Montana runs two different mail systems depending on which facility your person is in. At Montana State Prison, Montana Women's Prison, Riverside, and Pine Hills Correctional Facility, personal mail goes to a scanning address in Phoenix, Maryland - not to the facility itself. Mail that shows up at those facility addresses is returned to the sender. At Crossroads Correctional Center and Dawson County Correctional Facility, mail scans happen on-site, and letters go directly to those facility addresses.
In both systems, the result is the same: the inmate receives a digital copy on their tablet.
Montana DOC uses "inmates" throughout its materials.
Sending mail - where to send letters
The address depends on the facility.
FOR PERSONAL LETTERS TO MSP, MWP, RIVERSIDE, AND PINE HILLS:
Envelopes must include ALL of the following, in this format:
Full Facility Name and State (e.g., Montana State Prison, Montana Women's Prison, Pine Hills Correctional Facility, Riverside)
Inmate Full First and Last Name, AO Number
PO Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
The sender's full name and address must be clearly written in the top left corner of the envelope. Mail that is not properly addressed will be returned to the sender.
For juveniles at Pine Hills Correctional Facility, use initials in the return address instead of a full name, and use this format:
Pine Hills Correctional Facility-MONTANA
(Youth Initials) #00(Youth ID)
PO Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Any personal mail that arrives at the facility addresses for MSP, MWP, Riverside, or Pine Hills will be returned to the sender. The Phoenix PO Box is the only valid address for personal letters to those facilities.
Questions about mail:
MSP mailroom: CORMSPMailroom@mt.gov
MWP mailroom: CORMWPMailRoom@mt.gov
Riverside mailroom: CORRiversideMailRoom@mt.gov
Pine Hills mailroom: CORPineHillsMailRoom@mt.gov
FOR PERSONAL LETTERS TO CROSSROADS AND DAWSON COUNTY:
Mail is scanned on-site at these facilities. Send directly to:
Inmate Full First and Last Name, AO Number
Crossroads Correctional Center
50 Crossroads Drive
Shelby, MT 59474
Inmate Full First and Last Name, AO Number
Dawson County Correctional Facility
440 Colorado Blvd.
Glendive, MT 59330
What can be denied
Montana DOC may deny mail for any of the following reasons:
- Threats of physical harm against any person, or threats of or participation in criminal activity
- Blackmail or extortion
- Plans for riots, escape, or assisting another person to escape
- Other material that would create a serious danger to facility security
- Contents that violate U.S. Postal regulations
- Sexually explicit images
- Inappropriate content including drug activity, human trafficking, sexual content, or contraband facilitation
Senders whose mail is denied will receive a postcard stating the reason.
Books and publications
Senders must be approved visitors to send books. Books must be received directly from a vendor (such as Amazon) and shipped directly to the facility. Use the physical facility addresses listed in the checks and money orders section below, not the Phoenix PO Box.
Sending checks, money orders, and cashier's checks
These items go to the physical facility mailing addresses - not to the Phoenix PO Box. Do not include personal letters in the same envelope as a check or money order, or all items will be returned.
Montana State Prison
Attn: Mail Room Staff
Inmate's Name, AO Number
700 Conley Lake Road
Deer Lodge, MT 59722
Montana Women's Prison
Attn: Mail Room Staff
Inmate's Name, AO Number
701 South 27th Street
Billings, MT 59101
Pine Hills Correctional Facility
Attn: Mail Room Staff
Inmate's Name, AO Number
4 North Haynes Avenue
Miles City, MT 59301
Riverside
Attn: Mail Room Staff
Inmate's Name, AO Number
2 Riverside Road
Boulder, MT 59632
Crossroads Correctional Center
Inmate Name, AO Number
50 Crossroads Drive
Shelby, MT 59474
Dawson County Correctional Facility
Inmate Name, AO Number
440 Colorado Blvd.
Glendive, MT 59330
Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility: See corecivic.com/facilities/tallahatchie-county-correctional-facility for instructions.
