How to Send Mail to Someone at Van Zandt County Jail (August 2025 update)

Starting August 11, 2025, all personal inmate mail at Van Zandt County Jail (everything except legal and medical mail) must go to a central processing PO Box under the Sheriff's mail rules. If you've been using the older process, note that earlier guidance (effective October 1, 2021) routed non-legal, non-commercial mail through JailATM, either electronically or by mailing to the JailATM processing address in Fort Worth. The Sheriff's Office also describes an Inmate Messaging option through NCIC for sending messages, photos, and documents electronically. Since procedures and vendors have changed before, take a minute to verify the current instructions before you drop your letter in the mailbox. This is especially true if you're working from an older saved address or a third-party messaging account.

For mail going through central processing, use this exact address format on the envelope: Inmate Name SO# Van Zandt County Jail PO BOX 591 Longview, Texas 75606 That PO Box is for processing only. Anything sent there is handled under the processing rules, and mail sent to that address is not returned or released.

• ✓ Write the inmate’s name on the outside of the envelope
• ✓ Include the Sheriff’s Office booking number (SO#)
• ✓ Include your return address
• ✓ Print the inmate name and ID/booking number clearly so it can be matched to the right person

Stick to standard letter-size paper: only mail within 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches tall is accepted for PO Box processing. Oversized envelopes, unusual paper sizes, or anything larger than standard letter-size can be rejected before it ever reaches the inmate.

Keep it to 5 pages or fewer. Anything over 5 pages won't be scanned and will be returned to you. One more thing to plan for: processed mail is scanned front-side only. Don't write on the back of your pages. If something matters, put it on the front where it can be captured.

What's on the outside of the envelope matters just as much as what's inside. The jail requires the inmate's name, the Sheriff's Office booking number, and your return address on all envelopes. Print the inmate name and ID number clearly so your mail doesn't get lost or misdirected during processing.

Don't know the inmate's ID or booking number? The JailATM instructions direct you to look it up through JailATM or the jail's website. Getting that number right is one of the fastest ways to prevent delays or rejected mail.

Legal and medical mail should not go to the processing PO Box or through a mail-scanning vendor. Send those items (along with other legal or commercial mail) directly to the facility.

Once your letter reaches the central processing location, it gets scanned and sent to the inmate electronically. The inmate views it on the kiosk. Don't send anything you need back. Under the mail-scanning process, the original physical mail is destroyed after processing.

1. Confirm you are using the current process - As of August 11, 2025, personal inmate mail (except legal and medical) is routed to the central processing PO Box.
2. Check for vendor instructions and notices - Van Zandt County has previously used JailATM for electronic mail and for mailed-to-vendor processing, and the Sheriff’s Office also references NCIC for inmate messaging.
3. Match your method to what you are sending - Use the PO Box rules for regular personal mail, and use direct-to-facility routing for legal or medical mail.
4. Review message and attachment rules before paying to send online - Vendor systems can have their own limits and fees, so confirm what applies before you send photos or documents.

As a reference point, the Sheriff's Office description of the NCIC messaging option lists pricing at $0.25 per message and $0.35 per picture or document. If you're deciding between mailing a physical letter and sending it electronically, checking the current fee schedule can help you pick the best option.