Sending Mail to Montana State Prison: Why Your Letter Goes to Maryland First
Wondering why Montana State Prison mail goes to Phoenix, Maryland? MSP uses an off-site scanning system, so where you send your letter—and how you address it—makes all the difference.
Personal mail for people incarcerated at Montana State Prison doesn't go directly to the prison. Instead, it's scanned at an off-site facility and delivered digitally to the recipient's assigned tablet. That's why the mailing address includes a PO Box in Phoenix, MD - your letter gets routed there first, scanned, and the person receives it electronically. They won't get the original paper copy.
Warning: Any inmate personal mail that physically arrives at Montana State Prison will be returned to the sender.
To get personal mail delivered correctly, address the envelope using the off-site PO Box format below. Write each line separately, and include the inmate's full first and last name plus their AO number - missing details can get your mail sent back. Full Facility Name and State Inmate Full First and Last Name, AO Number PO Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131
- ✓ Write your full name and return address clearly in the top left corner of the envelope.
- ✓ Make sure the envelope is properly addressed; mail that isn’t will be returned to the sender.
Don’t combine mail types: If you send checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks, don’t include a personal letter in the same envelope - otherwise all items will be returned to you.
Mail for juveniles at Pine Hills follows different rules. Instead of the youth's full name, use their initials along with their youth ID number. You'll still send it to the same off-site PO Box in Phoenix, Maryland: Pine Hills Correctional Facility- MONTANA (Youth Initials) #00(Youth ID) PO Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131
Got a returned letter? Not sure how to format the address? Reach out to the MSP mailroom at CORMSPMailroom@mt.gov for help with returned mail or delivery issues.
Once you send personal mail to the Phoenix, MD PO Box, the letter gets scanned off-site and delivered digitally to the inmate's tablet. The person you're writing to won't receive your original paper letter. And if you mail personal correspondence directly to Montana State Prison instead of the off-site address, it'll be returned to you.
Quick reminders: Put your full name and return address on the envelope, and don’t include checks/money orders/cashier’s checks in the same envelope as a personal letter - either issue can lead to your mail being returned.
Looking to add money to someone's account? That's handled separately from personal mail. Approved individuals can use the online Inmate Trust Account Deposit service for trust account deposits - don't try to send funds through the personal-mail PO Box process.
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