Mail to an Inmate at Virginia Corrections Facility For Women: Addressing, Photo Rules, and the 3‑Page Limit
Sending mail to someone at Virginia Corrections Facility For Women is straightforward once you know two things: how to address the envelope and how VADOC handles incoming mail. Here's the exact format to use, what's accepted, and how the photocopying, shredding, and three-page limit affect what your loved one actually receives.
Addressing
- ✓ Inmate’s full first and last name
- ✓ Inmate’s 7-digit state ID number
- ✓ Facility name
- ✓ Facility address and ZIP code
All mail must follow Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) procedures and meet basic safety and legal requirements. Not sure if something will be allowed? Double-check before mailing it. Anything that doesn't meet VADOC or U.S. Postal Service rules can be rejected.
Accepted Not
- ✓ Letters
- ✓ Greeting cards
- ✓ Postcards
- ✓ Appropriate photos (no pornographic, obscene, or offensive imagery)
The main rule: mail must comply with VADOC procedures and can't create a security risk or violate state or federal law. It also has to meet U.S. Postal Service regulations. Anything that crosses those lines won't be delivered.
Here's something important to know: what you mail isn't what your loved one physically receives. VADOC photocopies incoming general mail and delivers only the copies. That means handwriting, card designs, and photo quality may look different once copied.
Keep this in mind: After scanning and photocopying, the original envelope and contents - including personal photos - are shredded. Send only what you're comfortable having exist as a photocopy.
Each mailing is limited to three 8.5" x 11" black-and-white photocopied pages, counting both front and back. The envelope counts as one of those pages. Even if you send more, your loved one will only receive up to three photocopied pages total.
Mail addressed to someone who isn't housed at the facility won't go through normally. VADOC returns unopened mail to the post office. If it's already been opened, it goes back to the sender (if known) with a written explanation for the rejection.
- Confirm where your loved one is housed - mail for someone who isn’t at the facility can be sent back.
- Address it using the required format - use their full name, 7-digit state ID number, the facility name, and the full facility address with ZIP code.
- Keep it compliant from the start - follow VADOC procedures and make sure your mailing doesn’t create a security issue or violate state/federal law or U.S. Postal Service regulations.
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