How Pierce County Jail's Mail Scanning System Works (And Why You Won't Get Originals Back)
Pierce County Jail scans all incoming mail and delivers copies to inmates — not the originals. Here's how the system works, why you won't get your letters back, and how to address your envelope correctly.
Pierce County Jail changed its mail handling on April 15, 2020. Now, all incoming mail gets scanned, and inmates receive printed copies. That handwritten letter you spent an hour on? The photos from your kid's birthday? What arrives inside the jail is a scanned reproduction - not the original paper you mailed.
No originals come back: After the originals are scanned, they are shredded. That means the original items are not returned to you and are not given to the inmate.
Legal mail is handled differently. Correspondence between an attorney and client, or mail from the court related to someone's case, doesn't go through the standard scan-and-shred process. If you're sending legal mail, label it clearly and send it through proper legal channels so staff recognize it as privileged correspondence.
Pierce County Jail may open and inspect both incoming and outgoing mail. Staff check for cash, checks, money orders, and contraband. Assume anything you send - or anything mailed out by an inmate - can be reviewed as part of the jail's security process.
If contraband is found: The envelope and its contents may be returned to the sender, or it may be investigated for a criminal violation.
Addressing Mail
- ✓ Write the inmate’s full name
- ✓ Include the inmate’s booking ID number (this helps ensure accurate delivery)
- ✓ Address it to: 910 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, WA 98402
- ✓ Put your full return address on the outside of the envelope
If you have questions about mail, call Custody at (253) 798-4590 or (253) 798-4668.
Not sure if something will be accepted? Check the jail's approved/refused items list before mailing. It's the fastest way to avoid having your letter rejected or returned.
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