Mail and Photos
Mail & Photos
Start by finding the facility's written mail rules. Many facilities publish these in an inmate handbook, usually under sections covering communication and...
Read guideHow to address letters, photos, and cards so mail is delivered
Addressing is where a lot of mail problems start. Facilities spell out exactly what they want on the envelope in their written instructions. Use that format...
Read guidePhotos, greeting cards, and personal mail: common rules and routing
Facilities often separate "personal mail" from other types of correspondence. Look for the part of the handbook or mail instructions that specifically...
Read guidePackages and publications: vendor-only rules and example addresses
Packages are where rules get strict. One example policy (state-specific) says packages are only allowed when received directly from vendors through common...
Read guideLegal mail: special handling and address notes
Legal (privileged) mail is usually its own category in facility rules, separate from general mail. Follow the facility's legal mail instructions exactly,...
Read guideMail-in ballots for people held in jail or detention
Some election offices coordinate directly with sheriffs' offices and detention facilities to help eligible people in custody receive and return vote-by-mail...
Read guideCommon reasons mail is delayed or rejected and how to avoid problems
Most mail issues come down to using the wrong instructions for what you're sending. Facility handbooks often separate general mail, privileged or legal...
Read guideBefore you send: a short checklist
Find the facility’s written mail rules (often in the inmate handbook under communication/correspondence). Match the address format to what you’re sending...
Read guideFind an Inmate
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Common Questions
Q
Can I send photos and greeting cards to someone in jail?
Often, yes, but they have to follow the facility’s personal mail rules and they will be processed under that mail policy. Example (state-specific): one department directs personal mail, greeting cards, photos, and drawings to a Digital Processing Center address instead of a facility street address.
Q
Can I mail a package or order something online for an inmate?
Sometimes, but a common restriction is “vendor-only” packages. Example (state-specific): one corrections system allows packages and articles only when they are received directly from vendors via USPS, FedEx, UPS, and similar carriers.
Q
How should I send legal mail to ensure privacy and special handling?
Follow the facility’s legal (privileged) mail instructions, since legal mail is usually handled under separate rules from general mail. Example (state-specific): one department states legal mail should be addressed to the inmate at their assigned unit, with no changes as of 12/05/25.
Q
Can someone in custody receive and return a mail-in ballot?
In some places, yes. Example (state-specific): Arizona describes counties coordinating with sheriffs and detention facilities to set up reasonable procedures for delivery and return of ballots-by-mail, and it also notes that Arizona early ballots include a postage-paid return envelope.
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