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
Possibly not. The inmate ID number is how mailroom staff route incoming mail to the correct person, especially at facilities with large populations where multiple inmates may share the same name or a similar name. Without it, the letter may be held, returned, or simply not make it through. If you sent the letter through InmateAid and the facility restricts third-party mail, there is a second issue as well. InmateAid can remove their branding from the envelope and resend
Read moreYou'll need her inmate ID and the correct location's address for inmate mail. InmateAid has many accurate avenues to find this information. If you send us her name adnd what you know about her location and we will help you.
Read moreYes
Read moreInmateAID has made it easy to [write any inmate](https://www.inmateaid.com/letters) anytime from anywhere from your smartphone. You do not need to be on a correspondence list unless your inmate is restricted from incoming correcpsondence by Homeland Security. This is very rare. Other potential restrictions would be related to a no-contact order, or the victims in this crime or co-conspirators.
Read moreHe writes back to InmateAid's address in South Florida, which is the return address that appeared on the letter he received from you. InmateAid receives his response, scans it, and posts it to your account under Letters from Inmates. You get an email notification letting you know there is mail waiting in your account. Your home address stays private throughout the entire exchange. That is one of the core reasons people use the service, particularly when they want to
Read moreAll he needs is a postage stamp. He can write a letter back with a piece of paper and a pen without any money on his books, as long as he has a stamp to mail it. If he has nothing at all in his account, most facilities have an indigent inmate program that provides basic supplies including postage stamps to inmates who have had a zero balance for an extended period. The amount is limited, typically enough for
Read moreProbably not
Read more$1.49 for a letter and $0.99 for a postcard
Read more10" x 13" manila envelopes are the largest accepted
Read moreThey are beautiful color glossy photos. if your picture is black and white then of course that reproduce in black and white
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