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
The only approved size that fits all of the prison criteria is what InmateAid prints it's pictures on - 4" x 6" glossy photo paper. Polaroid-type paper is definitely not allowed or any multi-layered paper. Also, computer generated photos are not allowed in the majority of facilities.
Read moreEach letter is $1.49. The Photos are $1.39 each. If you are going to send a lot of photos, let us know beforehand and we will send you a coupon code to discount the whole purchase.
Read moreYes, the mail goes out up to 4:30 pm EST on Saturday. Anything that comes in after that time does not make it to the US Post Office until Monday morning. However, there is no mail call on the weekends for the inmates to receive incoming mail.
Read moreInmates generally do not receive letters directly through the internet. When you send a letter online through a service like InmateAid, it is printed and mailed to the facility as regular postal mail. Once your letter is processed and sent, it typically arrives at the jail or prison within 2 to 3 business days through the postal system. That is just the delivery to the facility. After it arrives, the facility’s mailroom staff will open and inspect the
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 moreIn most cases, letters and photos sent through InmateAid arrive at the facility within 2 to 3 business days after they are processed and mailed. That is the delivery time through the postal system. Once the mail reaches the jail or prison, it goes through the facility’s internal mail process. Staff will open, inspect, and read each piece of mail to check for contraband or rule violations before giving it to the inmate. This step can add additional time,
Read moreSending mail through InmateAid to someone at the Laredo Processing Center is simple, and everything is handled for you once you submit your order. When you write a letter and upload photos, you complete the payment on the site and the process starts right away. Your letter is printed out on paper, and any photos you include are printed as well. Everything is then neatly assembled, folded, and placed into a standard envelope. There are no ads or extra
Read moreDelivery time: Letters sent through InmateAid usually arrive at the facility in 2–3 business days After that, mail is opened, inspected, and sorted Delivery to the inmate typically takes another 1–5 days So most inmates receive your letter within 3–7 days total, depending on the facility. What the inmate sees: Your name appears on the letter Your home address is NOT shown unless you include it yourself How they know how to write back: The letter
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 inmate
Read moreWhen sending books to your husband, you must use his facility address, not your home address. Here is how to do it correctly: Enter your husband’s name and inmate ID number Use the prison’s mailing address as the shipping address Your name and billing address stay tied to your payment method Important rules to follow: Books must come directly from a publisher or retailer like Amazon Do not send books yourself. They will be rejected Choose new books, not used or third-party
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