Penmate Inmate Support Guides

How to Address Mail to an Inmate at FCI Marianna (and why the register number matters)

If your mail to FCI Marianna is missing the inmate's register number (or it's written in the wrong format), it can get delayed or never reach the right person. Here's how to label letters and packages so they route correctly the first time.

• 4 min read Verified from official sources

The single most important detail when writing to someone at FCI Marianna: put the inmate's full name and register number on the address. The Bureau of Prisons uses that register number to identify the right person, especially when names are similar, nicknames come into play, or handwriting is tough to read. Write the register number in the standard BOP format (five digits, a hyphen, then three digits). Leaving it off, using the wrong sequence, or dropping the hyphen are common mistakes. Any of them can slow delivery or cause your mail to be flagged as improperly addressed.

Register number format: Use the BOP pattern #####-###, and include it with the inmate’s name on all correspondence to FCI Marianna.

FCI Marianna has different addressing lines depending on where the person is housed. The Bureau of Prisons lists separate formatting for the main institution, the Satellite Camp, and the Federal Satellite Low (FSL). Your label needs to match the inmate's assigned location. This isn't just a technicality. That location line is how mail gets routed to the right place inside the complex. If you're not sure whether your loved one is at the main institution, the camp, or the FSL, confirm that first. Then copy the corresponding addressing format exactly as it appears on the BOP's FCI Marianna page.

  • ✓ Inmate’s full name (no nicknames)
  • ✓ Inmate’s register number in #####-### format
  • ✓ The correct location line for where they are housed (main institution vs SATELLITE CAMP vs FEDERAL SATELLITE LOW)
  • ✓ Your full return address on the envelope or package

Shipping freight or using a carrier other than USPS? Don't send it to the regular inmate mailing address. FCI Marianna requires freight and non-USPS parcels to go to a specific warehouse address the institution designates. Before you ship, double-check that you're using the facility's freight/non-USPS shipping address (the warehouse address) shown for FCI Marianna. The wrong destination can mean delays, refusals, or a return to sender.

  1. Confirm where the inmate is housed: main institution, the camp, or the FSL.
  2. Use the designated freight/non‑USPS address: copy the warehouse shipping address the institution lists for freight and non‑USPS parcels.
  3. Ask before you ship if anything is unclear: if you are unsure which warehouse line applies, confirm it with the facility before sending.
  4. Label paperwork clearly: make sure the inmate’s name and register number appear on any shipping paperwork or packing list so it can be matched to the right person.

In the federal system, written correspondence falls into two categories: general mail and special mail. General correspondence gets opened and inspected by staff for contraband and for anything that could threaten the security or good order of the institution. Special incoming mail is handled differently when it's properly marked. Staff can only open it in the presence of the inmate. It's still inspected for physical contraband and to confirm any enclosures actually qualify as special mail.

Keep in mind: Assume general mail will be opened and inspected. For legal or other privileged materials, follow the special-mail marking and handling rules so it gets processed correctly.

Practical Tips

  • ✓ Verify whether the inmate is at the main institution, the Satellite Camp, or the FSL before you address anything
  • ✓ Use the inmate’s register number in #####-### format every time
  • ✓ Double-check spelling of the inmate’s name, and write it clearly
  • ✓ Always include your full return address
  • ✓ For freight or any non‑USPS shipment, confirm you are using the facility’s designated warehouse address before you ship

If you do only two things, make it these: write the inmate's name with the correct register number (#####-###), and use the right addressing line for where they're housed. For freight and non-USPS parcels, switch to the designated warehouse address. These small details are what keep mail from getting misrouted or sent back.

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