What You Can't Send in a Letter to Pasco County Jail (Avoid These Common Reasons for Return)

Letters to Pasco County Jail go through a digital mail scanning process, and anything that can't be scanned gets returned. The most common reasons for returns? Legal mail (which isn't eligible for scanning), money of any kind (cash or money orders), and packages or certified mail - none of these will make it through the digital mail center. Beyond those, returns usually come down to materials and format. Non-paper items are rejected outright. So are pages with tape or adhesives, staples, paperclips, or binding agents. Greeting cards with pop-outs or die-cuts won't work either, and anything with glitter or sparkles is a no-go.

• ✓ Legal mail (not eligible for scanning)
• ✓ Cash or money orders
• ✓ Certified mail
• ✓ Packages
• ✓ Any non-paper items
• ✓ Anything that can’t be scanned
• ✓ Items attached with tape or other adhesives
• ✓ Paper with staples, paperclips, binding agents, or adhesives
• ✓ Greeting cards with die-cuts or pop-out designs
• ✓ Documents with glitter or sparkles

Size matters for letters and paper documents. Pasco's digital mail system requires paper between 4" x 6" and 8.5" x 14". Anything outside those dimensions may be returned.

Since all mail goes through a digital mail center, the rule is straightforward: non-paper items won't be accepted, and anything that can't be scanned gets sent back. Before adding something "extra" to your letter, ask yourself: Is it flat? Is it paper only? Can it be scanned easily? If not, expect it to come back to you.

Don't attach anything to your letter. Tape and adhesives make items ineligible for scanning. Same goes for staples, paperclips, and binding agents. Keep it simple: loose sheets of paper only. No fasteners, no taped-on photos, no add-ons.

Certain cards cause automatic problems with scanning. Greeting cards with die cuts or pop-out designs won't make it through, and neither will anything with glitter or sparkles. Want to send a card? Pick one that's completely flat - no raised elements, no cut-outs, no sparkly finishes.

Some items get returned immediately. The digital mail center won't accept certified mail or packages - both come right back to you. Money is another common mistake. Cash and money orders aren't accepted and will be returned. If you're sending anything other than a standard personal letter, check the correct process before mailing it. Otherwise, you'll lose time waiting for a return.

1. Stay within the paper size limits - Use paper that’s at least 4" x 6" and no larger than 8.5" x 14".
2. Send paper only - Non-paper items aren’t accepted.
3. Make it scannable - Anything that can’t be scanned will be returned to the sender.
4. Skip tape and “stick-ons” - Items attached to paper via tape or adhesives aren’t eligible for scanning.
5. Don’t use fasteners - No staples, paperclips, binding agents, or adhesives on documents.
6. Avoid 3D or decorated cards - No greeting cards with die cuts or pop-out designs.
7. Keep it sparkle-free - Documents with glitter or sparkles aren’t eligible.
8. Don’t send money - Cash and money orders will not be accepted and will be returned.
9. Don’t send certified mail - Certified mail will be returned to the sender.
10. Don’t mail packages - Packages will be returned to the sender.
11. Handle legal mail separately - Legal mail isn’t eligible for scanning; confirm the correct process before sending.
12. Use the right writing tools - Avoid felt tip pens, markers, Sharpies, and wax or oil-based mediums.