Washington State DOC (WDOC) sends all personal mail directly to the facility. There is no centralized scanning address for general correspondence. Mail may arrive via USPS, UPS, or FedEx - Washington is one of the few states in the series that accepts mail from commercial carriers, not just USPS.
WDOC refers to incarcerated people as "incarcerated individuals" throughout its materials.
Sending mail - letters and correspondence
All mail goes directly to the facility. Address every piece of mail with:
- Incarcerated individual's full name
- Six-digit DOC number
- Correct facility address
- Unit/housing (not required, but recommended for faster delivery)
The letter inside must be addressed to the same incarcerated individual named on the envelope.
Return address required - must include an identifiable last name.
Find an incarcerated individual's DOC number and facility: doc.wa.gov/records/incarcerated-data-search/search-tools-disclaimer-terms-use
Find facility mailing addresses: doc.wa.gov/about-doc/locations/prison-facilities/contact-prisons
Mail must contain only correspondence or property for the addressed individual. Do not include content intended for a third party.
Do not send cash, personal checks, or stamps in mail - these will be rejected and returned to you at the incarcerated individual's expense.
Volume, length, content, or source of mail may be limited when necessary for safety and security.
Non-English mail is reviewed by a DOC-certified translator or a contracted vendor when no certified translator is available.
Full policy: Policy 450.100 at doc.wa.gov/records/policies. For reasons mail may be rejected: Policy 450.100 Attachment 4.
Carriers accepted: USPS, UPS, or FedEx.
Legal mail
Legal mail must meet all of the following requirements:
1. The mailing address or return address must clearly indicate it is from or to one of these entities:
Courts and court staff, attorney of record in filed cases, the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board (ISRB), established attorney groups (e.g., ACLU, Disability Rights Washington, legal services groups), the President or Vice President of the United States, US Congress, embassies and consulates, the US Department of Justice, Washington State Attorney General, state governors, state legislators, law enforcement in an official capacity, the WA Office of Financial Management's Tort Claims Division, or the PREA Unit at DOC Headquarters.
2. The envelope must be clearly marked "Legal Mail," "Attorney/Client," "Confidential," or similar.
3. Legal mail may only contain paper documents.
Legal mail is opened in the incarcerated individual's presence. eMessages and their attachments are not processed as legal mail.
Outgoing mail from incarcerated individuals
Outgoing mail via USPS must include the incarcerated individual's full committed name, DOC number, cell/room assignment, and the full name and address of the facility.
Incarcerated individuals may not send postcards.
All outgoing envelopes are stamped: "This was mailed by an incarcerated individual confined at a Washington State Department of Corrections facility. Its contents are uncensored."
Packages and publications
Packages are governed by WAC 137-48. See the Send Packages page at doc.wa.gov/family-support/send-something/send-packages.
Publications (books, magazines, newspapers) must come from publishers or distributors. See doc.wa.gov/family-support/send-something/send-publications.
Sending money - Securus Debit, Western Union, or cashier's check/money order
Funds from each deposit are subject to mandatory deductions per RCW 72.09.480 unless specifically designated as exempt (postage, education, or qualified medical expenses). See the Deduction Matrix at doc.wa.gov.
Individuals may not deposit to more than one incarcerated individual's trust account without the Superintendent's prior approval.
Securus Debit (recommended - quickest posting):
DOC contracts with Securus Technologies for money transfer services. Fund accounts via Securus online. Securus Debit is the fastest electronic method and can be processed while staff are teleworking. For setup: doc.wa.gov/family-support/send-something/securus-services.
Western Union (electronic or in person):
Go to westernunion.com to send online, by phone, mobile, or in person.
When asked:
- City Code: WA DOC
- State: WA
- Account Number: the incarcerated individual's DOC number + last name as exactly recorded in the DOC system (example: 123456Doe)
Spelling must match the DOC database exactly - use the Incarcerated Search to verify the last name.
If sending by phone, ask to use "Quick Collect" for the lower rate.
Western Union fee schedule:
$0.01-$30.00: $5.95
$30.01-$75.00: $6.95
$75.01-$200.00: $8.95
$200.01-$5,000.00: $9.95
Western Union funds go to the Spendable sub-account only.
Cashier's check or money order (least expensive; mail to facility):
No cash, no personal checks, no stamps. Physical money orders must be processed on-site; delays are possible. Electronic methods are recommended when possible.
