What Happens to Your Letters Sent to Northwest Correctional Complex (scanning, tablet delivery, retention)
Mailing a letter to someone at Northwest Correctional Complex? It probably won't arrive as paper. Personal mail gets scanned and delivered digitally to the recipient's tablet—which affects delivery time, how photos are handled, and what happens to the original.
Northwest Correctional Complex scans all personal (non-privileged) mail. Your letter gets digitized and delivered to the inmate's tablet - they won't hold the actual paper. Legal or privileged mail follows different rules, so double-check the guidelines if you're sending something other than a personal letter.
Key point: For personal letters, expect tablet delivery - not a paper letter handed to your loved one.
Since mail is scanned, the paper doesn't stick around. The scanning facility holds physical copies for up to 90 days, then destroys them. The digital version stays on the inmate's tablet for their entire incarceration, so they can re-read your letters anytime - even after the original is gone.
Practical tip: Keep your own copy if you might need it later. Physical originals are destroyed after 90 days.
Once your mail hits the facility P.O. Box, delivery usually takes 1 to 3 business days. Weekends and holidays don't count, so add extra time for anything time-sensitive.
Reading scanned mail on the tablet is free. Your loved one won't be charged just to open and view your letter.
Photos can be scanned and delivered along with your letter. The catch is content - anything with profanity or inappropriate material won't make it through. When in doubt, stick with neutral images so nothing gets flagged.
Avoid delays: Don’t send photos with profanity or inappropriate content - those images won’t be delivered.
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