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Mailing Rules at Washington State Penitentiary: What You Can Send, Legal Mail, and Non-English Correspondence

Mail rules can feel picky, but following them saves time and helps your letter actually reach your loved one. Here's what you need to know about prohibited items, legal mail, and non-English correspondence at Washington State Penitentiary.

• 2 min read • doc.wa.gov
Mailing Rules at Washington State Penitentiary: What You Can Send, Legal Mail, and Non-English Correspondence

Prohibited Items

  • ✓ Personal checks (mail with personal checks will be rejected and returned to you at the incarcerated individual’s expense)
  • ✓ Postage stamps (mail with stamps will be rejected and returned to you at the incarcerated individual’s expense)

Small addressing mistakes can delay delivery. Use the facility's official mailing address and clearly write the incarcerated individual's full name on the envelope.

Mailing Rules at Washington State Penitentiary: What You Can Send, Legal Mail, and Non-English Correspondence

Sending legal mail? Label it clearly on the front of the envelope. Mark it "Legal Mail," "Attorney/Client," "Confidential," or similar wording so staff know immediately what it is.

Court mail gets special handling even without a label. If incoming mail is clearly from a court, staff will treat it as legal mail regardless of markings.

Legal mail is handled differently than regular letters. Staff will open it in the incarcerated individual's presence.

Note: Designated employees may inspect the contents of incoming legal mail to confirm it meets legal-mail policy requirements and to check for contraband or anything that could threaten facility order or security.

Writing in a language other than English? Expect extra review time. All non-English correspondence - including letters that mix languages - goes through facility review.

When qualified staff are available, your letter may be reviewed in-house by a Department-certified translator.

No certified translator on staff? The letter won't be ignored - it gets sent to a contracted vendor for review instead.

Include prohibited items like cash, personal checks, or stamps, and your mail won't be delivered. It gets rejected and returned at the incarcerated individual's expense. Double-check before you seal the envelope.

Legal mail follows its own process. Staff open it in the incarcerated individual's presence.

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