How to Send Mail to Someone at Sebastian County Detention (Phoenix, MD P.O. Box explained)
Personal letters to Sebastian County Detention inmates don't go directly to the jail. Instead, they're sent to a P.O. Box in Phoenix, Maryland, where a mail-scanning vendor processes them. Your loved one receives the letter electronically.
For personal mail - letters, notes, cards - send it to the jail's mailing address in Phoenix, Maryland. Put the inmate's name and ID on the first lines, then the facility and P.O. Box: Sebastian County Detention Center P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131 Leave off the name or ID, and your letter will likely be delayed or lost.
Not sure what ID number to use? On the facility’s Inmate Inquiry, the number labeled “Subject Number” is the inmate ID you’ll put on the envelope.
Why the Phoenix, MD address? Sebastian County Detention uses a mail-scanning vendor for personal mail. Once your letter arrives, the vendor scans it and delivers it electronically through the facility's kiosks or tablets. You're mailing a physical envelope, but your loved one sees a scanned image.
Once scanned, the original paper is destroyed. Photos, greeting cards, anything sentimental - your loved one will only receive a digital copy.
Print the inmate's full name and ID number clearly on the envelope or postcard. The facility warns that missing information can mean lost or misdirected mail. Don't use nicknames, and don't assume staff will figure it out.
Don't have the ID number? Look up the person on the facility's Inmate Inquiry and find the
Mail scanning doesn't mean anything goes. Standard mail rules still apply, and content that violates them won't be delivered - even after it's processed by the vendor. One example from the facility: pornographic or racy images are prohibited.
Checklist
- ✓ Address non-legal, non-commercial mail to: Sebastian County Detention Center, P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131.
- ✓ Put the inmate’s full name and inmate ID on the address lines.
- ✓ Use the facility’s Inmate Inquiry to find the ID - look for “Subject Number.”
- ✓ Print the inmate name and ID clearly on the outside of the envelope or postcard to avoid lost or misdirected mail.
- ✓ Keep content clean; racy or pornographic images are prohibited and may block delivery.
- ✓ Don’t mail anything you can’t replace; the original item is destroyed after it’s scanned.
Warning: Originals are destroyed after scanning. If you’re sending photos, cards, or keepsakes, assume they will not be returned in physical form.
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