How to Mail a Letter to Johnson County Jail Without It Getting Rejected
Mail rules at Johnson County Jail are straightforward once you know the address format and what gets rejected. Use the PO Box, keep your envelope clean, and skip anything that looks suspicious.
Send your letter to the jail's PO Box - not the street address. Write the incarcerated person's full name on the envelope, then address it to: PO Box 2540, Iowa City, IA 52244. Getting the name and PO Box right is the fastest way to avoid delays.
Always include your full return address. If your letter doesn't meet the jail's rules, a return address means it comes back to you instead of vanishing into the system.
Note: The jail’s street address is 511 S. Capitol St., Iowa City (2nd floor), but inmate mail should go to the PO Box address listed above.
Rejection Items
- ✓ Stickers (including “cute” seals on the flap)
- ✓ Lipstick marks (on the paper or the envelope)
- ✓ Perfume or scented sprays
- ✓ Any other foreign substance applied to the letter or envelope
Johnson County Jail doesn't accept packages mailed to inmates - period. Don't try it.
The jail also won't accept other property for inmates, with a few exceptions. Cash and prescription medication may be accepted, but that's about it.
Want to send reading material? Books and magazines must ship directly from the publisher. Don't buy something yourself and re-mail it - place the order so it ships straight from the source.
Pre Mail Checklist
- ✓ Address it to PO Box 2540, Iowa City, IA 52244 (not the street address)
- ✓ Write the inmate’s full name on the front of the envelope
- ✓ Add your full return address
- ✓ Keep the paper and envelope free of stickers, lipstick, perfume, or any foreign substance
- ✓ Don’t include or send packages
Tip: Before sealing, do a quick check - no scented lotion on your hands, no sticker residue, nothing extra tucked inside. Anything that looks altered or contaminated is more likely to get rejected.
- Check the return address and the envelope - returned mail is your clue that something about the addressing or contents didn’t meet the jail’s rules.
- Save a copy of what you sent - a quick photo of the letter and envelope helps you spot what needs to change before you resend.
- Call the jail if you need clarification - Johnson County Jail can answer questions about mail rules at (319) 356-6025.
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