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
You will be notified immediately upon receipt, via email, that your inmate has sent you a letter. We scan and upload it into your account for retrieval.
Read moreThere is no verification by the jail of the receipt of incoming mail. We only know if the letter is returned. If that occurs we investigate the reason and give you options as to what solutions are available. Sometimes a simple remail works, other times there are missing ID numbers, the inmate got moved or the wrong facility was selected - regardless of the reason will resend the letters at no charge.
Read moreLetters are processed immediately upon entry unless after 6pm on Saturday, those letters will process Monday morning. We 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
Read moreIt is possible, but not reliable. Most facilities require the inmate ID number on all incoming mail to make sure it is delivered to the correct person. Without it, the mailroom has to rely only on the inmate’s name, which can create confusion. What can happen: The mailroom staff may figure out who it belongs to and deliver it Or they may return it to sender for missing required information In some cases, it may be held or delayed while they try
Read moreMailed means the letter left InmateAid and entered the US Postal Service that day. It has not been delivered yet. The estimated delivery date on the site reflects when the letter is expected to be sent out, not when it arrives at the facility. From the point it is mailed, expect another 2 to 3 business days for it to reach the jail or prison. Once it gets there, it does not go straight to your inmate. The facility
Read moreYes, sexy pictures are perfectly okay. We process lots of bikini and lingerie photos from the loved ones of inmates and they are acceptable and appreciated by the recipient.
Read morePostcards are processed immediately upon entry unless after 6pm on Saturday, those will process Monday morning. We estimate that it takes 2-3 business days to make it to the jail. Once there, the staff reads each piece of incoming mail. 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
Read moreOur postcard service is not an email. This is a postcard printed on both sides of the card, one side is your message, the other side are your pictures (up to four). We mail them into the prison and they are handed out by the staff when they normally give mail to inmates.
Read moreit's 50/50, some mail room staff will only deliver the mail to the inmate with an inmate ID number. we highly recommend having an inmate ID number for all correspondence.
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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