What Happens to Inmate Letters After InmateAid Uploads Them?

Once a letter is received, scanned, and uploaded to the InmateAid system so it can be delivered to the recipient, the original physical letter is kept on file for two weeks and then destroyed.

The two week window exists as a buffer to handle any issues that might arise with the digital delivery, such as a recipient reporting they did not receive the letter or a question about the contents. Having the original available during that period allows any disputes or delivery problems to be resolved quickly and accurately.

After the two-week period passes and everything has been confirmed on the delivery end, the physical letter is disposed of securely. InmateAid does not retain original inmate correspondence beyond that window.

This is worth knowing for a couple of reasons. If an inmate sends something they consider important and wants confirmation it was received and processed correctly, following up within that two-week window is the time to do it. After that the original is gone and only the digital record remains.

It is also worth understanding from a privacy standpoint. The letters are handled by staff during the scanning and upload process, which is an inherent part of how the service works. Inmates and their families who use the platform should be aware that the physical letters pass through human hands before being digitized and delivered. That is the nature of a mail scanning service and it is consistent with how similar services operate across the industry.