Where to Actually Mail Letters to WVRJ Inmates (Effective Jan 18, 2024)
If you've had mail returned recently, you're not alone. Western Virginia Regional Jail changed where regular inmate mail goes starting January 18, 2024. Here's the exact address, what needs to be on the envelope, and the big exceptions you should know.
As of January 18, 2024, all inmate postal mail for Western Virginia Regional Jail must be sent to: Western VA Regional Jail Inmate Name, Inmate ID Number P.O. Box 247 Phoenix, MD 21131 The most common reason mail gets kicked back? The inmate's name and ID number weren't clearly PRINTED on the outside of the envelope or postcard. Miss either one, and the jail will return it to sender.
- ✓ Inmate’s full name (clearly PRINTED)
- ✓ Inmate ID number (clearly PRINTED)
- ✓ Western VA Regional Jail, P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131
- ✓ Your return address (so it can come back to you if it’s rejected)
Legal mail goes to a different address: Inmate Name 5885 West River Rd. Salem, Virginia 24153
Legal mail tip: Mark it clearly as legal mail. It must come from an attorney, court, Department of Corrections, or the Parole Board.
Do not send originals: WVRJ advises that original documents will be destroyed. Don’t mail originals of things like marriage certificates, birth certificates, Social Security cards, or pictures - send copies instead, and still label the envelope with the inmate’s name and ID number.
Keep it simple if you want your letter to get through. Use white paper only, and each page can't be larger than 8 1/2 x 14 inches. There's also a weight limit: anything over 1 ounce gets returned. (This restriction doesn't apply to legal mail.)
- ✓ Write on white paper only
- ✓ Keep pages at 8 1/2 x 14 inches or smaller
- ✓ Keep the total mailing weight at 1 ounce or less (this limit does not apply to legal/privileged mail)
- ✓ Use enough postage for the final weight
WVRJ rejects mail that crosses certain lines - obscenity, sexually explicit material, blackmail, contraband, or threats. They'll also reject anything describing criminal plans, escape routes, or content designed to encourage inmates to disrupt the jail.
If staff find contraband, they won't just send it back. They'll seize it and notify both you and the inmate about what was taken and why.
Avoid borderline items: If something could be read as a threat, an escape plan, or encouragement to disrupt the jail, it’s likely to be rejected - and contraband can be seized with notice sent to both you and the inmate.
Find an Inmate at Western Virginia Regional Jail, VA
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
