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 you can send photos to him and in most cases there is no limit. Here is a coupon code that is good for 40% off any photos you send today through the weekend. ANYONE reading this can use this coupon MAR10, to get the discount.
Read moreUsually 2-3 business days, BUT there are sometimes delays once in the mailroom. The staff opens and reads every piece of mail before handing it out. We send thousands and thousands a day, if the facility is correct and there is an inmate ID number we guarantee it will get there.
Read moreNot usually. However 95% of inmates are allowed to receive mail from anyone and anywhere. Please keep in mind that the staff opens and reads each piece of mail before deciding whether to hand it out or return it. There is definitely a censorship element to the mail, but usually the sender is of no consequence unless something arises in the content of the letter.
Read moreIt might get through the staff in the mail room as long as there is nothing there that might make them suspicious of the materials you used to create it.
Read moreyes, people use the Letters from Inmates service which is especially beneficial when you want your own address kept private. The inmates can use our address, we receive the mail on your behalf and notify you by email that it is there for your review and download.
Read moreDebit cards will work
Read moreYou can try, but there are rules that allow the staff to reject letters missing all of the identification information, like the ID number.
Read moreyes
Read moreIt typically takes 2-3 business days in a hard copy handed out by the staff after they open and inspect the contents
Read moreInmates can get letter writing materials almost immediately upon incarceration. Writing loved ones is encouraged by the institutions and even provide the postage to indigent inmates.
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