Postcard-Only Rule at DeKalb County Jail: Size, Color, Ink, and Address Checklist
Most rejected mail comes down to one small detail—wrong format, wrong postage, or wrong address. Here's the exact checklist for DeKalb County Jail mail.
DeKalb County Jail enforces a "postcard-only" policy for inmate mail. Since July 1, 2012, all incoming and outgoing mail - except legal mail - must be sent as pre-stamped or metered postcards. Only postcards are accepted through U.S. Mail, and the postage must be metered or pre-printed. Adhesive or lick-and-stick stamps won't work. A regular postcard with a standard stamp can be turned away.
Postcard Spec
- ✓ Postcard size must be at least 3½ inches x 4¼ inches
- ✓ Postcard size must be no larger than 4¼ inches x 6 inches
- ✓ The postcard itself must be white
- ✓ Write your message in blue or black ink only
Addressing trips up a lot of people, so take your time and copy the format exactly. DeKalb's guidance shows inmate mail addressed to the facility, the inmate's full name and identifier, and the P.O. Box in Phoenix, Maryland. For physical mail that gets digitally delivered, include the complete facility name (no abbreviations), the inmate's full name and identifier, and your full name and physical address as the sender. Getting the identifier right helps ensure the mail reaches the correct person.
- ✓ DeKalb County Jail, Georgia
- ✓ Inmate Name, Inmate Identifier
- ✓ P.O. Box 247
- ✓ Phoenix, MD 21131
- ✓ Include your full name and physical address as the sender when mailing for digital delivery (per the facility notice)
DeKalb County has posted a notice about switching inmate personal mail to digital delivery. Under this system, letters, pictures, and drawings are delivered electronically to your loved one via a tablet. This affects what you send and where you send it. Before mailing anything, confirm which method the jail is currently enforcing - the site includes both the older postcard-only rule and newer digital-mail instructions.
Verify before you mail: Check the sheriff's posted guidance to confirm whether DeKalb County Jail is enforcing the postcard-only policy or the newer digital-mail process (including the Phoenix, MD mailing address) before sending anything.
Pre Mail Checklist
- ✓ Use a white postcard only, sized 3½" x 4¼" (min) up to 4¼" x 6" (max)
- ✓ Write the message in blue or black ink only
- ✓ Use metered or pre-printed postage only (no adhesive/glued stamps)
- ✓ Address it exactly as required: DeKalb County Jail, Georgia + inmate full name and identifier + P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131
- ✓ Don’t send checks, money orders, or attorney-client privileged mail to the Phoenix, MD P.O. Box - follow the facility’s separate guidelines for those items
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