Before You Mail Anything to Hays County Jail: Quick checklist of acceptable vs. prohibited items

Hays County Jail uses the Securus Digital Mail Center for personal mail. When your letter is approved, it gets scanned and the inmate views it on a tablet or kiosk. The rule is straightforward: if it can't be scanned, it won't go through. Anything that doesn't fit - including paper larger than 8.5 x 11 inches - gets returned to the sender.

Accepted Examples

• ✓ Letters and other flat paper that can be scanned (8.5 x 11 inches or smaller)
• ✓ Photos, drawings, and similar paper items that can be scanned (these are delivered digitally for viewing on tablets or kiosks if approved)

If it won't go through a scanner, don't send it. Paper larger than 8.5 x 11 inches gets returned. Non-paper items? Same deal - if it can't be scanned, it's not getting delivered.

Don't send packages or certified mail to the Securus processing center. Both get returned, which wastes your time and postage.

1. Keep everything scan-sized - use paper that’s 8.5 x 11 inches or smaller so it won’t be rejected for being oversize.
2. Send paper only - all non-paper items are returned to sender, so stick to letters, photos, and drawings on plain paper.
3. Make it easy to scan - if an item can’t be scanned, it will be returned, so keep what you mail flat and simple.

If your mail gets returned, check two things. First, the addressing - personal mail must include the inmate's full name and ID number, sent C/O the Securus Digital Mail Center at the Hays County PO Box. Improper addressing causes delays or returns. Second, if you want your original mail back, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your mailing. Otherwise, you may not get those items returned.