Sending money
MSP, MWP, Crossroads Correctional Center, and Dawson County CF:
Online: Inmate Trust Account Deposit service at app.mt.gov/inmatebanking/. Must be an approved visitor. Use your legal name exactly as it appears on your ID, matching your visitation application. Creating an account requires the last four digits of your Social Security number. Assistance: 406-444-4234.
By mail: Cashier's checks or U.S. Postal Service money orders only. No personal checks - these are returned. The check or money order must include the inmate's full name and DOC number, and the sender's full name and address. Funds must be received within 20 days of the date of purchase. The postmark must be from the general area of the sender's listed residence. Mail to the facility address.
Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility: See CoreCivic website for instructions.
Messaging, phone calls, and video visitation - GettingOut tablets
All DOC-run facilities provide inmates with tablets through the GettingOut system. Tablets are used for messaging, photo sharing, phone calls, and video visitation.
All communication is initiated by the inmate via an email invitation. Do not create a GettingOut account until the inmate sends an invitation. Once received, create an account at GettingOut.com following the DOC's instructions.
Tablet access may be turned off without warning for security reasons, for hours to days at a time. Do not contact facilities to ask about tablet availability.
Rates:
Text messages: 25 cents per minute or message
Video messages: 35 cents per minute
Photo attachments: 25 cents per message
Phone calls: 6 cents per minute (one free call per week)
Video visitation: 25 cents per minute (one free 10-minute session per week); online scheduling no longer available
Questions or concerns: 1-866-516-0115 or GettingOut.com/Help
Finding an inmate
Offender search: offendersearch.mt.gov/conweb
What to know before you send anything
Check the facility first. MSP, MWP, Riverside, and Pine Hills: use the Phoenix PO Box. Crossroads and Dawson County: use the facility address directly.
Sender's full name and address must appear in the top left corner of the envelope. Include the inmate's full name and AO number.
Books must come directly from a vendor and be shipped to the facility - senders must be approved visitors.
Checks and money orders go to facility addresses - never include personal letters in the same envelope.
The state online deposit system at app.mt.gov/inmatebanking/ is for MSP, MWP, Crossroads, and Dawson County. Must be an approved visitor. USPS money orders or cashier's checks only; no personal checks.
GettingOut handles all messaging, calls, and video. Wait for an inmate invitation before creating an account. Tablet access can go offline without notice.
Related pages:
/prisons/montana
How to send money to a Montana inmate
Send mail and photos through InmateAid
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I mail a letter to a Montana DOC inmate?
It depends on the facility. For MSP, MWP, Riverside, and Pine Hills: address letters to PO Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131 using the full facility name and state, the inmate's full name and AO number. For Crossroads and Dawson County: mail to the facility address directly.
What is the AO number?
The AO number is the inmate's DOC identification number. Find it through the offender search at offendersearch.mt.gov/conweb.
What happens if I send a letter to the facility address for MSP, MWP, Riverside, or Pine Hills?
It will be returned to you. Personal mail must go to the Phoenix PO Box for those facilities - anything sent directly to the facility is returned to the sender.
Can I send photos?
Photos can be sent through the GettingOut tablet system as photo attachments at 25 cents per message. Physical photos may be included in letters sent to the Phoenix PO Box for scanning. Sexually explicit images are prohibited.
Can I send books?
Yes, from an approved vendor (like Amazon), shipped directly to the facility - not to the Phoenix PO Box. You must be an approved visitor to send books.
How do I send money?
Online through the Inmate Trust Account Deposit service at app.mt.gov/inmatebanking/ (must be an approved visitor) or by U.S. Postal Service money order or cashier's check mailed to the facility. No personal checks.
How do I set up calls or messaging?
Wait for an email invitation from the inmate. Then create a GettingOut account at GettingOut.com. Questions: 1-866-516-0115. ====================================================================
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