Before You Mail That Package: What Dallas County Jail Won't Accept
Mail to Dallas County Jail gets rejected over small details—wrong address format, missing info, or prohibited items inside. Use this guide to make sure your letter actually gets through.
Every envelope needs the inmate's full name and book-in (booking) number. Dallas County Jail routes all mail through its Mail Processing Center - not the jail building itself. Use the Mail Processing Center address exactly as listed by the Sheriff's Office, or your letter may not arrive.
Always include a return address. Put your full name and address on the outside of the envelope. If the person has been released, Dallas County Jail won't forward mail - anything without a return address just disappears.
Prohibited-materials-checklist
- ✓ Glue
- ✓ Staples
- ✓ Paperclips
- ✓ Clasps
- ✓ Tape
- ✓ Plastic
- ✓ Wood
- ✓ Cloth
- ✓ Glass
- ✓ Ribbon
- ✓ Liquids
- ✓ Metal
- ✓ Electronic devices
- ✓ Inflammatory material that depicts or gives information on the manufacture or likeness of explosives, weapons, or drugs
Photos are allowed, but size matters. Nothing larger than 8 x 10 inches. Polaroids are prohibited - stick with standard printed photos.
- Buy the book from an approved source - Books are only allowed if they’re shipped directly from the publisher or a bookstore.
- Ship it straight to the jail (don’t send it yourself) - If a book is not shipped from the publisher or bookstore, it won’t be accepted.
Put your full name and return address on everything you send. Dallas County Jail doesn't forward mail after release, so without a return address, your letter has no way back to you.
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