Penmate Inmate Support Guides

Why Your Mail Was Returned from Twin Towers — What You Can and Can't Send

Getting mail returned from Twin Towers is frustrating, especially when you're just trying to send support. Most returns happen because of a few specific rules about what's inside the envelope—or even what the envelope looks like.

• 2 min read • lasd.org
Why Your Mail Was Returned from Twin Towers — What You Can and Can't Send

Reasons Returned

  • ✓ Food items or cosmetic items (these are prohibited and can cause the entire mailing or parcel to be returned)
  • ✓ Blank envelopes included inside your mailing
  • ✓ Envelopes with a metal clasp
  • ✓ Postage stamps included in the mailing
  • ✓ Envelopes with gang-related or suggestive drawings/artwork
  • ✓ Cash
  • ✓ Personal checks or second-party checks
  • ✓ Payroll checks
  • ✓ Out-of-state checks

Sending photos or computer-generated images? Size matters. Twin Towers only accepts images between 3" x 5" and 4" x 6". Anything smaller or larger can get rejected and sent back.

Watch the content: Photos or computer-generated images that show nudity, sexually-suggestive content, or gang imagery will be rejected and returned.

If a book, periodical, or other publication you sent was returned, you can appeal - but act fast. File a complaint through the LA County Sheriff's Department website within 15 days of receiving the notification.

Once the department receives your appeal, expect a decision within 15 business days. If you're running up against the 15-day filing deadline, submit the complaint first. You can add extra details later.

Questions about returned mail? Call the Mail Room Supervisor at (213) 893-5874. Have the incarcerated person's name ready, along with details about what you sent and when - it helps staff track down what happened.

Why Your Mail Was Returned from Twin Towers — What You Can and Can't Send

Practical Tips

  • ✓ Measure photos before sending: they must be at least 3" x 5" and no larger than 4" x 6"
  • ✓ Skip anything that could be read as nudity, sexually-suggestive content, or gang imagery
  • ✓ Don’t include food or cosmetic items
  • ✓ Don’t send cash, personal/second-party checks, payroll checks, or out-of-state checks
  • ✓ Avoid blank envelopes, metal-clasp envelopes, postage stamps, and any envelope artwork that’s gang-related or suggestive

Find an Inmate at Twin Towers C.F., Los Angeles, CA

Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.

Exact spelling helps find results faster

Free to search · Used by families nationwide
Woman using phone to connect with loved one

More from Twin Towers C.F., Los Angeles, CA

Before Your First Visit to Twin Towers (TTCF): What to Bring, How to Register, and Visiting Hours

Visiting someone at Twin Towers Correctional Facility (TTCF) is straightforward once you know the schedule and come prepared. Here's what you need: visiting hours, how to register, and the two things to have in your pocket before you walk in.

Phone & Messaging

How to Contact an Inmate at Twin Towers Corr. Facility, LA (CA)

Need to reach someone at Twin Towers? Start with the intake line, then confirm visiting hours before heading there in person.

How to Fax Medical or Medication Information for a Loved One at Twin Towers: Forms, Fax Numbers, and What to Include

If your loved one is at Twin Towers and you need staff to know about their medications or mental-health history, faxing the right form with the right identifiers is the fastest way to get that information into the system.