Mailing Letters and Photos to Dane County Jail: What's Allowed and What Gets Rejected

Address resident mail to the person’s name and booking number, then send it to: Dane County Jail 115 West Doty Street Madison, WI 53703 All incoming resident mail is processed through the United States Postal Service, so using the correct format matters. If the name and booking number are missing or the address is off, your mail is more likely to be delayed or turned back.

Acceptable Overview

• ✓ Personal letters
• ✓ Original artwork drawn in pencil or ink (as long as it is not on the jail’s unacceptable list)
• ✓ Single-layer greeting cards that have a written letter or note (blank greeting cards are not accepted)
• ✓ Personal photographs (as long as they are not on the jail’s unacceptable list)
• ✓ Cash, money orders, and government checks

Skip the Polaroids. Instant-film photos are not accepted as resident mail. Regular printed photos and original artwork in pencil or ink are fine, as long as they don't fall into the facility's list of unacceptable content. When in doubt, keep it simple: plain paper, pencil or ink drawings, and standard printed photos are your safest bet.

Keep it small. Anything larger than 10" x 13" x 1" gets returned to sender. Books that can't be returned get donated to the jail library. If you want your items back in case of rejection, stay within the size limit.

1. Address it exactly - Use the resident’s name and booking number, and mail it to Dane County Jail, 115 West Doty Street, Madison, WI 53703. Mail is processed through the U.S. Postal Service.
2. Skip stickers and extras - Any adhesive items like postage stamps, return labels, and stickers will be removed.
3. Stay within the size limit - Anything larger than 10" x 13" x 1" will be returned to the sender.
4. Fill out money orders and checks correctly - Money orders and government checks must be payable to the resident or to the Sheriff’s Office.