What Counts as Legal Mail at Lewis County Jail

Lewis County Jail only classifies incoming mail as "Legal Mail" when it meets all three requirements. The envelope must come from an approved official sender, display a clear return address on the front, and be labeled as legal mail (or something similar) on the outside.

• ✓ The sender must be an approved official source (such as courts, attorneys, or other listed agencies/officials).

• ✓ The return address must be on the front of the envelope, clearly showing it’s from an approved official source.

• ✓ The front of the envelope must be clearly marked “Legal Mail,” “Attorney/Client,” or a similar designation.

The jail only accepts legal mail from specific official sources. That includes courts and court staff, attorneys (public defenders and prosecutors count), and the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board (ISRB). Established organizations that represent incarcerated people in judicial proceedings also qualify. Certain government officials and entities make the list too: the President or Vice President, U.S. Congress members, governors, and state legislators. Official correspondence from embassies, consulates, the U.S. Department of Justice, and state attorneys general is also accepted. Law enforcement officers acting in their official capacity can send legal mail, as can the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Unit at Headquarters. If your sender isn't on this list, the jail won't treat the letter as legal mail - regardless of what's inside.

Send legal mail to the jail's street address - not the PO Box used for regular inmate mail. The street address is also where you'd send money orders, court documents, books, bank statements, and publications.

• ✓ Send legal mail to: 28 SW Chehalis Ave., Chehalis, WA 98532
• ✓ This street address is also used for: money orders, court documents, books, bank statements, and publications

Attorneys have several options for private communication with someone at Lewis County Jail: legal mail, protected visiting booths, and privileged phone or video calls through HomeWAV. Check the jail's attorney-client communication guidance for exact requirements and setup steps.