How to Address a Letter to Someone at Franklin County Jail (Checklist)

The address side of your envelope needs a few specific lines so staff can match it to the right person. Include the full facility name with the state, the incarcerated person's full name, and their unique identifier (usually a number). Personal mail goes to a centralized P.O. Box in Phoenix, Maryland, so that's where you'll address it.

• ✓ Facility name + state (first line of the mailing address)
• ✓ Inmate’s full name (next line, directly under the facility line)
• ✓ Inmate identifier (same line as the name or the line right under it)
• ✓ P.O. Box 247 (next line)
• ✓ Phoenix, MD 21131 (last line)

Your return address goes in the top-left corner. Franklin County requires your full name and physical address written clearly. If the return address is missing or illegible, your mail may be rejected or sent back.

• ✓ Your full name (top-left corner)
• ✓ Your physical street address (top-left corner)
• ✓ City, state, and ZIP code (top-left corner)
• ✓ Write clearly so every line is easy to read

Most returned mail comes down to a few preventable mistakes. The envelope is missing the inmate's unique identifier. The facility line doesn't include the state. Or the letter went to the wrong address entirely. Double-check the facility name and state, include the person's full name, and don't skip the identifier.

• ✓ Missing inmate identifier: add the inmate’s unique identifier on the address label
• ✓ Facility line incomplete: include the full facility name and the state
• ✓ Using the wrong mailing address: personal mail must go to the centralized P.O. Box address
• ✓ Sending non-letter items: boxes and catalogs sent for an inmate will be returned to the sender

Here's a copy-ready format for your envelope. Before sealing it, verify the inmate's name and identifier using the Franklin County Sheriff's Office online inmate information search. Then copy the details carefully onto your envelope.

1. Look up the inmate - Use the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office online inmate information search to confirm the person’s current listing and their identifier.
2. Confirm the mailing address format - Address personal mail to the centralized P.O. Box and include the facility name + state, the inmate name, and the inmate identifier.
3. Write the envelope clearly - Copy the address neatly and add your full name and physical return address in the top-left corner.