The Right Way to Address Mail to a Lamar County Inmate (PO Box 591)

Every piece of mail sent to a Lamar County inmate needs a few specific details. On the mailing address, include the inmate's full name, their SO# (the inmate number, sometimes called a booking or jacket number), and the facility name. You also need a return address on the envelope. If any of these are missing, the jail won't accept it.

Most inmate mail goes to Lamar County's central mailing address: P O BOX 591, Longview, Texas 75606. Keep the PO Box line formatted exactly as written ("P O BOX 591"), and make sure the inmate's name, SO#, and facility name all appear above it.

Common Errors

• ✓ Leaving off the inmate’s SO# (booking or jacket number)
• ✓ Forgetting your return address
• ✓ Using the wrong facility name in the address block
• ✓ Not using “P O BOX 591, Longview, Texas 75606” exactly
• ✓ Assuming staff will “figure it out” if something is missing (Lamar County states there are no exceptions if the guidelines are not followed)

One common reason mail gets turned away: sending an excluded item to the PO Box. Books, magazines, newspapers, legal mail, and medical mail are not accepted at P O BOX 591. Lamar County states there are no exceptions for mail that doesn't follow the guidelines, so double-check what you're sending before you drop it in the mailbox.

1. Address the envelope in the required order: inmate name first, then SO#, then the facility name, then “P O BOX 591,” then “Longview, Texas 75606.”
2. Do a quick check before mailing: confirm the SO# is on there and your return address is on the envelope.
3. Fix anything that is missing: Lamar County’s policy says there are no exceptions, so mail that does not follow the guidelines will not be received.

Sending books, magazines, newspapers, legal mail, or medical mail? Don't use P O BOX 591. Those items aren't accepted there. Instead, send them directly to the facility where the inmate is housed, following that facility's specific mail rules.