How to mail letters, photos, and legal correspondence in WV
- Write the person’s full name and OID number. WV DOC requires the incarcerated person’s first and last name and OID number.
- Include the full facility name. WV DOC specifies using the full name of the facility with no abbreviations.
- Mail to the WV DOC mail address. WV DOC states all letters must be mailed to: PO Box 336, Phoenix, MD 21131.
- Use a complete return address. WV DOC requires a full return address with your complete first and last name, and it does not allow initials.
Warning: WV DOC does not allow photographs in letters. Envelopes containing photographs will be returned to the sender.
For people in federal (BOP) facilities, written correspondence is classified as general or special mail. General mail is opened and inspected for contraband and content. Specially marked special mail is opened only in the inmate's presence and inspected for physical contraband. When addressing mail to a federal facility, include the inmate's name and register number. Do not mail money to the facility address. BOP requires mailed funds to go to a processing center in Des Moines, Iowa.
Common Questions
Q
Can I send photographs in a letter to someone incarcerated in West Virginia?
WV DOC states photographs are not allowed in letters, and envelopes containing photographs will be returned to the sender. If you are mailing a letter through WV DOC, address it using the incarcerated person’s full name and OID number and the full facility name, and send it to PO Box 336, Phoenix, MD 21131.
Q
Where should I send legal mail or documents for an incarcerated person?
Legal mail rules depend on the system and facility, so use the facility’s instructions whenever you can. For example, one facility’s policy states legal mail from attorneys and courts should be sent directly to the facility at 2402 Godwin Blvd., Suffolk, VA 23434 for distribution. For WV DOC general mail, WV DOC states letters must be mailed to PO Box 336, Phoenix, MD 21131 with the incarcerated person’s full name and OID number and the full facility name.
Q
Can I send packages or books directly from home?
In the federal (BOP) system, BOP states inmates are not allowed to receive packages from home without prior written approval, with limited exceptions like release clothing and authorized medical devices. Mail is also handled under general versus special mail rules, with special incoming mail opened only in the inmate’s presence when properly marked. If your loved one is in WV DOC, follow WV DOC’s mailing instructions for the correct routing address and required identifiers on the envelope.
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