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
Subject: Send inmate mail
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. Any delay that occurs at the facility is out of our
control. We make no guarantees as to how long it will take as there are
thousands of facilities and none of them do things the same way.Please be patient, if the ID number and facility are correct
we are 100% reliable. Mail call is Monday...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
The delays during holiday times are normal but they are not usually too long. Normally there are longer delays once inside the mail room as the staff reads all the letters and decides what gets handed out and what gets rejected. As long as your letter has the correct inmate ID number and the correct facility and does not contain content relating to what they deem to be unacceptable, you'll have no problems. But be mindful that prison makes their...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
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.
Subject: Send inmate mail
Each 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.
Subject: Send inmate mail
Yes, 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.
Subject: Send inmate mail
Inmates 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 letter for security reasons....
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
The 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 your letter order.
The letters are printed, folded
and...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
In 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, and it...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
Sending 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 inserts, just...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
Delivery 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 includes the InmateAid return address
They can write back to that address just like regular mail
How replies work:
The inmate sends the letter...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
Inmates 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 would write you back to the...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
When 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 seller items
Most facilities prefer paperbacks and limit how many you can send
Shipping notes:
The package will show:
The retailer...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
When an inmate is transferred, not everything follows them smoothly. Each category is handled differently:
Personal property:
Inmates are allowed to pack and transfer their belongings
However, items are often lost, delayed, or limited during the move
Extra commissary items and clothing do not always make it to the new facility
Mail:
Mail that is already in transit is usually NOT forwarded
It is often returned to the sender
You should start using the new facility address immediately
Commissary funds:
If the transfer is within the same system (state to state within the same department, or federal within...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
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. Any delay that occurs at the facility is out of our control. We make no guarantees as to how long it will take as there are thousands of facilities and none of them do things the same way. The only way you will know if when he responds, unless the...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
Most inmates do not have access to the Internet or email, they receive letters through the US Mail. Mail call is done Monday through Friday only. Inmates 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...
Read more