Send Inmate Mail — Ask the Inmate
A letter from home arriving at mail call is one of the most powerful moments in an incarcerated person's day. It is proof that someone on the outside is thinking about them, that life is continuing, and that there is something worth coming home to. But sending mail to a correctional facility involves rules that vary by institution and mistakes can mean your letter never arrives. This section covers how to address mail correctly for federal and state facilities, what the mailroom screening process looks like and how long it adds to delivery time, what content is and is not permitted in letters, how to send photos and why sending them through InmateAid's service is more reliable than printing and mailing them yourself, how to send mail from outside the United States, and what the InmateAid return letter service does for inmates who want to write back. The guidance here makes sure every letter you send reaches its destination. See also our sections on Inmate Care Packages, Send Books and Magazines, and Inmate Phone Calls.
Related InmateAid Services
yes, the cards are prison-approved and are in the pre-stamped format
Read moreYES! exactly!!
Read moreYes, they can receive a family photo. No, they cannot receive a Hallmark card... BUT, the prisons DO accept Greeting Cards from InmateAid that are delivered on a jail-approved postcard. Choose from 100s.
Read moreMost facilities do not have a limit. Our software knows the limits and will only allow you to send as many as they do.
Read morenormally 2 days
Read moreThe corrections officer calls their name at mail call
Read moreNo special device required. All of the pictures are printed on high-quality picture paper, printed to the edge and with brilliant color and mailed into the facility. The incoming mail is inspected by the staff before it's handed out to the inmates.
Read moreIf your inmate gets moved or released, simply send us the new address and they will not miss an issue.
Read moreyes, IA postcards are accepted at every facility
Read more