What You Can and Can't Send to Someone in Idaho Prisons (Letters, Photos, and Packages)

Your loved one can receive personal letters from family and friends, but not packages from individuals. Thinking about sending a care package or tucking extras into an envelope? It'll get rejected. Stick to a standard letter and approved photos - that's what makes it through mailroom screening without delays.

Photos are allowed, but two things will get them rejected: Polaroids and nudity. If you're printing pictures at home or ordering prints, choose standard photo prints - not instant or Polaroid-style - and skip anything nude or sexually explicit. Do a quick check before sealing the envelope. Photos that don't meet the rules won't be delivered.

Every personal letter gets opened and searched for contraband. This is standard practice in Idaho prisons. The mailroom checks for anything that isn't allowed to enter the facility. Keep your envelope simple: a straightforward letter and only approved photos.

Here's a common surprise: you can't mail stamps, envelopes, or stationery to someone inside. People in Idaho prisons buy these supplies through the commissary - outside stamps and stationery won't be accepted. If you want to help them write back, put money on their commissary account instead of trying to send supplies directly.

• ✓ If a resident does not have funds (is indigent), the facility provides stationery and postage for one personal letter per week.

1. Leave the mail unopened - don’t open or alter it.
2. Write “Return to Sender” on the envelope - use that exact wording.
3. Send it back - return it unopened through the mail.

If a minor in your household is receiving unauthorized or unwanted mail from an IDOC resident, contact IDOC Prison Victim Services. They can help you stop the contact.