Why Your Photos Won't Reach Your Loved One: Understanding Virginia's Mail Photocopying and Shredding Policy
If you mailed original photos to someone in a Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) facility and they never arrived, the reason is straightforward: VADOC delivers photocopies, not originals. Here's how the process works, what gets destroyed, and how to send mail that actually reaches your loved one.
VADOC photocopies all incoming general correspondence. That means your loved one never sees the original letter, card, or photo you mailed. They only get black-and-white photocopies.
Quick check: VADOC accepts letters, greeting cards, postcards, and appropriate photos. Photos that are pornographic, obscene, or offensive are not allowed.
Once VADOC photocopies your general correspondence, the originals are shredded. The envelope, the letter inside, personal photographs: all of it. If you send an irreplaceable photo, the original will not be returned or forwarded to your loved one.
Why originals "disappear": Even if you mail real printed photos, VADOC photocopies them, delivers the copies to the inmate, and shreds the originals.
There's also a page limit. VADOC delivers a maximum of three 8.5" x 11" black-and-white photocopied pages (front and back) per mailing. Anything beyond that cutoff won't make it to your loved one.
- ✓ No pornographic, obscene, or offensive imagery
- ✓ No money orders, cash, checks, or other items of monetary value
- ✓ No postage stamps
- ✓ No prepaid postage envelopes or postcards
- ✓ No nude or semi-nude images of anyone
- ✓ No contraband or other items not in compliance with Operating Procedure 802.1
You can send photos as long as they meet the content rules (nothing pornographic, obscene, or offensive), but they still won't arrive as originals. Like everything else, they get photocopied and the originals are shredded. Keep the three-page maximum in mind. Your loved one receives up to three black-and-white photocopied pages (front and back) per mailing, and photos count toward that limit.
Addressing
- ✓ Inmate’s first and last name
- ✓ Inmate’s 7-digit state ID number
- ✓ Name of the facility or institution
- ✓ Facility address and ZIP code
Prohibited Items and Alternatives
- ✓ Money orders, cash, checks, or other items of monetary value
- ✓ Postage stamps
- ✓ Prepaid postage envelopes or postcards
- ✓ Nude or semi-nude images of anyone
- ✓ Contraband or other items not in compliance with Operating Procedure 802.1
- Use JPay online. This is the fastest way to send money to an inmate.
- Pay with a credit or debit card. JPay allows you to complete the payment online.
- Submit the payment and keep your confirmation. Save it in case you need to follow up later.
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