What You Can and Can't Mail to Someone at Aransas County Jail: A Family Checklist

Do not mail food into or out of Aransas County Jail. Even if it’s sealed, store-bought, or meant as a small comfort item, food sent by family or friends isn’t allowed through the mail.

Your loved one can receive mail, but certain content will get flagged and returned. That includes internet printouts of any kind, pornographic material, gang-related content, escape references, or inflammatory writing. When in doubt, leave it out - especially anything printed from the internet or anything that could be seen as promoting violence, gangs, or escape.

Expect regular personal mail to be opened. At Aransas County Jail, all incoming non-privileged mail is opened and checked for contraband before delivery.

Legal mail works differently. Privileged mail is opened only with the inmate present, and the inspection is limited to checking for contraband.

When your loved one sends you regular (non-legal) mail from the jail, the envelope must clearly show the inmate's name. The return address should be a personal or family address outside the jail - don't use the jail's address as the return for non-legal outgoing mail.

Legal mail is the exception. For outgoing legal correspondence, the jail address can be used as the return address.

Indigent Supplies and Postage

• ✓ 3 envelopes
• ✓ 9 sheets of paper
• ✓ 1 facility pen

If your loved one qualifies as indigent, the county will mail out three letters per week for them. Each letter costs $0.58, debited from their commissary account.

Quick Pre Mail Checklist

• ✓ Don’t send food - food can’t be mailed into or out of Aransas County Jail.
• ✓ Keep out internet printouts and prohibited content (pornographic material, gang-related activity, escape references, or other inflammatory writing).
• ✓ If you’re helping with outgoing non-legal mail, make sure the inmate’s name is clearly stated and use a personal/family return address (not the jail’s).
• ✓ Expect incoming non-privileged mail to be opened and checked for contraband.
• ✓ Understand that privileged/legal mail is opened only in the inmate’s presence and is inspected only to locate contraband.

If your loved one doesn't have funds, they can request basic writing supplies: 3 envelopes, 9 sheets of paper, and a facility pen. Indigent inmates can have up to three letters sent per week at $0.58 each, debited from their commissary account - good to know if you're wondering how often to expect mail.