What You Can and Can't Mail to Bay County Jail (clear checklist)
Mail rules at Bay County Jail are strict. The fastest way to avoid returns? Stick to what they actually accept. Use the checklists below before you send anything.
Bay County Jail rejects a lot of common "care package" items. Food, medicine, greeting cards, pens, envelopes - none of it will get through. Stamps, stickers, and any kind of package are also off the list. Cash won't be accepted through the mail either. If you want to help with commissary or other account needs, use an approved method instead (money orders are covered below).
- ✓ Food
- ✓ Medicines
- ✓ Greeting cards
- ✓ Writing supplies (pens, pencils, markers)
- ✓ Envelopes
- ✓ Stamps
- ✓ Stickers
- ✓ Packages
- ✓ Cash
Note: Packages and cash won’t be accepted through the mail. If you’re trying to add funds, use a money order instead.
Bay County Jail accepts money orders by mail, and the funds go directly to the inmate's account. Don't send cash - it won't be accepted.
Legal paperwork from an attorney can be received and may be opened in the inmate's presence. Label documents clearly as legal mail so they're handled correctly.
Photos can be mailed, but Bay County Jail only accepts them if they're not offensive, sexual, or gang-related. Images showing guns, drugs, drug paraphernalia, or intoxicants will also be rejected. If a picture seems borderline, pick a different one - mailrooms don't debate intent.
Expect photos to be handled as digital mail. A third-party service scans all incoming personal correspondence, and inmates receive it digitally. For photographs, the originals are scanned into the kiosk system and then discarded - don't expect the jail to return your prints.
Tip: Don't send irreplaceable originals - photos are scanned for kiosk access, then discarded. Keep images "clean": no sexual or offensive content, gang references, or anything showing guns, drugs, or intoxicants.
Practical Tips
- ✓ Address mail with the inmate’s name and housing assignment
- ✓ Include the booking number, control number, or commissary number
- ✓ Send it to: 5700 Star Lane, Panama City, Florida 32405
Since originals can be scanned and discarded, don't mail anything you can't replace. If you'd be upset to lose it, keep it at home and send a copy.
Want to get a message or photo to your loved one reliably? Keep in mind that Bay County Jail uses a third-party scanning process for incoming personal mail. Your correspondence reaches the inmate digitally, not as the original paper you sent.
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