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
Inmates are allowed mail whether they are in the hole, lockdown...anything except terrorism
Subject: Send inmate mail
Yes you can send photos to him and in most cases there is no limit. Here is a coupon code that is good for 40% off any photos you send today through the weekend. ANYONE reading this can use this coupon MAR10, to get the discount.
Subject: Send inmate mail
Usually 2-3 business days, BUT there are sometimes delays once in the mailroom. The staff opens and reads every piece of mail before handing it out. We send thousands and thousands a day, if the facility is correct and there is an inmate ID number we guarantee it will get there.
Subject: Send inmate mail
Not usually. However 95% of inmates are allowed to receive mail from anyone and anywhere. Please keep in mind that the staff opens and reads each piece of mail before deciding whether to hand it out or return it. There is definitely a censorship element to the mail, but usually the sender is of no consequence unless something arises in the content of the letter.
Subject: Send inmate mail
You can try, but whether it gets through depends on the facility and how the mailroom staff evaluates it.
Most prisons and jails allow hand-drawn artwork to be sent through the mail as long as it does not raise any red flags during inspection. The concern on the mailroom's end is not the drawing itself but the materials used to create it. Certain substances have been used to saturate paper and smuggle drugs into facilities, and mailroom staff are trained to...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
yes, people use the Letters from Inmates service which is especially beneficial when you want your own address kept private. The inmates can use our address, we receive the mail on your behalf and notify you by email that it is there for your review and download.
Subject: Send inmate mail
A debit card works just fine. InmateAid accepts debit cards the same way it accepts credit cards, so nothing is stopping you from placing your order right now.
Head to InmateAid.com, set up your account, add your mom's facility information, and use your debit card at checkout the same way you would on any other website. The transaction processes normally and your letter goes out the same day if you order before 5 pm Eastern time.
Sending your mom a letter is...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
You can try, but there are rules that allow the staff to reject letters missing all of the identification information, like the ID number.
Subject: Send inmate mail
Your inmate receives a physical printed letter, not a digital message. That hard copy gets handed to them directly by staff after the mailroom opens and inspects it, which is standard procedure for all incoming mail at every correctional facility.
On timing, the typical window is 2 to 3 business days from when InmateAid processes and sends the letter to when your inmate has it in their hands. That is faster than most people expect and reflects the fact that InmateAid...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
Inmates can get letter writing materials almost immediately upon incarceration. Writing loved ones is encouraged by the institutions and even provide the postage to indigent inmates.
Subject: Send inmate mail
Good news. You do not have to limit yourself to postcards. Full letters and photos are accepted at all Arizona State Prison Complex facilities including during the reception phase.
Reception can feel like a communication blackout from the outside because visits and phone access are often restricted while your boyfriend is being processed and classified. But mail continues to move during that period, and a full letter is absolutely something he can receive.
This is actually one of the most important times...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
yes, use the InmateAid Letter service and send some great pictures, too
Subject: Send inmate mail
The inmate will have to be the one to let you know. As you are aware, a postcard is delivered by the USPS and during the holiday season, mail deliveries are later than normal. Please be patient, we deliver tens of thousands of postcards and letters a week, if the prison location is correct and you have their inmate ID number, they will definitely get it.
Subject: Send inmate mail
You cannot send any type of video format to an inmate. You cannot send x-rated photos, they will be rejected. The people that use our site send tasteful sexy photos. If you are in lingerie or a bikini, that will make your inmate happy and pass through the censors.
