Penmate Inmate Support Guides
dakota-original-mail-what-happens

What Happens to Original Physical Mail for Dakota Inmates After It's Scanned

• 2 min read • corrections.az.gov
What Happens to Original Physical Mail for Dakota Inmates After It's Scanned

Once your letter is scanned, the original gets stored for 90 days by ADCRR's contracted provider - then it's professionally destroyed. Want the original back? Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) with your correspondence, and they'll mail it to you after scanning. The digital mail policy itself doesn't cost you or the incarcerated person anything extra.

Your mail doesn't stay in paper form forever. After scanning, ADCRR's contracted provider holds the original for 90 days. Then it's professionally destroyed - unless you've arranged for a return (see below).

What Happens to Original Physical Mail for Dakota Inmates After It's Scanned

How to Request Return

  • ✓ Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) inside your correspondence if you want the original physical mail returned after scanning
  • ✓ Write your return address clearly on the SASE so it can be mailed back to you
  • ✓ Make sure you add enough postage for the size/weight of what you’re sending
  • ✓ Use a sturdy envelope so the SASE makes it through processing in good shape

Sending something you want back - photos, a handwritten note, anything sentimental? Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your mail. After scanning, the original gets mailed back to you. Double-check your return address and postage before sending. If the SASE can't be used, the original follows the standard 90-day storage-and-disposal timeline.

Sending mail under the digital mail policy won't cost you or the incarcerated person anything extra. ADCRR's guidance is clear on that.

Questions about the digital mail service? Need help tracking down a missing item? Securus Customer Service is available 24/7 at (800) 844-6591. One tip: keep your own records - a copy of what you sent, any mailing receipts - so you can describe the item clearly if something goes wrong.

Find an Inmate at ASPC-Y DAKOTA II

Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.

Exact spelling helps find results faster

Free to search · Used by families nationwide
Woman using phone to connect with loved one

More from ASPC-Y DAKOTA II

dakota-visitation-fee-how-to-pay

Applying for Visits at ASPC‑Y Dakota: The $25 Background Fee, Phone‑Only Exception, and Which Vendor Costs Least

Applying to visit someone at ASPC‑Y Dakota? Budget for a one-time, non-refundable $25 background check fee per adult visitor. This fee applies to both in-person visits and phone privileges. One exception: if you only want to receive phone calls from an inmate (not initiate them), you can skip the $25 fee. You'll still need to complete the phone privileges application, though.

dakota-apply-timing-checklist

Before You Apply for Visits at ASPC‑Y Dakota: Timing, Deadlines, and Common Pitfalls

Timing matters if your loved one just entered the system or was recently transferred. ADCRR won't process visitation applications while an inmate is going through intake at Alhambra or Perryville. Before you submit anything, confirm where they're currently housed - especially if their status is still in flux.

dakota-mail-what-gets-scanned-originals

Before you mail: what gets scanned for Dakota Unit, how originals are handled, and how to get them back

Dakota Unit's digital mail system scans a specific list of items: letters, greeting cards, kid artwork and drawings, and photos. That's it. If you're considering sending something outside that list, don't - it won't be scanned. When in doubt, stick to written correspondence.