How Tennessee's Digital Mail System Works: What Families Sending Mail to DJRC Need to Know
At Debra Johnson Rehab Center (DJRC) and other Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) facilities, personal mail doesn't get handed to inmates as physical letters. Instead, it's scanned and delivered digitally to their tablet.
Your loved one will read a scanned image of what you sent - not the actual paper you wrote on. You can still send handwritten notes or printed pages. Just know the "delivery" happens on the tablet after the mail has been processed.
TDOC's administrative policy requires incoming correspondence to be delivered to inmates within 24 hours of receipt, excluding weekends and holidays. Once your mail enters the institution's processing system, it's supposed to move quickly.
TDOC's mail FAQ offers a more practical timeline: mail is delivered within 1 to 3 business days after arriving at the P.O. Box. This window covers the full journey from P.O. Box arrival to appearing on your loved one's tablet.
Setting expectations: The "within 24 hours" rule kicks in after correspondence enters the institution's process (excluding weekends and holidays). The "1–3 business days" timeline covers the full stretch from P.O. Box receipt to tablet delivery. Plan on a few business days, especially around weekends and holidays.
Photos get scanned too - but not everything makes it through. Pictures containing profanity or anything considered inappropriate can be withheld. Keep your photos clean and straightforward if you want them delivered without issues.
Tip: Stick to family-friendly photos, and avoid images with text that could be flagged (including profanity) or anything that could be viewed as inappropriate.
Reading scanned mail on the tablet is free. TDOC confirms there's no cost to the inmate just to open and read your letter.
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