Mailing to an Inmate at Montgomery County Correctional Facility — Address, Photo Rules, and Reading Limits

MCCF allows inmates to send and receive unlimited mail on a daily basis, so letters are one of the simplest ways to stay connected. The two big non-negotiables: every piece of incoming mail needs a return address, and all incoming mail is opened and inspected for contraband before it’s delivered.

The county lists the facility street address for inmate mail: Montgomery County Correctional Facility (MCCF), 22880 Whelan Lane, Boyds, Maryland 20841.

There's also a P.O. Box format: Montgomery County Correctional Facility, Attn: [Inmate Name and ID Number], P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, Maryland 21131. Not sure which to use? Confirm the current mailing instructions before sending anything - wrong format means delays or returned mail.

Don't skip the return address. MCCF requires one on all incoming mail - anything without it gets returned to the post office instead of reaching your loved one.

Expect every envelope to be screened. Staff open and inspect all incoming mail for contraband before delivery, so even "normal" items tucked into a letter can cause problems if they're not allowed.

Photo Rules Overview

• ✓ Send photos in a plain white envelope with a clearly marked return address
• ✓ Keep photo size at 4x6 or smaller
• ✓ Don’t use colored envelopes - mail that arrives in anything but a white envelope is treated as contraband and returned to sender

Thinking of printing pictures online? Be careful - MCCF doesn't accept photos sent through third-party vendors like Shutterfly or FreePrint. Send photos yourself in a plain white envelope to avoid rejection.

MCCF handles photo mail differently than you might expect. Photographs (not publications or legal mail) are photocopied for delivery, and the originals are held for 60 days. Want them back? The inmate needs to arrange pickup within that window. The person picking up must bring a government-issued ID, and pickup is only available Monday through Friday, 7am to 3pm, excluding holidays.

Here's a rule that catches families off guard: if any single photo in a mailing violates policy, MCCF returns all the photos from that envelope. No partial delivery. If you're unsure about one picture, send it separately.

Reading material is limited. Inmates can have up to seven (7) items total - books and magazines combined. Anything over that limit counts as contraband and gets confiscated into the inmate's property. Coordinate with your loved one before mailing books or magazines.

What else gets rejected? The county lists examples of contraband: postage stamps, pornographic photographs, cash, and clothing. Stick to basic paper correspondence and photos that follow the rules, and you're much less likely to run into problems.

Practical Checklist

• ✓ Confirm which mailing address format MCCF is currently using (street address vs. P.O. Box)
• ✓ Put a clear return address on every envelope, or it can be returned to the post office
• ✓ Use a plain white envelope (colored envelopes are not accepted and will be returned)
• ✓ If you’re sending photos, keep them 4x6 or smaller
• ✓ Don’t send photos through third-party print vendors
• ✓ Remember: if one photo violates policy, all photos in that mailing can be returned
• ✓ Before mailing books or magazines, make sure your loved one is under the seven-item combined reading-material limit

1. Decide whether you need the original photos back - MCCF delivers photocopies to the inmate and holds the originals for pickup.
2. Have your loved one arrange the pickup - the original is retained for 60 days, and pickup must happen within that window.
3. Send the right person with the right ID at the right time - the pickup person needs a government-issued ID and can only pick up Monday–Friday, 7am–3pm (excluding holidays).

If your loved one needs supplies to write back, MCCF allows inmates to buy stamped envelopes and writing materials from commissary. Low on funds? They may still be able to order a limited number of stamped envelopes and writing materials through the kiosk/canteen.