Mail, photos, and books: addressing, processing, and restrictions
Mail rules vary widely across Oregon counties and can change quickly. Always confirm current instructions before sending anything. Clatsop County Jail states that people in custody may send and receive letters through the U.S. Postal Service and publishes a specific addressing format using the jail's Warrenton address. Umatilla County works differently: all regular mail must be sent to ViaPath for processing and then distributed to the facility.
- ✓ Clatsop County Jail: Inmate Name c/o Clatsop County Jail, 1250 SE 19th St., Warrenton, OR 97146
- ✓ Umatilla County Jail (ViaPath processing): Umatilla Co. Jail, OR, Inmate name & booking #, POB 247, Pheonix, MD 21131
Books and "extras" are where mail commonly gets rejected. Umatilla County requires books to be sent directly from a vendor. In the federal prison system, publications like magazines and books must also come directly from the publisher, and packages from home generally aren't allowed without prior written approval. Check your facility's restrictions before mailing anything beyond a basic letter. At Clatsop County Jail, there's an additional rule: the person in custody may only write the address on outgoing envelopes. No drawings or other writing is allowed.
Common Questions
Q
Can I mail cash or personal checks to an inmate?
Do not mail cash, and do not assume a personal check will be accepted. Clatsop County Jail states that money sent by mail must be a cashier’s check or money order and that cash should not be mailed, and it also states personal checks are not accepted and will be held in property until release. If you need another option, Clatsop also states cash can be deposited at a lobby kiosk, but a fee applies and ID is required.
Q
Where should I send mail for an inmate at Umatilla County Correctional Facility?
Umatilla County states that all regular mail must be sent to ViaPath for processing before it is distributed at the facility. It gives an example mailing address of: Umatilla Co. Jail, OR, Inmate name & booking #, POB 247, Pheonix, MD 21131. Umatilla County also states that books must be sent directly from a vendor.
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