How to Address a Letter and What You Can Send to Someone at Eastern Oregon Corrections Institution
Mail that isn't addressed or packaged correctly gets refused. Here's how to format letters for Eastern Oregon Corrections Institution (EOCI)—and what you can and can't send under Oregon DOC mail rules.
Mail rules feel picky, but they exist for safety and contraband prevention. EOCI follows Oregon Department of Corrections mail standards. Getting the envelope, paper, and writing materials right is the fastest way to make sure your letter clears screening and reaches your loved one.
Write the adult in custody's name exactly as it appears in Oregon DOC records. No nicknames, shortened names, or
Include the SID# (Oregon state offender identification number) with the name. Not sure where to put it? Keep it simple - place the SID# on the same line as the name or directly underneath so it's easy to spot during processing.
Use the correct facility name and the complete mailing address for Eastern Oregon Corrections Institution. For EOCI, the address is: Eastern Oregon C.I. 2500 Westgate Pendleton, OR 97801
Don't skip the return address. Oregon DOC requires your complete name and full address on the outside of the envelope.
Note: If you want the official word on formatting and what’s refused, read Oregon’s Mail Rule (OAR 291-131) on the Oregon Secretary of State website.
Use standard white paper, 20 lb or less - the regular printer/copy paper you'd buy anywhere. Skip cardstock entirely. Thicker paper, like what's used for greeting cards and postcards, can be refused.
Use a commercially produced white envelope no larger than 9" x 12". Padded envelopes, cardboard or corrugated mailers, tear-resistant materials, and heavy-weight paper (over 20 lb) aren't allowed. Envelopes with security features - like patterned
Use pen or lead pencil for your letter, or send something typewritten or photocopied. Crayon and marker aren't allowed. Even addressing the envelope with heavy ink - like markers - can get the whole piece refused.
When sending mail from home, keep it simple: adults in custody can only receive photos and letters directly from friends or family.
Greeting cards and postcards aren't allowed. Anything made of cardstock - the thicker, stiff paper used for most cards - is likely to be refused.
Note: Oregon DOC does not allow outside care packages to be sent to adults in custody.
These mail standards reflect the current Division 291-131 Mail revisions, which are effective January 13, 2025.
Want to send reading material? It can't come from you directly. Books, magazines, and newspapers must be shipped to the adult in custody straight from a publisher or distributor.
The
Pre Send Checklist
- ✓ Adult in custody name matches Oregon DOC records exactly (no nicknames)
- ✓ SID# is included with the name
- ✓ White, commercially produced envelope (no larger than 9" x 12")
- ✓ No padded, cardboard, security-feature, or heavy-weight (over 20 lb) envelopes
- ✓ Letter is on white paper, standard weight (20 lb or less)
- ✓ Written in pen or lead pencil (or typewritten/photocopied)
- ✓ Return address includes your complete name and full address
Tip: Address the envelope with a regular pen - heavy marker ink can cause the mail to be refused.
For the most detailed, up-to-date guidance - including examples of what gets refused - look up Oregon's Mail Rule, OAR 291-131, on the Oregon Secretary of State website.
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