How to Send Mail to Someone at North Idaho Correctional Institution (NICI)
Mail rules at NICI are strict, but sending a letter is straightforward once you have the right address and know what the facility accepts.
When mailing something to someone at North Idaho Correctional Institution (NICI), use the address listed on NICI's individual facility page. NICI is one of the Idaho Department of Correction facilities that does not use the central Boise address line. An old template or a "standard IDOC address" copied from somewhere else can get your mail delayed or returned. Before you seal the envelope, double-check that you're using NICI's facility page address exactly as shown. That small step saves a lot of frustration, especially for time-sensitive mail like birthday cards or paperwork your loved one is waiting on.
NICI residents can receive personal letters from family and friends. They cannot receive packages from personal senders, so stick to standard letter mail. Expect your letter to be opened and searched. NICI screens all personal mail for contraband, so even something that seems harmless to you could get your mail rejected.
- ✓ Photos are allowed, but they cannot be Polaroids.
- ✓ Photos cannot contain nudity.
- ✓ Mail is searched, and unacceptable items can be returned to the sender or given to the proper authorities.
Books and publications follow different rules than regular letters. You can't send them directly to a NICI resident yourself. They must come straight from the publisher or an IDOC-approved vendor. Publications also need to include a receipt or invoice. If you're ordering something for your loved one, make sure the vendor can ship directly and include the required paperwork. One thing that catches people off guard: Amazon is not an approved vendor. Orders placed through Amazon may not be accepted.
- ✓ Books must be softcover.
- ✓ Max size: 11 inches long, 8.5 inches wide, 3 inches thick.
If your loved one has money in their account, they're expected to buy envelopes and postage through commissary. Stamps or stationery sent from the outside aren't accepted, so don't tuck extra supplies into your letter hoping to help them write back.
If a resident has no funds (is indigent), NICI provides stationery and postage for one personal letter per week. If you're not hearing back as quickly as you'd hoped, limited indigent mail could be part of the reason.
- Write “Return to Sender” on the envelope - Put it clearly on the front.
- Mail it back unopened - Send it back without opening it.
Common Mistakes
- ✓ Using a generic IDOC address or a central Boise address instead of NICI’s individual facility page address.
- ✓ Mailing a package from home (NICI residents may receive letters, not packages).
- ✓ Sending Polaroid photos.
- ✓ Sending photos that include nudity.
- ✓ Assuming mail will stay sealed (personal letters are opened and searched for contraband).
- ✓ Including anything that could be considered unacceptable, since rejected items can be returned to you or given to the proper authorities.
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