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
What 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 paper
Mailrooms prefer or require actual photo prints because they are...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
When 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
Review it for compliance with facility rules
Process it...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
Inmates 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. Once it is delivered,...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
You 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 are often available and...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
When 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.
Once approved, books are...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
Normal 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.
Subject: Send inmate mail
Most 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.
Subject: Send inmate mail
Letters sent through InmateAid are delivered via USPS and typically arrive at the facility within 2 to 3 business days. However arrival at the facility and arrival in your inmate's hands are two different things and understanding the difference will help set realistic expectations.
The mailroom process
Every piece of incoming mail at a correctional facility is opened and read by mailroom staff before it reaches the inmate. This is standard procedure at every facility in the United States without exception. Staff...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
All letters and photos are delivered daily by US Mail. It will take one or two days but please be mindful that the prison staff will open every piece of mail for contraband. Therefore, the actual delivery date that it makes it to mail call depends solely on the prison staff.
Subject: Send inmate mail
When you send a letter through InmateAid, you will receive confirmation in your account when the letter has been processed and mailed through the US Postal Service. That notification lets you know it has been sent out, but there is no way to confirm the exact moment the inmate receives it. Delivery depends on the facility’s mailroom processing times, which can vary.
Inmates do not receive e-letters electronically. All messages sent through InmateAid are printed and delivered as physical mail. Because...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
If you have researched the inmate's name in the Inmate Locator and there is no ID #, you may send the letter without the number. There are some facilities that do not have numbers for their inmates.
Subject: Send inmate mail
InmateAid letters are sent the same day they are created by you via US Mail. The letters/photos are delivered to the inmate at mail call a day or two after posting. Please be mindful that the staff inside the prison opens every letter for contraband which may delay the actual delivery.
Subject: Send inmate mail
InmateAid prints and delivers the mail into the prison location corresponding to your inmate. The service is delivered to the inmate at mail call a day or two after you create it in the Write Letters/Send Photos service.
Subject: Send inmate mail
n most cases, your letters will still be delivered even if you did not include the inmate’s ID number. Mailrooms understand that people on the outside do not always have complete information, and they will usually make a reasonable effort to match the name on the envelope to the correct inmate.
If the name is spelled correctly and the facility is not extremely large, there is a good chance your letters reached him. Mail is considered an important connection to the...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
At Leavenworth Detention Center, you do not need to be on an approved list to send mail to an inmate. Friends, family, and even general correspondence can be sent as long as it follows the facility’s mail rules.
Approval lists typically apply only to visitation and phone calls, not regular mail. That means you can send letters, photos, and approved items without going through a pre-approval process.
Keep in mind that all incoming mail is opened and inspected by staff before it is delivered....
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