What Happens to Your Letter After You Mail It to El Paso County Jail
Mailing a letter to El Paso County Jail works differently than you might expect. Your letter doesn't go directly to the facility—and your loved one will likely read it on a tablet, not on paper. Here's how the process works.
Personal mail for El Paso County Sheriff's Office (EPSO) inmates doesn't go to the jail itself. Instead, you send it to a P.O. Box in Jonesboro, Arkansas, where a third-party mail vendor handles it. The vendor opens your envelope, scans the contents, and converts your letter into an electronic document. That digital file then gets routed to the jail for review.
- ✓ Include the inmate’s full and correct name
- ✓ Include the inmate’s admit/booking number
- ✓ Write a legible, full return address with the sender’s first and last name
Heads up: The vendor won't process anything bound or folded open like a book, and illegible handwriting can get your mail returned. Don't send money to the personal mailing address either - it won't be processed.
After scanning, the digital version of your letter goes to the EPSO mailroom for review. If approved, it moves on to your loved one. If denied, they won't receive it.
- The mail is flagged at intake - If what you sent includes materials that are bound or open like a book, the vendor won’t process it.
- Staff can’t verify key details - If the writing on the envelope or postcard is illegible, it can be returned to the sender.
- The item can’t be handled through this channel - If you send funds to the personal mailing address, they won’t be processed, which can stop that piece from reaching your loved one the way you intended.
Once approved, the scanned document shows up on your loved one's tablet. You mailed paper, but what they actually read is the digital version created during scanning.
Returned to Sender
- ✓ You included materials that are bound or open like a book
- ✓ The envelope, postcard, or other correspondence has illegible writing
- ✓ You sent funds to the personal mailing address (those won’t be processed)
- Mail your letter to the vendor P.O. Box - All personal incoming correspondence must go to EPSO’s third-party mail vendor at P.O. Box 16120, Jonesboro, AR 72401.
- Use the inmate’s full name and booking/admit number - This helps the vendor match your letter to the right person.
- Write your return address clearly - Include a legible, full return address with your first and last name so it can be processed (and returned if there’s a problem).
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