How to Send Mail to an Inmate at Canyon County Jail (Scanned Mail, What’s Allowed, and Indigent Packs)
Mail rules at Canyon County Jail changed in 2024. Small details now matter more than they used to. Here's how to address your letter correctly, what will (and won't) make it through the scanner, and what happens if your loved one can't afford supplies.
Canyon County Jail started using a scanned-mail system on January 29, 2024. That means incoming inmate mail is scanned and then delivered to the inmate electronically, instead of the paper letter being handed over in its original form.
You also need to use one of the jail's two designated mailing addresses. Mail sent to other addresses and received after March 29, 2024 gets rejected - so double-check the address every time before you drop it in the mailbox.
On the front of the envelope, write your loved one's full name and their inmate ID. Both are required. Make sure you're using one of the approved mailing addresses - not an old one from a saved contact or outdated directory.
Include your full return address in the upper-left corner of the envelope. Without it, the jail won't process your mail.
- ✓ Inmate Full Name (required)
- ✓ Inmate ID (required)
- ✓ Canyon County Jail (use one of the two approved mailing addresses)
- ✓ Your full return address (required)
Keep everything scanner-friendly. Mail can't be larger than 8 1/2 x 11 inches (letter size) or thicker than light card stock. If it can't go through a sheet-fed scanner, it won't be accepted.
- ✓ Stick to standard letter-size paper (8 1/2 x 11)
- ✓ Keep it thin - regular paper is safer than anything near card stock
- ✓ Use flat pages that can feed through a sheet-fed scanner without catching
- ✓ If you’re including multiple pages, keep them loose and simple so they scan cleanly
Prohibited Items
- ✓ Stamps
- ✓ Blank envelopes
- ✓ Stationery
- ✓ Cash
- ✓ Checks
- ✓ Any other form of currency
Warning: If you include prohibited items, the jail can treat the entire mailing as a rules violation. Mail that violates jail rules can be destroyed and not returned.
Your mail will be opened and reviewed. Staff inspect - and may read - incoming letters to check for contraband and rule violations before processing.
Accepted letters are scanned and delivered to the inmate electronically. The physical mail is then destroyed. If staff find a rule violation during inspection, the mail can be destroyed without being returned to you.
Note: Don't send anything you can't afford to lose. Original mail isn't kept. Since letters may be read and the paper destroyed, leave sensitive content and irreplaceable items out of your envelope.
If your loved one has less than $2.50 in their account, they're considered indigent and can request a free writing pack. This ensures they can still send mail even without funds.
- ✓ Two stamped envelopes
- ✓ One flex pen
- ✓ Four sheets of paper
Quick Checklist Sample
- ✓ Address it with the inmate’s full name and inmate ID
- ✓ Put your full return address on the envelope
- ✓ Use letter-size pages (8 1/2 x 11) that are thin enough to feed through a sheet-fed scanner
- ✓ Don’t include stamps, blank envelopes, or stationery in the envelope
- ✓ Don’t send cash, checks, or any other form of currency
- ✓ Keep pages simple and loose so they scan cleanly
- Write the recipient line - Use your loved one’s full name and inmate ID.
- Add the jail’s approved mailing address - Use one of the two addresses Canyon County Jail designates for inmate mail.
- Add your return address - Put your full return address on the envelope so it meets the jail’s requirements.
The scanned-mail policy took effect January 29, 2024, and mail must go to one of two specific addresses. If you're using an address from before 2024, check the jail's current instructions before sending anything.
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