Ohio opened an ODRC Mail Processing Center (OMPC) in November 2023 and has since rolled it out to all institutions, with the final facility (Ohio State Penitentiary) joining on August 21, 2025. All personal letters and cards now go to a central address in Youngstown, Ohio - not to the facility. Mail is scanned there and delivered digitally to the incarcerated person's ViaPath tablet within 48 hours.
Books, magazines, newspapers, legal mail, and business correspondence still go to the facility directly.
Ohio ODRC refers to incarcerated people as "incarcerated persons" (IPs).
Sending mail - letters and correspondence
All personal mail goes to the OMPC in Youngstown. The address format is:
[Incarcerated Person's Name and Number]
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
Mail Processing Center (OMPC)
884 Coitsville-Hubbard Road
Youngstown, Ohio 44505
Include the incarcerated person's name and ID number on the envelope. Ohio uses two number formats: R###### (for individuals in custody) or A###### (alternative format). Find the person's number and facility using the ODRC Offender Search at drc.ohio.gov.
What goes to the OMPC:
- Personal mail from family and friends
- Greeting cards (commercially manufactured and unaltered only; single fold or multifold; pop-out cards prohibited)
- Religious organization correspondence
What the process looks like once mail arrives:
1. Opened and removed from the envelope
2. Screened and inspected for cash, checks, money, or other contraband
3. The envelope front (with return address) and all contents are scanned into the ViaPath system
4. Quality assurance review ensures all scans are legible
5. Mail is forwarded to the incarcerated person's ViaPath tablet unless a security threat is identified
Mail is generally processed within 48 hours of receipt (excluding weekends and holidays). Scanned items remain available on the tablet.
Originals are held 30 days after scanning, then securely destroyed. If the incarcerated person identifies a scan issue, staff can retrieve and compare the original within that window.
What you can include in each mailing:
- 10 photographs (no nudes; no larger than 8.5" x 11")
- 5 newspaper clippings (no larger than 8.5" x 11")
- 5 pamphlets or brochures (simple single page; bifold or trifold only; no larger than 8.5" x 11")
- 15 pages of written or typed correspondence (no larger than 8.5" x 14")
- Greeting cards (commercially manufactured, unaltered; single fold or multifold only)
Tips for better scans:
- Avoid writing in pencil - it scans poorly
- Avoid red envelopes or red paper - they scan poorly
- Leave blank margins around the edges of pages - letters written edge to edge don't scan as well
Contraband and withholding: Both the sender and the incarcerated person receive a Notice of an Unauthorized Item Received/Withholding of Incoming Mail (DRC4225) when mail is withheld in part or in full. The incarcerated person may appeal; the withholding can be reversed or affirmed.
What still goes to the facility directly
The following must be sent to the institution, not the OMPC:
Legal mail and court mail: Send to the parent institution. See drc.ohio.gov/about/facilities for facility addresses.
Business correspondence from organizations, businesses, and agencies: Send to the parent institution.
Visitation forms: Send to the parent institution.
Printed materials (books, magazines, newspapers): Must be ordered from the publisher or a commercial vendor and shipped directly to the facility. Printed materials are not processed by the OMPC. Subject to ODRC Policy 75-MAL-02 for review and security screening. Printed materials are not copied.
Any mail sent to the facility after the OMPC effective date for that institution will be forwarded to the OMPC, but will delay delivery.
ODRC institutions and their addresses: drc.ohio.gov/about/facilities
Sending money - ViaPath/ConnectNetwork
Only approved sources may send funds. The sender must be an approved visitor for that incarcerated person. The approval process takes 30 to 60 days. Funds from unapproved sources are not accepted.
ConnectNetwork.com is the platform for all deposits. Options:
- Online: ConnectNetwork.com (credit or debit card); view payment history and statements
- Mobile app: ConnectNetwork mobile app
- 24/7 automated phone system
- Cash deposits at over 26,000 retail locations nationwide including Walmart, Kmart, and Kroger
- Mail (money order with deposit form)
ODRC receives no monetary fees from any ViaPath services.
ConnectNetwork customer service: 877-650-4249 | odrccustomerhelp@gtl.net
Phone calls and tablets - ViaPath/ConnectNetwork
ViaPath holds the ODRC contract for tablets, phone calls, messaging, video, and entertainment. Tablets were distributed at no cost.
Free calls:
- 12 free 10-minute calls per month for all incarcerated people
- 60 minutes of free calls provided to newly incarcerated people at reception centers upon arrival
Paid calls: Domestic call rates reduced by 60% from the prior contract. Use ConnectNetwork for AdvancePay (prepaid per number) or PIN Debit (incarcerated person manages their own account from commissary funds).
Video visits: Cost reduced by over 50%; most incarcerated people no longer need to schedule video visits in advance; billed for actual minutes used only.
Set up an account at: web.connectnetwork.com/odrc-ohio-department-of-rehabilitation-and-correction/
Customer service: 877-650-4249 | AdvancePay automated: 800-483-8314
Ohio county jails
Ohio's 88 counties operate their own jail systems. County jails are not part of ODRC and use their own vendors and mail rules. Contact each county facility directly.
What to know before you send anything
Letters go to OMPC in Youngstown - not to the facility. Include the ID number (R###### or A######) on every envelope. Find the number and facility at drc.ohio.gov.
Max per mailing: 10 photos, 5 newspaper clippings, 5 pamphlets/brochures, 15 written pages. Greeting cards: commercially manufactured, unaltered, single or multifold only.
Avoid pencil, red paper, and edge-to-edge writing - all scan poorly.
Originals held 30 days, then destroyed. Scanned content stays on tablet.
Books/magazines/newspapers: order from publisher or retailer and ship directly to the facility.
Legal mail, business mail, visitation forms: to the facility directly.
Money: ConnectNetwork.com (approved visitors only; 30-60 day approval process). ODRC gets no fees.
Phone/tablets: ViaPath/ConnectNetwork; 12 free calls/month; 877-650-4249.
County jails: contact each directly.
Related pages:
/prisons/ohio
How to send money to an Ohio inmate
Send mail and photos through InmateAid
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I mail a letter to an Ohio ODRC inmate?
To the ODRC Mail Processing Center: [Name and ID number] / Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction / Mail Processing Center (OMPC) / 884 Coitsville-Hubbard Road / Youngstown, Ohio 44505. Find the ID number at drc.ohio.gov.
What is the R number or A number?
It's the incarcerated person's ODRC identification number. You need it on every envelope for mail to be delivered. Look it up using the ODRC Offender Search.
Can I send photos?
Yes - up to 10 per mailing, standard print size (no larger than 8.5" x 11"), no nude photographs. They will be scanned and delivered to the tablet.
Can I send books or magazines?
Not through the OMPC. Order from a publisher or commercial retailer and have them shipped directly to the facility's physical address. See drc.ohio.gov/about/facilities for facility addresses.
How long are original letters kept?
30 days after scanning, then destroyed. The scan remains available on the tablet. If there's a scan issue, the incarcerated person should raise it within the 30-day window.
How do I send money?
Through ConnectNetwork at ConnectNetwork.com. You must be an approved visitor. The approval process takes 30-60 days. Customer service: 877-650-4249.
How do I set up phone calls or video?
Through ViaPath/ConnectNetwork at web.connectnetwork.com/odrc-ohio-department-of-rehabilitation-and-correction/. There are 12 free 10-minute calls per month for all incarcerated people. Customer service: 877-650-4249.
What if my person is in a county jail?
Ohio county jails operate independently from ODRC. Contact the specific county facility directly. ====================================================================