Sending letters, photos, and the addresses to use
Mail rules in Louisiana vary widely by facility, so verify the correct address and format with the jail or prison before sending letters or photos. Some facilities publish a dedicated mailing address for inmate and legal mail. Others route inmate mail to a P.O. Box for the correct housing area. A few sheriff's offices require electronic submission for non-legal mail, meaning physical letters may be rejected if you send them the traditional way.
- ✓ Inmate’s full name (use the name they had at the time of incarceration)
- ✓ Inmate ID number or CCN
- ✓ Dorm number and cell/bed number, if you know it
- ✓ Any facility-required outside labeling (some jails require the inmate name and ID number clearly printed on the outside of the envelope or postcard)
- ✓ The exact mailing address the facility publishes for inmate mail (some facilities use a P.O. Box for the housing area; others list a specific street address for inmate and legal mail)
Tip: If you don’t know the inmate’s ID number, at least one parish jail directs families to look it up through JailATM, and another provides a phone number you can call to get the CCN/dorm/cell information needed for addressing.
Common Questions
Q
How do I find an inmate's ID or booking number so I can send mail or messages?
Some Louisiana jails direct you to look up the inmate’s ID through JailATM if you don’t already have it. Another option some facilities provide is calling the jail to ask for the information you need for addressing mail (like CCN, dorm, and cell/bed).
Q
Where should I mail a money order or letter for an inmate at a parish jail?
It depends on the parish and the jail, so verify the address with the facility before you mail anything. One parish example lists a physical address for mailing money orders to the jail, and another example routes inmate mail to “JPCC Inmate Housing Area, P.O. Box 388, Gretna, LA 70053.”
Q
What should I write on the envelope to make sure mail is delivered to the right person?
Use the inmate’s full name (as it was at the time of incarceration) and include the inmate’s ID number or CCN. If you know it, add the dorm number and cell/bed, and follow any facility instructions that require the name and ID number to be clearly printed on the outside of the envelope or postcard.
Q
Some jails say non-legal mail must be sent electronically. What does that mean?
It means the jail does not want regular personal letters dropped into the postal mail to the facility, and instead requires you to submit that mail through a specific vendor process. One parish sheriff’s office states that, effective March 3, 2022, all non-legal and non-commercial mail must be sent electronically through JailATM or mailed to the designated JailATM address listed in its policy. Always confirm the current rule for the specific jail before sending physical mail.
Find an Inmate
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
