (USPS states 1-5 business days for First-Class Mail) plus however long the facility's mailroom takes to sort, inspect and deliver it, which varies by facility and can add several days. Mail routed through a central processing or scanning center can take longer.
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