Penmate Inmate Support Guides

Sending Mail to Someone at SCI Mahanoy: The Smart Communications Address and Mail Rules

To send regular letters and photos to someone at SCI Mahanoy, you'll mail non-privileged correspondence through Smart Communications, Pennsylvania DOC's central mail processor. Use the exact address format below and follow the paper and photo rules—otherwise your mail may be rejected.

• 2 min read • pa.gov
Sending Mail to Someone at SCI Mahanoy: The Smart Communications Address and Mail Rules

All incoming non-privileged mail for SCI Mahanoy goes through Smart Communications. Address your envelope exactly like this: Smart Communications/PA DOC Inmate Name/Inmate Number SCI Mahanoy P.O. Box 33028 St. Petersburg, FL 33733 Double-check the name, inmate number, and institution name. If any of these are missing or wrong, your mail will likely be delayed or never arrive.

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  • ✓ Write a full return address that includes your first and last name.
  • ✓ Include the inmate’s full, correct name and inmate number.
  • ✓ Use 8 ½ by 11 paper.
  • ✓ Don’t bind it or make it open like a book.

Want to include photos? You can send up to 25 photos per mailing. Since general mail goes through Smart Communications, photos must follow the same rules as regular correspondence. Don't bind them together or send anything book-like. Stick with the standard 8 ½ by 11 format requirements.

Not everything goes through Smart Communications. Publications - books, magazines, photo books - need to be sent directly to the DOC Security Processing Center (SPC): Inmate Name, Inmate Number 268 Bricker Road Bellefonte, PA 16823-1667 Official documents and original transactional paperwork (certain IDs, financial or government-issued documents) are handled separately too. Mail those to the institution business office using this format: "Attn: Business Office – Inmate name/inmate number" followed by the institution address. The short version: use Smart Communications for regular letters and photos. Route publications to the SPC and official documents to the business office - sending them the wrong way means they'll get stuck in the mail stream.

Sending Mail to Someone at SCI Mahanoy: The Smart Communications Address and Mail Rules

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  • ✓ Double-check the inmate’s full name and inmate number before you seal the envelope.
  • ✓ Make sure your return address includes your first and last name.
  • ✓ Keep photos to 25 or fewer per mailing.
  • ✓ Use 8 ½ by 11 paper.
  • ✓ Send books/magazines/photo books to the DOC Security Processing Center (SPC), not Smart Communications.

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