If someone you love is locked up in Iowa, the way mail works has changed significantly from what most families expect. All non-legal mail for Iowa DOC facilities now goes to a centralized processing center in Las Vegas, Nevada - not to the prison. Each Iowa facility has its own numeric code that must be included in the address. Miss the code or mail directly to the facility, and your letter gets returned to you.
Photos have their own separate system entirely. Iowa DOC has designated Pelipost as the approved photo print provider - you upload photos through the app or website, and Pelipost prints and ships actual photographs directly to the facility. The incarcerated person receives real prints, not photocopies.
Books are tightly controlled, with only two approved third-party vendors for family purchases.
This article covers Iowa DOC state prisons. Iowa county jails operate independently under county sheriffs and are addressed at the end.
Sending mail - letters, cards, drawings
All non-legal mail must be sent to the Pigeonly centralized processing facility in Las Vegas. Do not mail directly to the prison - it will be returned.
Address format:
Incarcerated Individual Name - Offender ID Number
Facility Name - Facility ID Number
PO Box 96777
Las Vegas, NV 89193
The Offender ID Number is required. Find it using the Iowa DOC offender search at doc-search.iowa.gov. The Facility ID Number is the code assigned to each Iowa DOC institution. Use the correct code for the facility where your person is housed.
Facility ID codes:
Anamosa State Penitentiary (ASP) - 1106
Clarinda Correctional Facility (CCF) - 1107
Fort Dodge Correctional Facility (FDCF) - 1114
Iowa Correctional Institution for Women (ICIW) - 1109
Iowa Medical and Classification Center (IMCC) - 1108
Iowa State Penitentiary (ISP) - 1110
Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility (MPCF) - 1113
Newton Correctional Facility (NCF) - 1111
North Central Correctional Facility (NCCF) - 1112
Pigeonly operates the processing facility at no additional cost to the sender. Mail is opened, scanned into a digital color copy, printed, and delivered to the appropriate Iowa DOC facility. Originals are temporarily stored and then securely destroyed. Originals are not returned to the sender.
Pigeonly processes the following types of non-legal mail:
Letters (including children's drawings)
Greeting cards
Postcards
4x6 photos (limit of 10)
Unbound newsletters
Sending photos - Pelipost
For photos, Iowa DOC has designated Pelipost as the approved photo print provider for all facilities. This is separate from the Pigeonly mail process.
Upload photos through the Pelipost mobile app (Android or iPhone) or the Pelipost website at pelipost.com. Pelipost screens all photos to comply with Iowa DOC rules, then prints and ships professionally printed photos directly to the correctional facility. The incarcerated individual receives actual photo prints - not photocopies.
Allowed Pelipost products:
4x6 or 5x7 photos (limit 10)
Greeting cards
Notes
Contact Pelipost support: support@pelipost.com
You may also send 4x6 photos (limit 10) through regular US mail via the Pigeonly address above. Those photos are scanned and delivered as digital color copies; originals are destroyed.
For best quality and for the incarcerated person to actually hold a physical photograph, use Pelipost rather than Pigeonly mail.
Legal mail
Legal mail - correspondence from courts, attorneys, and legal organizations - continues to go directly to the facility where the person is housed. Do not send legal mail to the Las Vegas Pigeonly address. Address legal mail to the specific facility's mailing address (find facility addresses at doc.iowa.gov/districts-prisons).
Electronic messaging - CorrLinks and Ameelio
Iowa DOC offers two electronic messaging options:
CorrLinks (o-mail): Register at corrlinks.com. Each message costs $0.25 to send. Messages are limited to 13,000 characters or 100 lines (approximately 2 pages), whichever comes first. Incarcerated individuals purchase o-mail credits from their banking account, with a 6% tax applied. Money can also be deposited directly from a CorrLinks account to an offender's commissary using Access Corrections (click "Send Money" in the CorrLinks account).
Ameelio: Iowa DOC also lists Ameelio as a communication option. Visit doc.iowa.gov for details on Ameelio setup and use.
Sending books
Only two approved vendors may be used by third parties to send books:
Books N Things (booksnthingswarehouse.com)
Edward R. Hamilton Books (hamiltonbook.com)
Books must be sent directly from one of these two vendors. The third-party purchaser must be someone the incarcerated individual is authorized to correspond with per Iowa DOC policy. Incarcerated individuals in reception status at IMCC (Iowa Medical and Classification Center) do not qualify for third-party book purchases.
Alternatively, family can deposit money into the incarcerated individual's account, and they can purchase books directly through the institution's approved vendor list.
