Mailing Letters to Allegheny County Jail: A Simple Formatting Checklist to Prevent Returns
Returned mail is frustrating — and usually preventable. Follow this checklist to format your envelope and contents correctly, so your letter actually reaches your loved one at Allegheny County Jail.
Every piece of mail to Allegheny County Jail needs two things: the person's correct name and their DOC number. Miss either one, and the jail sends it back. Before you seal the envelope, double-check the spelling and digits - one wrong character can bounce it.
Tip: Write the incarcerated person's name and DOC number clearly inside the main address block - not in the margins or corners of the envelope.
A complete return address is required on all incoming mail. No return address? It gets sent back. Include your name, street address, city, state, and ZIP in the standard upper-left corner.
Warning: A missing or incomplete return address is one of the fastest ways to get your mail bounced.
Page Photo Limits
- ✓ Keep letters to 3 pages max. If you have more to say, save the rest for your next letter or write a short “Part 2” for the following week.
- ✓ Send no more than 2 photos per week.
- ✓ Make sure each photo is 4x6 inches or smaller (standard print size is usually fine).
- ✓ If you have a handful of pictures to share, spread them out - for example, 2 this week and 2 next week - so you don’t go over the weekly limit.
Note: Going over the 3-page limit or the photo limits can cause mail to be returned or not delivered.
Mail gets rejected for what's inside, not just how it's addressed. Common mistakes at Allegheny County Jail: using anything other than blue or black ink on the envelope. Colored pens, pencils, highlighters, colored paper, and colored envelopes aren't allowed. Certain items are also prohibited - food, clothing, credit cards, phone cards, catalogs, and photos that are gang-related or contain nudity, partial nudity, or explicit sexual content. If you're sending pictures, they still have to follow the photo rules, including size limits.
Quick rule: Stick to a plain envelope and plain paper. Address it in blue or black ink. Skip the extras - no goods, cards, or anything that could be flagged as contraband.
Worried your letter is stuck? Here's what to expect: incoming non-package mail shouldn't be held more than 24 hours, except on weekends, holidays, or during emergencies. A delay over a weekend doesn't mean something went wrong - it's just the timing.
Packages get a slightly longer window - up to 48 hours, excluding weekends, holidays, and emergencies. If you mailed something right before a holiday weekend, expect the timeline to stretch.
When the jail withholds mail, the incarcerated person gets a written notice. So if something you sent can't be delivered, your loved one should hear about it directly.
At a glance: Letters: up to 24 hours. Packages: up to 48 hours. Both exclude weekends, holidays, and emergencies. If mail is withheld, the incarcerated person receives written notice.
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