First-Time Sender Checklist: Mailing to Rowan County Detention Center (Main & Annex)
Sending your first letter or photos to Rowan County Detention Center? A few small details determine whether your mail gets delivered or bounced back. This checklist covers addressing, return address requirements, page limits, photo rules, and what not to send—so you get it right the first time.
At a Glance
- ✓ Write the inmate’s ID number on the front of the envelope.
- ✓ Use a physical return address (a PO Box by itself isn’t accepted and the mail will be returned).
- ✓ Don’t use sticker address labels for the return address - handwrite it or type it.
- ✓ Keep letters to 10 pages or fewer (that total includes printed internet material).
- ✓ Keep pictures and greeting cards at 4" x 6" or smaller.
- ✓ Send no more than 10 photos per envelope.
- ✓ Don’t send Polaroid photographs.
If you’re mailing a money order, put the inmate’s ID number on it. Treat it like your letter - follow the same envelope rules so it doesn’t get kicked back for missing information.
- Find the inmate’s ID number - you’ll need it before you seal anything up.
- Write the ID number on the front of the envelope - make sure it’s clearly visible where staff can see it during sorting.
Money orders need one extra detail: the inmate's ID number must be written on the money order itself. Miss that, and the facility will reject or return it.
Reminder: Your return address must be a physical street address - PO Boxes alone won't work, and your mail will come back. Also, skip the sticker labels for your return address. Handwrite it or type it instead.
Writing to someone housed at the Annex on Grace Church Road? Send their mail to the main Detention Center anyway. All mail routes through the main facility, regardless of housing location.
Keep it to 10 pages or less per letter. That page count includes printed internet material, so if you’re adding articles or printouts, they count toward the 10-page total.
- ✓ Keep pictures and greeting cards no larger than 4" x 6".
- ✓ Don’t send Polaroid photographs.
- ✓ Limit photos to 10 per envelope.
Rejected Materials Envelope Rules
- ✓ Bubble envelopes
- ✓ Cash money or coins
- ✓ Gang-related materials (signs, drawings, language, symbols, or pictures of people displaying gang signs)
- ✓ Envelopes or contents that are altered from their original form or soaked/permeated in a liquid
Nothing gets mail rejected faster than signs of tampering or contamination. If your envelope or its contents look altered, soaked, or saturated with any liquid, expect it to be turned away.
Mail containing contraband or drugs gets returned to the sender. The inmate is also notified that something was sent back, so they'll know the rules weren't met.
Warning: Repeated violations of the mail guidelines can lead to the sender being denied mail privileges.
Troubleshooting Common Mistakes
- ✓ Missing a physical return address → add a real street address (a PO Box alone can be rejected and returned).
- ✓ Using sticker return-address labels → handwrite or type your return name/address instead.
- ✓ Sending more than 10 pages → cut it down to 10 total pages, including any printed internet material.
- ✓ Sending oversized photos or cards → keep them at 4" x 6" or smaller.
- ✓ Packing too many photos → limit it to 10 pictures per envelope.
- Add the inmate ID to your envelope - write the inmate’s ID number on the front of the envelope before you mail it.
- Put the inmate ID on any money order - if you’re sending a money order, write the inmate’s ID number on it as well.
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