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
No. The return address on all InmateAid mail is InmateAid's address, not yours. Your personal billing address is never visible to the inmate. The only way an inmate receives your home address is if you choose to include it somewhere in the body of the letter itself. Privacy is one of the more common concerns for people using InmateAid for the first time, particularly those who are not comfortable with an inmate having their home address. The good news
Read moreInmates receive physical magazines, not digital or online versions. Most inmates do not have access to the internet, so everything comes through the mail just like regular subscriptions outside. How it works: You order a magazine subscription through an approved publisher or service The publisher mails each issue directly to the facility The mailroom inspects it for content and contraband The magazine is delivered to the inmate during mail call Important rules:
Read moreSend us their name, DOB and the state they are in. If you know the facility name or any other information (county, state or federal), please email it to us and we will help locate them for you.
Read moreYou can only send Jodi a postcard. The Maricopa County Jails have a strict policy. She will soon be moved to a state prison where you can then use InmateAid to write her and send her photos. The transfer to state will be in about 6 weeks.
Read moreThe letter and photo service from InmateAid is straightforward. You type up a letter and upload photos where applicable - proceed to the Pay Now page and complete the transaction. The letter order flows through our Admin area to the Processing Department. Letters are processed immediately upon entry unless it is after 6pm 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 of
Read moreJust supply us with their name and the state you think they might be in. If you know their DOB or the jurisdiction where they were charged will help. We will do our best to find them for you
Read moreInmates love pen pal letters. But be careful, they are experts at tugging on your heartstrings. They will get to know you and then start figuring out your soft spot and then ask for money. They are notorious for promising the world to their pen pals, just take it light and not expect too much from the "relationship". Just be careful.
Read moreNot unless you are also an inmate writing from another prison or jail. There are no restrictions on incoming mail otherwise
Read moreThe letter and photo service from InmateAid is straightforward. You type up a letter and upload photos where applicable - proceed to the Pay Now page and complete the transaction. The letter order flows through our Admin area to the Processing Department. Letters are processed immediately upon entry unless it is after 6pm 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 of
Read moreThe letter and photo service from InmateAid is straightforward, it is mailed using the US Postal Service. You type up a letter and upload photos where applicable - proceed to the Pay Now page and complete the transaction. The letter order flows through our Admin area to the Processing Department. Letters are processed immediately upon entry unless it is after 6pm on Saturday, then the letters do not go through the process until Monday morning. You may check in your
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