What You Need to Know About Mailing Letters to Someone at RIDOC
RIDOC's mail rules are strict. Small details—like your envelope color or how you send it—can determine whether your letter arrives or gets turned away. Here's how to keep your mail moving and avoid preventable delays.
RIDOC only accepts incoming inmate mail through the U.S. Postal Service. Letters, packages - everything. If it arrives via FedEx, UPS, or any other carrier, it won't be accepted. Before you send anything, make sure USPS is handling it.
Use a white envelope. RIDOC requires all incoming inmate mail to be in a white envelope - the only exception is for attorneys, who can use manila envelopes. Sending personal mail? Stick with plain white so your letter doesn't get held up over something easy to fix.
Make sure you put enough postage on everything. At RIDOC, the sender pays postage - no exceptions.
Don't slip money into a letter hoping it gets there faster. If staff find cash, checks, postal notes, money orders, or drafts in incoming mail, they seize it and forward it to the Inmate Accounts Office for deposit. The money won't stay in the envelope - it gets pulled out and processed through the account system instead.
Note: Avoid sending cash or other monetary items inside a letter. If money is found, it’s seized and routed to the Inmate Accounts Office for deposit into the inmate’s account.
Expect your mail to be screened. RIDOC policy allows authorized staff to open incoming non-privileged mail, inspect it for contraband, and read it. This is standard in correctional settings. Keep your letters straightforward and free of anything that might raise questions during inspection.
Note: The inspection rule described here applies to non-privileged mail. Attorney mail is treated differently under RIDOC policy.
Practical Tips
- ✓ Send it through USPS (not another carrier)
- ✓ Use a plain white envelope for personal mail
- ✓ Make sure you’ve paid the postage before you mail it
- ✓ Don’t include cash, checks, money orders, drafts, or similar items inside the letter
- ✓ Keep a copy of what you send (or at least note the date you mailed it) in case you need to follow up
- ✓ If you’re thinking about sending anything unusual, confirm the rules first so it doesn’t get rejected during inspection
If you remember just a few RIDOC mail basics, you’ll avoid most problems: use USPS, stick to a white envelope (unless it’s attorney mail), and pay the postage yourself. Keep money out of the envelope - RIDOC will seize it and route it to the Inmate Accounts Office for deposit - and expect that non-privileged mail can be opened, inspected, and read by staff.
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