If someone you love is locked up in Kansas, the mail system is more straightforward than many states - but two rules trip up families more than any others. First, Kansas only accepts letters and photographs by mail. No packages, no books sent by family, nothing else. Second, every deposit into a Kansas inmate's account is subject to a mandatory 10 percent forced savings withholding - and if you submit a deposit without your full name and return address in the transaction data, the entire amount goes to the forced savings account instead of the spending account.
Kansas DOC (KDOC) has not moved to a centralized digital mail scanner. Mail still goes directly to each facility. And KDOC now uses Access Corrections as its single point of service for deposits - JPay is no longer an active vendor for Kansas state prisons.
KDOC refers to incarcerated people as residents throughout its materials.
This article covers KDOC state correctional facilities. Kansas county jails operate independently under the county sheriff and are addressed at the end.
Sending mail - letters and photographs
Mail goes directly to the facility where the resident is housed. KDOC accepts only letters and photographs by mail. Nothing else. No books, no magazines, no care packages, no stamps.
Address the envelope as follows:
Resident's full name and KDOC registration number
Facility name
Facility mailing address
Both the resident's KDOC registration number (included with their full name) and the sender's full name and return address must appear on the envelope. If either is missing, the mail will not be delivered.
Find the resident's location and KDOC number using KASPER (Kansas Adult Supervised Population Electronic Repository) at kdocrepository.doc.ks.gov/kasper. Facility mailing addresses are listed at the KDOC facilities index at doc.ks.gov/facilities/index.
All incoming and outgoing mail except legal, official, or privileged mail may be inspected or read at any time under KAR 44-12-601.
No stamps may be sent to a resident by mail. Residents purchase stamps, envelopes, and paper through the facility canteen.
Photographs
Photographs may be included in the envelope with a letter. They are subject to the same inspection as all other general correspondence. No explicit content.
Publications - books and magazines
Magazines and books may be sent to a Kansas resident, but they must be mailed directly from the publisher or vendor. Once the item leaves the store, family members cannot mail it themselves. This means you purchase online or by phone from a publisher or established retailer and have it shipped directly to the resident at the facility.
Privileged and legal mail
Legal, official, and privileged mail is handled separately and may not be read for content - only inspected for contraband. Mark envelopes clearly as legal mail. Attorneys, courts, and government entities should use the appropriate privilege designation.
Electronic messaging
KDOC facilities use an electronic messaging system. Residents use their facility account to send and receive electronic messages. All messages are screened by software for words and phrases that may represent a security or public safety risk. Attached photos are viewed by staff before they can be accessed by the resident. All Kansas Administrative Regulations regarding inmate correspondence apply to electronic messages.
To stop receiving messages from a resident, contact the facility or email kdoc_pub@ks.gov.
Phone calls
Residents make outgoing calls through the facility telephone system. A prepaid account can be set up for the resident to call you. Contact the facility or check the KDOC website for current phone service details. All resident telephone calls are subject to monitoring, with exceptions for privileged legal calls.
Sending money - Access Corrections, single vendor
KDOC uses Access Corrections as its sole deposit service. JPay is no longer a current KDOC deposit vendor.
Three ways to deposit:
Online or mobile app: Visit accesscorrections.com or download the free Access Corrections app. Service fees apply. Accepts Mastercard and Visa debit and credit cards.
Phone: Call 866-345-1884 or 833-878-0120, available 24/7. Service fees apply.
Walk-in cash (CashPayToday): Register at cashpaytoday.com or call 844-340-CASH (2274) to get a barcode. Make a cash deposit at Dollar General, Family Dollar, CVS, or 7-Eleven. Service fees apply.
Money order: Use the Access Corrections deposit form (available at doc.ks.gov). Mail to: Access Corrections - Kansas DOC / P.O. Box 12486 / St. Louis, MO 63132. Money orders take up to one week to process.
The 10 percent forced savings rule
Every deposit a resident receives is subject to a 10 percent mandatory savings withholding, calculated after deduction of any outstanding obligations. That 10 percent goes into a mandatory savings account that accrues interest. The saved funds are restricted to specific uses: payment of garnishments, purchase of identification documents (birth certificate, driver's license, Social Security card), civil filing fees, and transcript fees.
This applies to all incoming funds from external sources - deposits from family, wages, everything.
The missing sender information penalty
This is the rule families most often learn the hard way. When Access Corrections sends the deposit data to KDOC, that data must contain both the sender's full name and return address. If either piece of information is missing, the entire deposit - 100 percent of it - is posted to the resident's forced savings account rather than the spending/commissary account. It does not split; it all goes to savings.
Always include your complete name and full return address when making a deposit. Double-check before submitting any transaction.
Kansas county jails: different rules
Kansas has 105 counties, each with its own jail operated by the county sheriff. County jails are entirely separate from KDOC and set their own mail rules and deposit vendors. Verify current rules with the specific county sheriff before sending anything.
What to know before you send anything
Mail goes directly to each facility - no centralized scanner. Find the facility address at doc.ks.gov/facilities/index and the resident's KDOC number and location through KASPER.
Letters and photographs only - nothing else accepted by mail.
Include the resident's KDOC number and full name, and your full name and return address on the envelope. Missing either means the mail will not be delivered.
Publications (books, magazines) must be mailed directly from the publisher or retailer - not by family.
No stamps to residents by mail.
Deposits through Access Corrections only. Include your full name and return address in every transaction - missing sender information sends the entire deposit to the forced savings account.
10 percent of every deposit goes to mandatory savings, restricted to specific uses.
Related pages:
/prisons/kansas
How to send money to a Kansas inmate
Send mail and photos through InmateAid
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I mail a letter to a Kansas DOC resident?
Directly to the facility where they are housed. Find the facility address at doc.ks.gov/facilities/index. Find the resident's KDOC number and facility through KASPER at kdocrepository.doc.ks.gov/kasper. Include the resident's full name and KDOC registration number, and your full name and return address.
What happens if I forget my return address on the envelope?
The letter will not be delivered. Both the resident's KDOC number and the sender's name and address are required on the envelope.
Can I send books or a care package?
Books and magazines must be mailed directly from the publisher or vendor - family cannot mail them. KDOC only accepts letters and photographs from family and friends by mail. No packages.
Can I send photos?
Yes - include them in the envelope with your letter. No explicit content. Photos are subject to the same inspection as general correspondence.
Can I still use JPay for Kansas inmates?
No. KDOC now uses Access Corrections as its single deposit service. JPay is no longer a current KDOC deposit vendor.
How do I send money?
Through Access Corrections - online at accesscorrections.com, by phone at 866-345-1884 or 833-878-0120, by walk-in cash at CashPayToday retailers, or by money order to Access Corrections - Kansas DOC / P.O. Box 12486 / St. Louis, MO 63132.
What is the 10 percent forced savings rule?
10 percent of every deposit is withheld and placed in a mandatory savings account. Those funds can only be used for specific purposes - garnishments, ID documents, civil filing fees, and transcript fees. This applies to all deposits.
What happens if I don't include my name and address with the deposit?
The entire deposit goes to the resident's forced savings account, not the spending account. Include your complete name and return address in every deposit transaction. ====================================================================