What Your Loved One Can and Can't Receive in the Mail (Alabama ADOC Checklist)
Mail rules in Alabama ADOC can feel picky, but they're manageable once you know the limits. Use the checklist below to keep your letters compliant so nothing gets rejected or sent back.
Limits Weekly
- ✓ Up to two (2) books of stamps per week
- ✓ No more than four (4) sheets of looseleaf paper per week
- ✓ No more than four (4) envelopes per week
Want to include something you printed from the internet? Keep it to four (4) pages or fewer per letter. Alabama ADOC enforces that limit, and extra pages can cause your mail to be held up or returned.
Certain items are banned from Alabama ADOC mail, even if they seem harmless. Don't send writing pads or tablets, torn-out magazine pages, news clippings, or writing instruments (pens, pencils, etc.) inside the envelope.
Don't mail a check expecting it to be deposited into your loved one's account. Checks sent for deposit are not accepted and will be returned. Mail stamped "Collect on Delivery (COD)" won't be delivered to inmates either.
Alabama ADOC can reject "excessive" letters that contain the same content. If multiple people plan to write, make each letter unique. Copy-and-paste messages or identical printed letters sent repeatedly are likely to be flagged.
If mail abuses are found, the Warden (or designee) can prohibit the inmate from corresponding with the person connected to the offending material. The inmate will be notified that correspondence is being stopped, and the restriction gets documented in both the mail area and the inmate's institutional file.
Internet printouts are capped at four (4) pages per letter. For photos or other special items, keep it simple. Everything you send is subject to inspection and still needs to follow the rules listed above.
Mail inspection reminder: All incoming mail, including legal mail, is inspected for contraband and mail abuse. Outgoing mail may be randomly inspected. Legal mail is only opened for inspection in the inmate's presence.
Sending Tips
- ✓ Include “ALDOC Inmate Mail Processing,” plus your loved one’s full name and AIS number
- ✓ Write your full name and physical address clearly in the top-left corner of the envelope
- ✓ Stay within weekly limits: no more than two (2) books of stamps per week
- ✓ Stay within weekly limits: no more than four (4) sheets of looseleaf paper and four (4) envelopes per week
Avoid these common rejects: Don't enclose writing pads or tablets, torn-out magazine pages, news clippings, or writing instruments. Skip checks for deposit, and never send COD mail.
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