Mail and photos: addressing, scanning, and special mail rules
Mail rules change by county, so always use the exact address format the facility publishes. One Arkansas county jail gives an example of addressing a letter to the detainee "c/o" the sheriff's department and requires a complete return address with first and last name. Other counties require non-legal mail to be sent to a designated P.O. Box for processing instead of mailing directly to the jail's street address.
Some facilities route mail through a third-party processing address. Garland County, for example, requires inmate postal mail to be sent to a Smart Communications P.O. Box in Seminole, Florida. Senders must clearly print the inmate's name and booking/ID number on the outside of the envelope or postcard. Regular inmate postal mail is scanned and made available to inmates through kiosks.
Tip: If the page you’re using for mailing instructions is not loading properly, treat that as a sign to confirm the address by phone before you send anything.
Common Questions
Q
Where should I mail letters or photos for an Arkansas inmate?
Use the exact address format the facility publishes, and include the person’s name and any required ID or booking number. One Arkansas jail gives an example of mailing to the detainee “c/o” the sheriff’s department at the facility’s street address with a complete return address. Other facilities may require non-legal mail to be sent to a designated P.O. Box for processing.
Q
Will the facility scan incoming mail and make it available electronically?
Some Arkansas facilities say yes. Garland County states that regular inmate postal mail is scanned and made available to inmates through kiosks. Mail handling varies by facility, but in at least one federal system, general correspondence is opened and inspected, while properly marked special mail is opened only in the inmate’s presence.
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