How to send mail and photos: state and county differences
For ADCRR state prisons, personal letters, greeting cards, photos, and drawings go to a Digital Processing Center. Legal mail is handled separately and stays with the inmate at their assigned unit. Packages and publications follow their own process and are sent to an ADCRR Phoenix address, with an effective date listed for that address.
County jails work differently. Yuma County Detention Center routes incoming inmate mail through TextBehind and warns that mail sent to other addresses will be returned. Gila County is even stricter: non-legal incoming mail is limited to postcards, which are copied and destroyed after 14 days. Gila County also publishes separate mailing addresses for the Globe and Payson facilities.
Tip: Always confirm the mail instructions for the specific jail or prison before you send anything, and include the full name and ID number exactly as the facility requires.
Common Questions
Q
How should I address a letter or photo to an ADCRR inmate?
Address personal letters, greeting cards, photos, and drawings to ADCRR’s Digital Processing Center, using your loved one’s full first and last name and ADCRR number, plus the prison complex and assigned unit. Legal mail is handled differently: ADCRR states legal mail is addressed to the inmate at their assigned unit.
Q
Where do I send packages or publications for an ADCRR inmate?
ADCRR’s guidance lists a separate address for packages and publications in Phoenix, and it includes an effective date of January 7, 2026. Use your loved one’s full name, ADCRR number, and their prison complex and assigned unit as shown in that guidance.
Q
Can I drop off clothing or personal items for someone in jail?
Some Arizona county jails do not allow clothing or other items to be dropped off for inmates, and instead they rely on commissary for basics. Gila County also states that personal property is sealed at booking and remains sealed until release.
Q
Can inmates receive emails or messages from family?
Yes in some facilities. For example, Yuma County Detention Center states inmates are eligible to receive emails through Inmate Sales, and it directs friends and family to create an account through that vendor’s web portal.
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