Mail and photos: addresses, scanning, and items that will be rejected
- Write the sender return address clearly. Wisconsin DOC requires the sender’s return name and address on personal mail.
- Address it with your loved one’s information. Include the PIOC’s full name (first and last), DOC number, and correctional facility name.
- Mail it to TextBehind for scanning. Send it to: P.O. Box 189, Phoenix, MD 21131.
County jails may use a different address and different publication rules. Walworth County Jail says inmates can correspond by mail. Incoming and outgoing mail is processed through USPS and subject to inspection, with contraband seized. Walworth provides a jail mailing address format that includes the inmate name and SPN (Specific Person Number). For publications, Walworth states that newspapers, magazines, soft cover books, catalogs, and similar items must be sent directly from the publisher or a pre-approved bookseller. Examples of pre-approved online booksellers include Amazon Books, Barnes and Noble, and Walmart. No packages or bulk mail will be accepted.
- ✓ For Wisconsin DOC scanned personal mail: gift cards, cash, and personal checks are unacceptable and will be returned to sender.
- ✓ For Wisconsin DOC scanned photos: TextBehind will not copy photobooks or albums, but it will process individual or loose photos.
- ✓ For jails like Manitowoc County: sexually explicit or pornographic material may be rejected.
- ✓ For jails like Manitowoc County: newspapers must come through a prepaid subscription.
Common Questions
Q
Can I send photos to someone on an ICS tablet and how do I do that?
Yes, if your loved one has an ICS tablet in Wisconsin DOC, you’ll need a GettingOut (GTL/ICS) account to message or send photos. If you’re sending physical mail for scanning, Wisconsin DOC lists the TextBehind address as P.O. Box 189, Phoenix, MD 21131 (include the sender return address, plus the person’s full name, DOC number, and facility name). If you’re sending printed photo products, TextBehind says it will not copy photobooks or albums, but it will process individual or loose photos.
Q
What address should I use to mail a letter or photos that will reach an inmate?
It depends on where they are housed. For Wisconsin DOC personal (non-legal) mail, Wisconsin DOC lists TextBehind at P.O. Box 189, Phoenix, MD 21131, and says to include the sender return address plus the person’s full name, DOC number, and facility name. For a county jail example, Walworth County Jail provides a jail address format that includes the inmate name and SPN (Specific Person Number) at 1770 County Road NN, Elkhorn, WI 53121.
Q
Can I mail money, gift cards, or personal checks to an inmate?
For Wisconsin DOC: no, gift cards, cash, and personal checks sent by mail are listed as unacceptable and will be returned to sender, and Wisconsin DOC points families to Access Corrections for deposits. For a county jail example, Walworth County Jail states personal checks will not be deposited, but cashier checks or money orders can be mailed (a jail deposit fee applies to mail deposits).
Find an Inmate
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
