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 are not allowed to receive communication from ANY felon. There are exceptions that must be granted with permission by both facilities. Those cases are when the inmates are related.
Read moreGenerally, it takes 1-2 days to be received by the prison. The prison staff inspects each piece of mail for contraband which sometimes delays actual delivery to the inmate at mail call. Inmates have “mail call” Monday through Friday and are notified of incoming mail during that time.
Read moreInmateAid has a service that allows inmates to write a member through the site. Some members would like to write inmates but keep their address confidential. This service works for members who would like a pen pal relationship without having to disclose where they live. The service cost $1.49 to retrieve the letter from you account.
Read moreWhat you are running into is a common mailroom rule that is not always clearly explained. Many facilities reject photos that are printed on regular paper, even if they are not actually “scanned” in the way you are thinking. When a prison says “no scanned photos,” they are often using that as a catch-all term for images that are: Printed on standard printer paper Pulled from the internet and printed at home Not on true photo-quality
Read moreWhen you send a letter through InmateAid, it is printed and mailed through the US Postal Service, so delivery times are similar to standard mail. In most cases, the letter will arrive at the facility within 1 to 3 business days after it is sent. However, that does not always mean the inmate receives it immediately. Once the letter reaches the jail or prison, it must go through the mailroom where staff: Open and inspect it for contraband
Read moreInmates will not be notified electronically that you sent them a letter through InmateAid, and there is no email system involved in this process. InmateAid’s “e-letter” service simply means you write the letter online, and it is then printed and delivered through the US Postal Service as regular mail. Since inmates do not have internet access, they cannot check email or receive digital notifications. Your letter will arrive just like any other piece of mail during mail call.
Read moreYou do not need a coupon code to send a letter through InmateAid. The coupon field is optional and only used when there is a promotion or discount available. You can go ahead and pay with your credit card and send your letter without entering anything in that field. The service will still work normally. If you would like a discount, you can use the Contact Us link on the InmateAid website and request a coupon code. They
Read moreWhen books are shipped from Amazon directly to a prison, they first go through the mailroom for inspection. Staff check all incoming packages for contraband and to make sure they meet the facility’s rules, such as coming from an approved vendor. If the books arrived on a Friday, they may not be processed until the next business day, depending on staffing and workload. Most prison mailrooms operate Monday through Friday, so anything received late in the week often carries over.
Read moreNormal shipping is 2-3 business days from Amazon after your order is processed. Prisons normally do not allow any books to be sent in by individuals, only from recognized publishers.
Read moreMost prisons prefer paperbacks to be on safe side. But as long as the books are coming from the publisher, like Amazon.com both hard cover or paperback are acceptable.
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