Write the sub-account designation on the instrument:
- Spendable (default - unrestricted use)
- Postage (write "postage")
- Medical (copays, OTC medications, eyeglasses - write "medical")
- Education (tuition, fees, education expenses - write "education")
- Commissary (commissary purchases only - write "commissary")
Include the incarcerated individual's full name and six-digit DOC number on the payee line.
The letter inside the envelope must match: incarcerated individual's full name and DOC number, addressed to the same individual as the envelope.
Envelope mailing requirements: incarcerated individual's full name, six-digit DOC number, correct facility address, and a return address with first and last name (living unit recommended but not required).
Phone calls - Securus Technologies
DOC contracts with Securus for phone services for all facilities. To receive calls, you must have a Securus account. You will need the incarcerated individual's DOC number to register.
When you receive a call: a pre-recorded message identifies the facility and the name of the individual calling. You can accept or deny the call.
Two free 20-minute calls per week per incarcerated individual are included under the new Individual Technology Services (ITS) contract with Securus (rolling out statewide). Domestic call rates reduced by up to 44% and international by up to 60% under this contract.
For Securus account setup, billing, and account management: see the Vendor Phone Services page at doc.wa.gov/visiting/vendor-phone-services.
Electronic messaging - Securus/JPay tablets
DOC has distributed JPay Player tablets to incarcerated individuals statewide. The tablets provide email (via Securus/JPay), music, movies, eBooks, FM radio, and games.
Email messages are subject to the same screening and delivery rules as physical mail. Electronic messages are distributed within seven business days per DOC Policy 450.100.
VideoGrams: 30-second video recordings sent as part of an email message.
Fund a media account via JPay. For full Securus services information: doc.wa.gov/family-support/securus-services.
Washington State county jails
Washington has 39 counties, each with its own jail system under the county sheriff. County jails are not part of the Washington State DOC and have their own mail and deposit rules. Contact each county jail directly.
What to know before you send anything
Mail goes to the facility: full name, six-digit DOC number, facility address, return address with last name. USPS, UPS, or FedEx only. No cash, no personal checks, no stamps in envelopes.
Legal mail: mark envelope clearly; opened in incarcerated individual's presence; paper documents only.
Packages: see doc.wa.gov/family-support/send-something/send-packages.
Publications: see doc.wa.gov/family-support/send-something/send-publications.
Money: Securus Debit (fastest) or Western Union (City Code WA DOC; account = DOC# + exact last name) or cashier's check/money order (mail to facility; mark sub-account). Electronic methods post faster. One-individual-per-sender limit without Superintendent approval.
Phone: Securus; need DOC number to register; two free 20-minute calls/week under new ITS contract. See doc.wa.gov/visiting/vendor-phone-services.
Email/tablets: JPay Player tablets statewide; Securus email; messages distributed within 7 business days. See doc.wa.gov/family-support/securus-services.
Incarcerated individual search: doc.wa.gov/records/incarcerated-data-search/search-tools-disclaimer-terms-use
Facility addresses: doc.wa.gov/about-doc/locations/prison-facilities/contact-prisons
DOC Headquarters: (360) 725-8213
County jails: contact each directly.
Related pages:
/prisons/washington
How to send money to a Washington inmate
Send mail and photos through InmateAid
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I mail a letter to a Washington State DOC incarcerated individual?
Directly to the facility. Include their full name, six-digit DOC number, facility address, and your return address with last name. Find the DOC number and facility at doc.wa.gov/records/incarcerated-data-search/search-tools-disclaimer-terms-use. Facility addresses: doc.wa.gov/about-doc/locations/prison-facilities/contact-prisons.
What carriers can I use?
USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Washington is one of the few states that accepts commercial carriers alongside USPS.
Can I send photos?
Yes - photos may be included in your letter. No pornographic, obscene, or offensive imagery. Do not send stamps or cash.
Can I send a book or magazine?
Publications must come from publishers or distributors - see doc.wa.gov/family-support/send-something/send-publications.
How do I send a package?
See the Send Packages page: doc.wa.gov/family-support/send-something/send-packages. Packages are governed by WAC 137-48.
How do I send money?
Use Securus Debit (fastest) or Western Union (City Code WA DOC; account number = DOC# + exact last name from DOC database; Quick Collect if by phone). Or mail a cashier's check or money order to the facility with the sub-account and DOC number marked. No cash or personal checks.
How do I set up phone calls?
Register a Securus account at securustech.net using the incarcerated individual's DOC number. Two free 20-minute calls per week are available under the new ITS contract. See doc.wa.gov/visiting/vendor-phone-services. ====================================================================
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