Mailing Letters and Photos to Northwestern: Size, Weight, Return Address, and Prohibited Items

Address your mail using the incarcerated person's full name and send it to: 141 Fort Collier Road, Winchester, Virginia 22603. The full name on the envelope is how mailroom staff match your letter to the right person.

Include your return address in the upper-left corner of the envelope. Northwestern requires your first and last name plus your complete return address. Don't shorten it or leave anything out.

Northwestern won't accept anything larger than A4 size (8½ × 14 inches). That includes oversized greeting cards and large drawings, even if they fold down to fit in the envelope.

Mail can't weigh over 2 ounces. Keep it simple and lightweight if you're including multiple pages or photos.

You can mail photographs to Northwestern. Photos are accepted, but they'll be scanned to the inmate's tablet, so the person you're writing to may not receive the physical originals.

Prohibited Items List

• ✓ Stamps
• ✓ Envelopes
• ✓ Paper
• ✓ Pens
• ✓ Inappropriate pictures
• ✓ Plastic cards
• ✓ Phone cards
• ✓ Debit or credit cards
• ✓ Stickers
• ✓ Glued items
• ✓ Staples
• ✓ Personal care packages
• ✓ Forwarded mail of any kind

Personal care packages are not accepted and will be returned to the sender. Forwarded mail gets returned too, so send your letter directly rather than forwarding it from another address.

1. Keep the DC138 rejection notice - You will need a copy of the rejection or redactions notice (DC138 form) to appeal.
2. Write an appeal to the Captain of Security - Send a correspondence that explains why you are appealing, and include a copy of the DC138.
3. Or have the inmate use the grievance process - Inmates can appeal mail rejections through the facility grievance procedure.