Travis County Contraband Mail Rules: What Will Cause Your Letter or Package to Be Returned

Travis County's mailroom follows a "return to sender" policy for contraband. If prohibited items show up in your letter or package, the whole thing gets sent back - not just the offending item. The most common problems? Everyday add-ons people include without thinking: postage stamps, extra blank paper, blank or addressed envelopes, labels, stickers, tape, and anything with adhesive. Craft supplies trigger returns too - pens, markers, glitter, glue, felt, ribbon, beads, and magnets. Original documents like birth certificates or Social Security cards aren't allowed either. Size matters. Anything over 8"x10" (including posters) counts as contraband. And don't spray perfume or cologne on your mail - that's considered a hazard.

Stationery Small Items

• ✓ Postage stamps (including metered or stamped envelopes)
• ✓ Blank paper
• ✓ Blank or addressed envelopes
• ✓ Return address labels
• ✓ Sticky notes
• ✓ Stickers
• ✓ Tape
• ✓ Lamination or any adhesives
• ✓ Art supplies (including writing instruments, watercolors/paint, glitter, glue, felt, ribbon, beads, magnets, etc.)
• ✓ Original documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, Social Security cards, car titles, etc.)
• ✓ Perfume or cologne

Paperback books, magazines, and newspapers must come directly from the publisher or a distributing warehouse. If you buy something yourself and mail it in, it won't be accepted the same way a publisher shipment would.

• ✓ Inmates are not allowed to possess more than two books at a time.
• ✓ Inmates are not allowed to possess more than two magazines at a time.
• ✓ If books or magazines are sent to someone who already has more than the two-item limit, they will be returned to the publisher.

Here's one people miss: maps, calendars, and mail-order catalogs are all prohibited and can get your mail rejected.

Photos Drawings Size Content

• ✓ Photos (or other items) over 8"x10" and posters
• ✓ Polaroid photos
• ✓ Framed photos
• ✓ Photo albums
• ✓ Slides or negatives
• ✓ Laminated items

Even if your photos are the right size and format, content can still get them rejected. Travis County prohibits photographs, photocopies, or drawings showing partial or full nudity (including baby photos), excessive violence, abusive or unlawful activity, obscene gestures, sexual content, guns, or racial material. Images with gang-related signs, symbols, hand signs, or tattoos are also banned - and photos that have been altered or blacked out in a gang-related way won't make it through.

Practical Checklist

• ✓ Don’t include postage stamps (or mail anything in metered/stamped envelopes).
• ✓ Don’t tuck in blank paper, blank/addressed envelopes, return address labels, sticky notes, stickers, tape, lamination, or anything with adhesive.
• ✓ Don’t send art/craft supplies (including pens/markers, paint, glitter, glue, felt, ribbon, beads, magnets, etc.).
• ✓ Don’t mail Polaroids, framed photos, photo albums, slides, negatives, or laminated photos.
• ✓ Don’t send anything over 8"x10" (including posters).
• ✓ Don’t send photos or drawings that show nudity (including baby photos), excessive violence, unlawful activity, obscene gestures, sexual content, guns, racial material, or gang-related/altered/blackened images.
• ✓ Don’t enclose extra correspondence or write/inscribe inside books or cards ("NO WRITING").
• ✓ Don’t mail original personal documents (like birth certificates, marriage certificates, Social Security cards, car titles).
• ✓ Don’t spray perfume or cologne on letters, paper, or printed material.
• ✓ Don’t send books, magazines, or newspapers unless they come directly from the publisher or distributing warehouse.