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
Whether mail gets forwarded from a distribution or transit facility to the permanent destination depends on the timing and the specific facility's mail handling procedures. If your grandson had already been transferred out when the letter arrived the mailroom at the distribution center may forward it to his new location, return it to the sender, or in some cases, simply hold it. There is no universal standard that guarantees forwarding between facilities and the outcome often depends on how
Read moreThe search coming up empty the day after a transfer is completely normal. State DOC databases can take anywhere from 24 to 72 hours to update after a move, sometimes longer over weekends or holidays. The fact that you know he arrived at Caldwell yesterday is reliable enough information to work from while the system catches up. On the inmate number question, Louisiana state inmates typically retain their DOC number throughout their entire incarceration, regardless of which facility they
Read moreYes, $1.49
Read moreInmates do NOT have access to the Internet (unlless they have a smuggled smartphone which is highly illegal but more prevalent than you'd think), therefore they don't have access to Facebook. BUT, there are small businesses popping up where an inmate may pay for a person on the outside to update their social media pages. Or it can be done without a fee if someone (maybe a family member) is willing to do it for you. Using Facebook through Trulincs
Read moreThe user of the site. The inmate pays nothing
Read moreThe no-record result is almost certainly a timing issue, not a sign that something is wrong. When someone is freshly booked, jail databases can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days to update and become searchable. The news article confirming he is at Lehigh County Jail is reliable enough to go on in the meantime. Mail is one of the most protected things in the jail and prison world. It is treated as a fundamental
Read moreYes
Read moreYes, that is no problem. We are able to send "sexy" pictures but none that show ANY private parts. Bikini and lingerie is normally no problem and they get delivered to the inmate just fine.
Read moreYes, you can use your Mexican card to pay for our letter service. For international members, this is the best and most reliable way to send mail.
Read moreIt will only say "processed", since this is mail through the USPS there is no verification of delivery available. 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
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