If a book was not purchased through an approved vendor, it will not be allowed. Institutional staff may remove advertising cards and sample products from magazines before delivery, but article content may not be removed.
Sending money - centralized banking
Iowa DOC has centralized all offender banking. All incoming money for spending and commissary accounts goes to a single location - the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility. Do not send money to any other facility.
Money orders and cashier's checks: Payable to "IDOC Offender Fiduciary Account." Include the offender's name and number, and your name and complete address. Mail to:
IDOC Offender Fiduciary Account
1550 L Street, Suite B
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
Drop-offs at individual institutions are not accepted. Mail only.
Electronic funds transfer - three vendors:
Access Corrections: accesscorrections.com or 866-345-1884. Online rates start at $3.49. Walk-in cash at CashPayToday (Dollar General, Family Dollar, Kum & Go) for $6.95 flat fee; ACE Cash Express locations for $5.95 flat fee. Cash transaction maximum $900. Available 24/7. Funds typically available within 24 hours.
JPay: jpay.com or 800-574-5729. Fees range from $3.95 to $10.95 online, $4.95 to $11.95 by phone. Walk-in at MoneyGram agent locations (Walmart, CVS, 7-Eleven, Albertsons) for $8.95; up to $5,000 per transaction.
Western Union (Send2Corrections): send2corrections.com, mobile app, or 800-634-3422 option 2. Credit/debit card required online; cash payment can be arranged at a Western Union agent location.
Restitution, court filing fees, and child support are handled separately - mail to Iowa State Penitentiary, PO Box 316, Fort Madison, IA 52627-0316.
Iowa county jails: different rules
Iowa's 99 counties each operate their own jail under the county sheriff. County jails are not part of Iowa DOC and set their own mail rules independently. Most Iowa county jails receive mail directly at the facility address. Verify current rules with the specific county sheriff before sending anything.
What to know before you send anything
All non-legal mail goes to PO Box 96777, Las Vegas NV 89193 - include the offender's ID number and the correct facility code. Mail sent directly to the prison is returned to sender.
Originals are scanned and destroyed. Do not send anything you need back.
Legal mail goes directly to the facility - not to Las Vegas.
For photos, use Pelipost (pelipost.com) for actual prints delivered to the facility. Or include 4x6 photos (max 10) in your Pigeonly envelope for digital copies.
Books must come from Books N Things or Edward R. Hamilton Books only.
Money orders to Fort Dodge (IDOC Offender Fiduciary Account, 1550 L Street Suite B, Fort Dodge IA 50501). Electronic deposits through Access Corrections, JPay, or Western Union.
Related pages:
/prisons/iowa
How to send money to an Iowa inmate
Send mail and photos through InmateAid
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I mail a letter to an Iowa DOC inmate?
PO Box 96777, Las Vegas NV 89193 - using the Pigeonly system. Include the incarcerated individual's name and offender ID number, and the facility name and facility code on the second line. Find the offender ID and facility at doc-search.iowa.gov. Do not mail directly to the prison.
What is the facility code and why do I need it?
Each Iowa DOC facility has a numeric code that routes mail through the Pigeonly system to the correct prison. Using the wrong code or omitting it means your mail may not reach your person.
What does Pigeonly do with my original letter?
It scans it into a digital color copy, prints that copy, and delivers it to the facility. The original is temporarily stored and then destroyed. Originals are not returned.
How do I send photos?
Use Pelipost (pelipost.com or the Pelipost app) for actual photo prints delivered to the facility - this is the preferred method. You can also include 4x6 photos (max 10) in your Pigeonly envelope; those are scanned and delivered as color copies.
How do I send books?
Purchase from Books N Things (booksnthingswarehouse.com) or Edward R. Hamilton Books (hamiltonbook.com) only, shipped directly from the vendor to the facility. Or deposit money into the offender's account for them to purchase through their institution's approved vendor list.
How do I send money?
Mail a cashier's check or money order payable to "IDOC Offender Fiduciary Account" to 1550 L Street Suite B, Fort Dodge IA 50501. Or deposit electronically through Access Corrections (accesscorrections.com), JPay (jpay.com), or Western Union (send2corrections.com).
Does legal mail go to Las Vegas?
No. Legal mail from attorneys and courts goes directly to the facility's mailing address. Find facility addresses at doc.iowa.gov/districts-prisons.
How do I send an electronic message?
Through CorrLinks at corrlinks.com for $0.25 per message. Or use Ameelio - see doc.iowa.gov for setup details. ====================================================================
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