What You Can and Can't Mail to an Inmate in Connecticut: The Complete Guide

Every piece of mail needs three things: the inmate's full name, their inmate number, and the facility address. Miss any of these, and your letter could be delayed or returned. Think of it this way - the name and number identify who it's for; the address tells the postal service where to send it.

Connecticut DOC does not set a cap on how many letters an inmate may write or receive when it’s at the inmate’s personal expense. The main exception is discipline: letter-writing privileges can be restricted as a disciplinary penalty under Administrative Directive 9.5 (Code of Penal Discipline).

Prohibited Correspondents

• ✓ A victim of a criminal offense for which the inmate has served or is serving a sentence, stands convicted of, or where disposition is pending
• ✓ A person under 18 if that person’s parent or guardian objects in writing to the correspondence
• ✓ An inmate in another correctional facility (unless they are immediate family)
• ✓ A parolee or an inmate on community confinement, unless there is express permission from the Unit Administrator and the addressee’s supervisor
• ✓ Any person the inmate is restrained from writing to by court order
• ✓ Anyone else if the department determines prohibiting the correspondence is necessary to further security, order, or rehabilitation

That last category is broader than it sounds. The department can block correspondence with someone if they determine it's necessary for facility security, daily operations, or the inmate's rehabilitation - even without a specific court order or prior relationship.

Skip the padded envelopes. Connecticut DOC discourages them for security reasons, and using one will slow down delivery.