Send Inmate Mail — Ask the Inmate
A letter from home arriving at mail call is one of the most powerful moments in an incarcerated person's day. It is proof that someone on the outside is thinking about them, that life is continuing, and that there is something worth coming home to. But sending mail to a correctional facility involves rules that vary by institution and mistakes can mean your letter never arrives. This section covers how to address mail correctly for federal and state facilities, what the mailroom screening process looks like and how long it adds to delivery time, what content is and is not permitted in letters, how to send photos and why sending them through InmateAid's service is more reliable than printing and mailing them yourself, how to send mail from outside the United States, and what the InmateAid return letter service does for inmates who want to write back. The guidance here makes sure every letter you send reaches its destination. See also our sections on Inmate Care Packages, Send Books and Magazines, and Inmate Phone Calls.
Related InmateAid Services
The PO Box address used for inmate letters and postcards is not a clerical convenience. It is a deliberate security measure and understanding why it exists will help you make sense of how the mail system works. Most federal and many state correctional facilities route incoming personal mail through an external secure processing center rather than directly to the facility mailroom. At this processing center mail is screened for contraband before it ever reaches the institution. The screening
Read moreFirst, go to your My Account and make sure you've added an inmate profile. If not there yet, you’ll need to create one using their full name, inmate ID, and facility. Once added, click on Letter or Postcard, write your message, and upload any photos if you’d like. When you’re done, just click Send. We print your letter and photos and mail them from our office in Florida directly to their facility through USPS, they receive it as regular mail at mail
Read moreYour inmate can send her letter to the InmateAid mailing address instead of your home address. This is part of our Letters from Inmates service. Once her letter arrives, we receive it, scan it, and upload it to your Account Dashboard, where you can read it anytime. This means you don’t have to share your personal address, which gives you an extra layer of privacy and peace of mind. The service is optional and costs $1.89 per letter
Read moreAll letters sent through InmateAid are printed and mailed via USPS, just like standard mail. Once the letter arrives at the facility, it goes through the jail or prison’s mailroom, where it’s inspected and then delivered to the inmate. In most cases, your friend will receive the letter without any issues. The only delays that can happen are due to mail processing times or the facility’s internal mail procedures. It’s very rare for mail to be restricted unless
Read moreInmates are not notified ahead of time when a letter is sent. Your letter is printed and mailed through USPS, and then delivered by the facility’s mailroom during regular mail distribution. Once it arrives at the facility, it’s inspected and handed out to the inmate, so there isn’t a tracking or notification system on their end. The best way to know they received it is when they respond to your letter or mention it during a call. Your
Read morePostcards sent through InmateAid are printed and mailed via USPS, just like standard mail. Once they arrive at the facility, they go through the mailroom for inspection and are then delivered to the inmate during regular mail distribution. There isn’t a notification or tracking system once the mail reaches the facility, so you won’t receive confirmation of delivery. The best way to know they received it is if they mention it in a call or write back to
Read moreMail sent through InmateAid typically arrives at the facility within 2 to 3 business days via USPS. The postal service is remarkably reliable for facility mail and delays at that stage are uncommon. However arrival at the facility and delivery to your inmate are two different things. Once mail reaches the mailroom it is up to the mailroom officers to decide when it gets distributed to the housing units. That can add a day or two depending on the
Read moreWriting to an incarcerated person you do not personally know is entirely possible and more common than most people realize. People write to inmates for many reasons including offering support, satisfying curiosity about the criminal justice system, or simply providing human connection to someone who has very little of it. The most established platforms for finding incarcerated pen pals include Write A Prisoner at writeaprisoner.com and Meet An Inmate at meetaninmate.com. Both maintain directories of inmates who have opted
Read moreThis is a fair question and you deserve an honest answer. InmateAid previously offered single letters for $0.99. The reality of running that service was that the cost of materials, postage, and payment processing made every single letter transaction a losing proposition regardless of volume. Continuing to offer it would have meant either raising the price to a point that felt unfair or absorbing losses that were not sustainable. The current letter service is offered in packages of
Read moreSending a letter through InmateAid is designed to be as simple as possible so you can stay connected with your loved one from your phone or computer without needing to print anything, buy stamps, or go to the post office. Here is how it works from start to finish. You purchase a letter package through InmateAid. Letters are currently available in packages of 8 for $8. Your letters do not expire so you can use them at your
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