The inmate can see that the letter comes from InmateAid as our logo and return address is on the envelope. Inmates that write back use our address - we scan the letter and place it in your account. You are notified by email that you have a letter waiting.

It depends on the mood of the prison staff at the time. Generally the mail gets to the right inmate if the number is correct, but if it is ever returned - we notify you and resend the corrected letter.

All outside communication must be approved by facility staff. Orientation can preclude approval but it's done on a case-by-case basis.

Inmates appreciate people writing to them and sending them pictures. Some people LOVE writing to inmates that have recently been in the news. It can be fun to have a famous pen pal who writes back. There are thousands of inmates in our system - make a new pen pal!

Mail continues even during lockdown. Federal prison camps are not "terrible" when it comes to prison life, even during a lockdown. Most probably visitation is suspended and maybe phone privileges or commissary. There must have been some rules violation that is creating this mass punishment but in the camps, they rarely last a long time.

Absolutely. In fact, the best thing you can do for someone in segregation is to fill their days with plenty of stuff to read. Letters and photos keep them connected - but books, magazines and newspapers will bridge that gap of no outside contact.

The sketch pad will probably need prior written approval from the prison - sending blank computer paper will be fine and YES he will be able to bring these possessions home with him.

You have registered as a user, but you need to register your inmate here, too for them to appear in our listing. If you do not have their number, give us the information and we will try to locate as much information as we can for you. Full name, DOB and state would help.  Once you have this set up in the system, when you use our letter writing service, we do all of the addressing to the prison with

The packages from third party sellers (and are considered "publishers") have their return address label with the Amazon logo - it will definitely make it into the prison/jail. Do not spend the money on Fedex because that will certainly get rejected (unless it is legal mail).

InmateAid has a service where the inmate can respond to your letter.  We receive many letters to our members who have kept their address private.  We scan the inmate letter and upload it into your account.  We charge $1.49 to retrieve the letter.  It has created a "pen pal"-like community - you can write somewhat anonymously and the inmate has a way to stay in touch, however you control the situation with InmateAid being in-between.