Mailing letters and photos to Northwestern Detention Center — size, weight, addressing, and prohibited items
Mail gets returned for small reasons—a missing name, an oversized card, or something extra tucked in the envelope. Follow these rules to make sure your letter or photos reach your person at Northwestern Detention Center.
Put the incarcerated person's full name on the first line, then the facility address: Inmate Name, 141 Fort Collier Road, Winchester, Virginia 22603. Using their full legal name helps staff route mail correctly.
Everything you send must fit within A4 size (8 ½ x 14). Anything larger gets rejected - that includes oversized greeting cards and big drawings.
There's also a 2-ounce weight limit. If you're sending multiple pages or photos, weigh the envelope before mailing. Overweight mail may be rejected or returned.
Return-address-envelopes
- ✓ Write your full first and last name in the upper-left corner of the envelope
- ✓ Include your complete return address in the upper-left corner of the envelope
Note: The outside of the envelope can’t have any extra pictures, images, or words - keep it plain so it isn’t rejected.
Photographs are allowed, but your person won't receive physical prints. Staff scan the photos and upload them to the inmate tablet system instead.
Prohibited content: Photos can’t include vulgar, obscene, or gang-related material. If they do, they’ll be rejected.
Prohibited-items-packages
- ✓ Stamps
- ✓ Envelopes
- ✓ Paper (extra paper)
- ✓ Pens
- ✓ Inappropriate pictures
- ✓ Plastic cards
- ✓ Phone cards
- ✓ Debit or credit cards
- ✓ Stickers
- ✓ Glued items
- ✓ Staples
- ✓ Personal care packages (not accepted; returned to sender)
- ✓ Forwarded mail of any kind (not accepted; returned to sender)
Don't send care packages - they aren't accepted and will be returned. The same goes for forwarded mail of any kind. Even if it seems harmless, Northwestern won't accept it.
If your mail is rejected, you have two options. The inmate can appeal through the grievance procedure. Or you can appeal directly by sending a written explanation and a copy of the rejection notice (DC138 form) to the Captain of Security.
Find an Inmate at Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
