Reviewed on: April 28,2026

What Gets Rejected in Prison Mail and What Gets Through?

I wrote some sexually explicit stories in an email I sent. Will that get through to the inmate or will it be confiscated?

Asked: September 27, 2016
Author: Gina
Ask the inmate answer
1

Written explicit content generally makes it through. Mailroom staff are primarily looking for specific types of problematic content, not adult material between consenting parties. The things that get flagged and confiscated are communications related to the inmate's current criminal case, anything that looks like running a business from inside the facility, threatening or violent language, anything that mentions contraband, escape-related content, or material that reads like terrorist or extremist communication.

Sexually explicit written stories between adults are not on that list at most facilities. The mailroom is not reading mail to police the personal lives of inmates. They are looking for security threats.

One caveat worth knowing: explicit photographs or printed visual material can be handled differently than text, and some facilities have policies against obscene images even if written content is permitted. But text-based content of an adult nature directed between two adults is generally going to reach the inmate.

https://www.inmateaid.com/ask-the-inmate/what-gets-rejected-in-prison-mail-and-what-gets-through#answer
Accepted Answer Date Created: September 28,2016