How Does My Inmate Know Where to Write Back to Me?

Every letter sent through InmateAid goes out with InmateAid's return address printed on the envelope. Your friend does not need to know the website or look anything up. The return address is right there on the letter they receive, and they simply write back to that address the same way they would reply to any piece of mail.

When that reply arrives at InmateAid, we scan it and post it directly to your account. You receive an email notification and can read it by logging in.

As for the cost on your friend's end, writing back is not free. Inmates purchase stamps and envelopes through commissary the same way they buy other necessities. If your friend does not have money on their books, they may have access to an indigent mail allotment through the facility, which provides a small number of stamps to inmates with no funds. That varies by facility so it is worth your friend asking their housing officer about it.

If you want to make sure your friend can write back without any obstacles, putting a small amount of money on their commissary account covers stamps and gives them what they need. InmateAid can help you send money if you need a straightforward way to do that.