Sending Mail to Pima County Jail: What Gets Through and What Doesn't
Pima County Jail has strict mail rules. Stick to the postcard size limits, avoid banned content, and handle money and legal mail correctly—your mail is much more likely to get through.
Postcards sent to Pima County Jail must be no larger than 4.25 inches by 6 inches. If your postcard is bigger than that, it’s likely to be rejected.
- ✓ Defaced or altered postcards aren’t accepted.
- ✓ Postcards in plastic or any other wrapping aren’t accepted.
- ✓ Postcards that contain nudity or sexual conduct aren’t accepted.
- ✓ Postcards that show weapons aren’t accepted.
- ✓ Postcards with gang references aren’t accepted.
- ✓ Postcards with glitter aren’t accepted.
When your postcard arrives, staff will copy it - either digitally or by photocopy. The person you're writing to receives only the copy, either on a tablet or printed on copy paper. They won't get the original. After 14 calendar days, the original postcard is destroyed.
Keep in mind: Postcards with banned content or damage won't be accepted at all. Even accepted postcards aren't kept - only a copy goes to the recipient, and the original is destroyed after 14 days.
Sending money? Money orders and government checks will be removed from incoming mail and deposited into the inmate's account. Address the envelope to "Inmate Trust Account" - this is required for any envelope containing funds.
- ✓ Send legal mail only in pre-printed/pre-stamped postage envelopes or with metered postage.
- ✓ Include only loose paper - no bound packets.
- ✓ Don’t staple, bind, or fasten legal mail in any way.
- ✓ Don’t use legal manila envelopes; they will be confiscated and destroyed.
Don't use gel pens. Letters written with them are no longer accepted at Pima County Jail and will be returned to you.
Practical Tips
- ✓ If you’re mailing a money order or government check, address the envelope with “Inmate Trust Account.”
- ✓ If you’re sending legal mail, use only pre-printed/pre-stamped postage envelopes or metered postage.
- ✓ Keep legal mail contents to loose paper only (no staples, bindings, or fasteners).
- ✓ Don’t send postcards that are defaced or altered.
- ✓ Don’t put postcards in plastic or any other wrapping.
- ✓ Don’t send postcards with nudity or sexual conduct.
- ✓ Don’t send postcards showing weapons.
- ✓ Don’t send postcards with gang references.
- ✓ Don’t send postcards with glitter.
- ✓ Don’t write letters with gel pens - those letters will be returned to you.
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