Why Your Mail Got Returned from Lewis County Jail (And How to Fix It)
Returned mail is frustrating—especially when you're trying to stay connected with someone inside. At Lewis County Jail, most returns come down to a few predictable issues: missing info on the envelope, sending items they don't accept, or mixing money orders with letters. Here's how to figure out what went wrong and get it right the second time.
Top Reasons
- ✓ Personal checks - Lewis County Jail doesn’t accept personal checks through inmate mail, so they’ll be rejected and sent back.
- ✓ Polaroid-type photos - instant photos aren’t accepted, so they won’t be delivered to the inmate.
- ✓ Stickers, glued items, collages, or similar items - anything attached or layered can trigger a return.
- ✓ Correspondence from other detention facilities - mail coming from another detention facility isn’t accepted.
- ✓ Hardback books - hardback books are not allowed through inmate mail.
- ✓ Stamps or envelopes - don’t include loose stamps or extra envelopes; they aren’t accepted.
- ✓ Books/publications on the Washington State DOC “not authorized” list - if a book is restricted by the DOC list that Lewis County Jail follows, it will be returned.
Sent a book or publication? This trips people up. Lewis County Jail follows the Washington State Department of Corrections list of restricted books. If your title appears on that DOC list, it'll come right back to you instead of being delivered.
The jail requires the inmate's full name and ID number printed clearly on the outside of every envelope or postcard. Miss either one, and your mail gets returned - staff won't try to guess who it's for.
Don't have the ID number? Look it up on the Lewis County Jail inmate search or jail roster online. Once you have it, print it clearly next to the inmate's name on everything you send.
Money orders have a strict rule here: when mailing to 28 SW Chehalis Ave., Chehalis, WA 98532, the envelope can only contain the money order. Tuck in a letter - even a quick note - and the whole thing comes back.
Tip: Write “MONEY ORDER” on the outside of the envelope so it’s handled correctly when it arrives.
- Contact the jail within 10 days - If you get mail returned and want to appeal, call 360-740-1344 or email LCJail@lewiscountywa.gov within 10 days.
- Ask for the reason and the next step - Tell them what was returned and that you’d like to appeal; they can confirm why it was rejected and what you should do next.
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