How to Send Mail to an Inmate at Northwest Correctional Complex (exact addressing & TDOC ID rule)
Getting a letter accepted in Tennessee's prison system comes down to two things: using the inmate's committed name and writing the TDOC ID number clearly in the right format. Here's how to address your mail so it moves through scanning without delays.
Don't have the inmate's TDOC ID, or not sure which facility they're at? Start with the FOIL – Inmate Search. You'll need the person's name - and if it's a common one, their date of birth helps narrow things down. Once you have the TDOC ID and confirm the prison, you're ready to address the envelope correctly.
Use the inmate's committed first and last name on the envelope - not nicknames. Mail is processed against the official name TDOC has on file, so using the committed name helps your letter match to the right person during sorting and scanning.
For Northwest Correctional Complex, personal mail goes to TDOC's centralized scanning P.O. Box. Write the facility name first, then the inmate's committed name, then the TDOC ID line exactly like this: Facility Name Inmate First Last Name TDOC ID # [number] P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131
Include your return name and address on the envelope. TDOC requires this on every piece of mail - leaving it off can cause processing problems or delays.
Note: All personal (non-privileged) mail is scanned and delivered digitally to inmate tablets. The envelope is read electronically, so the TDOC ID line needs to be legible and formatted correctly.
Write the TDOC ID number clearly. The envelope is read electronically, so messy handwriting, missing digits, or putting the number in the wrong spot can slow things down - or prevent the system from matching your letter to the right inmate.
The label matters too. TDOC's rule is to write "TDOC ID#" before the number - not just the number alone. Since personal mail is scanned and delivered digitally to the inmate's tablet, clean formatting helps everything move smoothly from envelope reading through delivery.
Once your mail reaches the P.O. Box, it's delivered to inmates within 1 to 3 business days.
- ✓ Write “TDOC ID#” and the full TDOC ID number clearly so it can be read electronically
- ✓ Use the inmate’s committed first and last name (not a nickname)
- ✓ Include a return name and return address on the envelope
Practical Checklist
- ✓ Look up (or confirm) the inmate’s committed name and TDOC ID using FOIL – Inmate Search (name, and possibly date of birth)
- ✓ Address it to the facility name, then the inmate’s committed first and last name
- ✓ Add the ID line exactly as “TDOC ID # [number]” and make sure it’s easy to read
- ✓ Use the centralized P.O. Box address shown in the example format
- ✓ Put your return name and full return address on the outside of the envelope
Reminder: Personal mail is scanned and delivered digitally, so clean addressing matters. Once received at the P.O. Box, expect delivery within 1 to 3 business days.
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