How to send mail and photos to an inmate
Michigan jails can have very different mail setups. Some facilities route personal mail through a third-party processor that opens and scans mail, then delivers it to a tablet account instead of handing over the original paper. One Michigan jail, for example, requires all personal mail (letters, postcards, greeting cards) to go to a Smart Communications P.O. box with the person's full name and Booking/ID number clearly printed. Mail is typically available on facility-issued tablets within 24 to 72 hours after it arrives at the processing center. That same policy also says personal mail, books, and magazines are no longer accepted when sent directly to the jail and will be returned to sender, including packages from major retailers.
Legal and medical mail often follow different rules than personal letters. One scanning-vendor FAQ explains that identifiable medical or legal mail is not opened or processed by the scanning vendor, and that legal mail is forwarded to the institution intact. This matters because it changes where you send it and how you label it. Always follow the jail's instructions for "legal mail" versus "personal mail."
- ✓ Musical or pop-up greeting cards
- ✓ Cards with glitter
- ✓ Multi-thickness cards or anything with items glued to it
- ✓ Missing sender return name and address (when the vendor requires it)
- ✓ Missing the incarcerated person’s full name and ID/booking number (when required)
- ✓ Books or magazines, if the facility does not accept them through mail processing
Common Questions
Q
How should I address mail so it reaches the inmate's tablet account?
If the jail uses scanned mail, you usually have to mail letters to the vendor’s processing address, not the jail, and include the person’s full name and Booking/ID number. One Michigan example directs personal mail to Smart Communications at a P.O. box and says mail is opened, scanned, and typically available on tablets within 24 to 72 hours after it arrives at the processing center. Always use the exact format posted by the facility so it routes to the correct account.
Q
Can I send money directly in the mail or with cash or gift cards?
Often, no. One published policy says gift cards, cash, and personal checks are unacceptable and will be returned to sender, and it directs people to use an approved deposit vendor instead. If you are sending a money order or check in a system that uses Access Secure Deposits, one example instruction says it must be made payable to “ACCESS SECURE DEPOSITS.”
Find an Inmate
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
