How to send messages, photos, and packages
Mail rules at Auburn Correctional Facility follow New York DOCCS policy. Packages must ship directly from approved vendors using carrier services like USPS, FedEx, or UPS—family and friends can't mail packages themselves or bring them to the facility. These requirements are outlined in Department Directive #4911. Staff screen and inspect all letters and correspondence for contraband, so expect items to be opened and checked. To avoid delays or returns, address mail with the incarcerated person's full name and facility identifier (such as a DIN), and include your return address. Prefer not to ship physical items? Many New York facilities offer digital letter and photo services that get transmitted, printed, and delivered inside.
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Want to send a package to someone at Auburn Correctional Facility? Here's the key rule: it must come directly from an approved vendor. Personal packages from family and friends aren't accepted—not even if you bring them during a visit.
Order through an approved vendor and have the package shipped directly to the facility using USPS, FedEx, or UPS. Family and friends can't mail or bring packages themselves. Follow the vendor process outlined in Department Directive #4911.
Letters and photos are generally accepted, but they’re screened and inspected by facility staff. For packages (including items sold as books or other goods), use approved vendor shipping—don’t mail those items yourself.
Yes. Properly marked legal mail receives special handling and is typically opened only in the incarcerated person's presence—and only to check for contraband. Follow facility instructions for labeling legal correspondence so it's processed correctly.
Your first visit to Auburn Correctional Facility will go smoother if you plan for security rules, pack light, and use the Visitor Hospitality Center before you enter. This checklist covers what DOCCS provides for visitors and how to prepare so you're not turned away at the door.
Visiting someone at Auburn Correctional Facility? The Visitor Hospitality Center gives you a place to regroup before check-in. Here's what it offers, what's usually available inside, and what to confirm before you go.
