How to Send E-Messages and Photos to an Inmate at Johnston Unit (JPay & Digital Mail)
At Johnston Unit, personal mail and photos go through TDCJ's Digital Mail Processing Center before being delivered digitally to the inmate's tablet. Here's how to send physical mail for scanning and JPay e-messages so everything arrives the way you expect.
Personal mail sent to Johnston Unit doesn't go directly to the facility. Instead, your letters and photos are routed to TDCJ's Digital Mail Processing Center, where they're sorted, scanned, and uploaded to the inmate's secure tablet.
- ✓ Legal mail
- ✓ Media mail
- ✓ Books, magazines, packages, and other subscriptions from verified publishers
To send personal mail or photos through the digital mail system, address your envelope to the Digital Mail Processing Center using the inmate's full name and TDCJ number: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Inmate's Full First and Last Name + TDCJ Number, PO Box 660400, Dallas, TX 75266-0400. Double-check the name and number before mailing. That information is what connects the scan to the right person.
- ✓ Write the inmate’s full first and last name on the envelope
- ✓ Include the inmate’s TDCJ number
- ✓ For personal mail and photos meant for scanning, use the Digital Mail Processing Center address (not the unit)
- ✓ For items that must be mailed directly to the unit, the envelope should include the unit address
You can also send electronic messages to Johnston Unit inmates through JPay. First, create an account on the JPay website and purchase electronic stamps. You'll need stamps to send any messages.
After you submit your message through JPay, it goes to the facility for review. Once approved, the message is delivered to the inmate's tablet. In some cases, it may also be sent to the recipient's email.
Tablets at Johnston Unit do more than display messages. TDCJ tablets may include educational, informational, and recreational apps. Some recreational features have vendor fees or subscription costs, so access varies depending on what's offered and what the inmate chooses to use.
Note: Personal mail and photos sent through the Digital Mail Processing Center are scanned and uploaded to the inmate's secure tablet. Where allowed, those scanned items can be saved on the tablet for later viewing.
Practical Tips
- ✓ Check JPay for the current stamp requirements before you send an e-message
- ✓ Follow the vendor’s prompts carefully so your message routes to the correct inmate
- ✓ Save your JPay receipt or confirmation, it helps if you need to track what was sent and when
Cost reminder: JPay stamp prices are set by the vendor and can change. Always check the price shown in your account at the time you send.
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