Penmate Inmate Support Guides

Sending Mail to Virginia Inmates: Why Your Photos Won't Arrive as Originals

If you mail photos to someone in a Virginia Department of Corrections facility, they won't receive your original prints. All general correspondence is photocopied before delivery, and the originals are shredded after scanning.

• 2 min read Verified from official sources

To get your mail to the right person, include the inmate's first and last name, their 7-digit state ID number, the full facility name, and the facility's mailing address with ZIP code. Even small mistakes can delay delivery or send your letter to the wrong person, especially when similar names are on file. Double-check the spelling and ID number before you seal the envelope.

VADOC accepts general correspondence like letters, greeting cards, and postcards. You can also send photos, as long as nothing is pornographic, obscene, or otherwise offensive. Just know that photos are treated as part of general mail. What your loved one actually receives is a photocopy, not the original print, so image quality depends on the copying process.

What happens to originals: All incoming general correspondence is photocopied, and only the photocopies are delivered. The original envelope and contents, including photos, are shredded after scanning.

There's a hard limit on how much gets delivered per mailing. Each mailing can include a maximum of three 8.5" x 11" black-and-white photocopied pages (front and back).

Here's the catch: the envelope counts toward that three-page maximum. VADOC photocopies the envelope and counts it as one of the three front-and-back pages, which means you have fewer pages left for your actual letter or photos.

Practical Tips

  • ✓ Assume anything you send will be delivered as a black-and-white photocopy, not the original photo, because originals (including photos) are shredded after scanning.
  • ✓ Choose photos that will still look clear after photocopying (simple backgrounds, strong contrast, faces not too small).
  • ✓ Keep photos appropriate. Anything pornographic, obscene, or offensive will not be allowed.
  • ✓ If you have a lot of pictures to share, spread them across multiple mailings so you are not trying to fit everything into a three-page delivery limit.
  1. Plan around the three-page cap - Only three 8.5" x 11" black-and-white photocopied pages (front and back) can be delivered per mailing.
  2. Count the envelope as a page - The envelope photocopy uses up one of those three pages, so keep your content concise.
  3. Format for photocopy readability - Use a clean, easy-to-read font and layout so the photocopy comes through clearly.
  4. Use space wisely - Avoid big margins and large blank areas so you do not waste the limited pages your loved one can receive.

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