Madison County Jail's Digital Mail System: What Happens to Letters and Photos
Madison County Jail uses a digital mail system for all personal correspondence. Here's how letters and photos are handled, how long originals are kept, and how to address your envelope so it reaches the right person.
All incoming personal correspondence at Madison County Jail is scanned and delivered to inmates digitally. Letters, cards, photographs: everything gets converted. The inmate will never hold the original paper in their hands. That's just how personal mail works at this facility.
Photos follow the same process as other personal mail. They're scanned and delivered digitally. If you're sending pictures, keep them standard photo size (no larger than 4x6). Mounted, framed, or Polaroid pictures are not allowed. Photos that show or promote lewd or sexual content, criminal behavior, or gang-related behavior or writings are also prohibited.
Heads up: Your loved one will receive personal mail as a digital copy, not the original. Photos that break the content rules can be rejected, so choose your pictures carefully.
Once your mail is received and scanned, Madison County Jail holds the original for seven (7) days from the date it arrived. After that, it's gone.
- ✓ If you need an original letter, card, or photo kept, plan around the seven (7) day retention window.
- ✓ Treat the seven (7) days as your only realistic chance to recover the original item.
- ✓ After the retention period ends, do not assume the original will still be available.
Reminder: If the original item matters to you, don't wait. The jail only keeps personal mail for seven (7) days after receiving it.
Every piece of mail needs the inmate's full first and last name and their booking number. Address the envelope to: Inmate First and Last Name, Inmate Booking #, Madison County Jail, P.O. Box 2047, Huntsville, AL 35804. Missing the booking number is one of the easiest ways for mail to get delayed or rejected.
- ✓ Inmate’s full first and last name
- ✓ Inmate’s booking number
- ✓ Madison County Jail
- ✓ P.O. Box 2047
- ✓ Huntsville, AL 35804
Good rule: Don’t mail anything you can’t afford to lose. Personal mail is delivered digitally, and originals are only kept for seven (7) days.
Keep photos simple and conservative. Send prints that are 4x6 or smaller, and skip anything mounted, framed, or Polaroid-style. Content matters, too. Photos showing lewd or sexual material, criminal behavior, or gang-related behavior or writings are prohibited and can keep your photo from being accepted.
- Confirm the inmate’s name and booking number - You need both the full first and last name and the booking number for mail to be properly addressed.
- Choose mail and photos that fit the rules - Personal correspondence is scanned and delivered digitally, and photos must be 4x6 or smaller with no mounted, framed, or Polaroid pictures.
- Avoid prohibited photo content - Don’t send photos showing lewd or sexual content, criminal behavior, or gang-related behavior or writings.
- Mail it to the correct address - Use Madison County Jail, P.O. Box 2047, Huntsville, AL 35804.
- Move quickly if you need originals - The jail retains original personal mail items for seven (7) days from receiving them.
Find an Inmate at Madison County Jail, AL
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
