Penmate Inmate Support Guides
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Sending Mail to Someone at Formby State Jail: Digital Processing vs. Direct Mail

If your loved one is at Formby State Jail, most personal mail goes through TDCJ's Digital Processing Center in Dallas—not directly to the unit. Knowing which address to use keeps your mail from getting delayed or rejected.

• 2 min read • tdcj.texas.gov
Sending Mail to Someone at Formby State Jail: Digital Processing vs. Direct Mail

Personal letters, greeting cards, and photos all go to TDCJ's Digital Processing Center in Dallas. Use this address exactly: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Inmate's Full First and Last Name + TDCJ Number, PO Box 660400, Dallas, TX 75266-0400. From there, items are routed through the digital mail process rather than going straight to Formby State Jail.

Don't skip the ID details: Include the inmate's full name and TDCJ number on the envelope. TDCJ also requires the unit address on inmate mail - you can find unit address information on the TDCJ website.

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  • ✓ Legal mail (send directly to the unit)
  • ✓ Media mail (send directly to the unit)
  • ✓ Books (send directly to the unit)
  • ✓ Magazines (send directly to the unit)
  • ✓ Packages (send directly to the unit)
  • ✓ Other subscriptions from verified publishers (send directly to the unit)

No tablet? No problem. Inmates without a device still receive their digital-processed mail - they're given black-and-white printed copies of the scanned correspondence.

Sending Mail to Someone at Formby State Jail: Digital Processing vs. Direct Mail
  1. Match your mail to the right route - Personal letters, greeting cards, and photos go through TDCJ’s Digital Processing Center.
  2. Write the inmate’s full name and TDCJ number - Put both on the envelope so it can be correctly identified and delivered.
  3. Use the Dallas Digital Processing address for personal mail - Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Inmate’s Full First and Last Name + TDCJ Number, PO Box 660400, Dallas, TX 75266-0400.
  4. Send exceptions to the unit - If what you’re mailing is legal mail, media mail, or publisher items like books and magazines, address it to Formby State Jail (the unit), not the Dallas PO Box.

Tip: Sending books, magazines, or subscriptions? Make sure the item qualifies as a verified/publisher shipment, then send it directly to the unit - not the Dallas processing center.

Planning a visit too? Confirm the inmate is assigned to Formby State Jail and has visitation privileges before you make the trip. Call the unit for final confirmation - schedules and eligibility can change, and visits do get canceled.

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