Mailing letters, photos, and books to someone at PICC: rules that keep your mail from getting rejected
Getting mail to someone at a Philadelphia Department of Prisons facility (including PICC) comes down to two things: the correct address and the incarcerated person's ID number. The address gets your letter to the right building. The ID number ensures staff can route it to the right person - crucial when multiple people share similar names.
Address your envelope like this - include the person's name, their PPN number, the facility abbreviation, and the street address: John Doe PPN#123456 CFCF 7901 State Rd. Philadelphia, PA 19136
Letter Photo Requirements
- ✓ Write your letter using pen or pencil only (no crayons or markers).
- ✓ Use plain white paper - no colored paper, construction paper, or specialty paper.
- ✓ Use a plain white envelope.
- ✓ Keep envelope decorations minimal: no more than two decorative stickers.
- ✓ Don’t include any glitter on a card or inside the envelope.
- ✓ Send photos that are 5 in. x 7 in. or smaller.
- ✓ Remember the limit: the incarcerated person may have up to five pictures.
- ✓ Don’t send photos that show nudity, weapons, money, or drug use.
Watch photo content closely: Photos that include nudity, weapons, money, or drug use aren’t allowed and can get your mail rejected.
Want to send books or magazines? They must ship directly from a third-party seller like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or the Philadelphia Inquirer. Personal packages aren't allowed, so don't try mailing reading material yourself. One more thing: skip hardcovers. Only paperbacks are permitted.
Quick Checklist
- ✓ Put both the facility address and the incarcerated person’s ID number (PPN) on the envelope.
- ✓ Address it in the recommended format (name + PPN# + facility abbreviation + street address).
- ✓ Write with pen or pencil only, on plain white paper.
- ✓ Use a plain white envelope (no more than two decorative stickers; no glitter).
- ✓ If you include photos, keep them 5 in. x 7 in. or smaller and stay within the five-picture limit.
- ✓ For books, magazines, or newspapers, order them directly from a third-party seller (no hardbacks; no personal packages).
Last check before you seal it: Photos need to be 5" x 7" or smaller, and they can’t show nudity, weapons, money, or drug use.
Find an Inmate at Philadelphia Industrail Correctional Center, PA
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
