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
We understand your predicament. Unless you are able to convince someone at the institution that is answering the phone to relay the number to him, you are going to have to spend the $0.49 and mail it to him.
Read moreNo, it is about the same. We make it convenient and reliable. Plus, the cost to do it through the site in only a dollar more than writing out a letter, getting an envelope and a stamp and thend dropping it in the mail. Most people LOVE that they can use their phone to send as manay pictures off the phone to their inmate - no hassles. CLICK, quick!
Read moreWe estimate that it takes 2-3 business days to make it to the jail. Once there, the staff opens and reads each piece of mail and inspects it for contraband. Once they decide the mail is fit to be handed out at mail call, your inmate will receive it. Any delay that occurs at the facility is out of our control. We make no guarantees as to how long it will take as there are thousands of facilities and none
Read moreYes, there are guidelines, but they are mostly about safety and security, not normal conversation. Every facility opens and reads incoming mail, so you should always assume a staff member will see what you write. What is generally allowed: Personal updates about your life Emotional support and encouragement Romantic or intimate expressions (within reason) Photos that follow the facility’s rules Talking about love, missing each other, and even some level of intimacy is usually fine.
Read moreYes, in most cases he should be able to receive it. Letters written in pencil and drawings done in crayon are usually allowed, especially when they come from children. Facilities generally allow: Handwritten letters (pen or pencil) Simple drawings or artwork Personal messages from family At a place like Luna County Detention Center, the mailroom will still: Open and inspect the letter Check for anything that violates policy As long as the letter does not
Read moreAs long as it takes for the inmate to correspond. Writing back is on the inmate, right?
Read moreThere is no read receipt for prison mail and no public system that tracks whether incoming mail was delivered to a specific inmate. Once a letter clears the mailroom and is not returned to sender, the assumption is that it reached him. If your letters have not come back to you, they most likely got through. Whether he has responded is a separate question from whether he received the mail. Inmates sometimes delay writing back for reasons that have
Read moreYes, you can send a letter from your phone using InmateAid's letter and photo service. It works from any smartphone or computer, and you do not need to print, stamp, or mail anything yourself. InmateAid handles the physical delivery. That is a practical way to send him a quick note letting him know the phone account has been funded so he knows to try calling. If you want to try the service, send an email to aid@inmateaid.com and they
Read moreThe letter and photo service from InmateAid is straightforward. You create a User account and then an Inmate Profile - you then type up your letter and upload photos from your smartphone, go to the Pay Now page and complete the transaction. Letters are processed immediately upon entry unless it is after 4pm on Saturday, then the letters do not go through the process until Monday morning. You may check in your My Account area to see the status
Read moreInmates that have money on their inmate trust accounts can purchase stamps and envelopes at the weekly commissary. If they do not have money on their books, the prison will provide indigent inmates with all the materials necessary to send out mail to their loved ones. If your inmate writes to you directly, using your address, the cost of the mailing is a 49 cent stamp. Many of our members use the Inmate Response Mail service through InmateAid. Your
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