If someone you love is locked up in Indiana, staying connected through mail and digital messaging matters - but Indiana's system has specific rules that affect every piece of mail you send. The Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) requires all facilities to photocopy all general correspondence in black and white. The incarcerated individual receives the copy; originals are retained on-site for 14 days and then destroyed. You are not getting your letter back, and neither are they - unless photos or art are specifically mailed back at their own expense.
Digital messaging has also shifted to a new platform. Friends and family now use GettingOut.com for messages and photos, not the old ConnectNetwork messaging portal.
This article covers IDOC state correctional facilities. Indiana county jails operate independently and are addressed at the end.
Sending mail - letters, cards, photos
Mail goes directly to the facility where the incarcerated individual is housed. Address both the letter and the envelope as follows:
Incarcerated Individual's Name, DOC#
Facility name
Street Address or PO Box
City, IN ZIP code
Find the individual's DOC number and current facility using the Incarcerated Locator at offenderlocator.idoc.in.gov. Find each facility's specific mailing address at in.gov/idoc/facilities/adult.
All general correspondence - including educational and religious mail - is photocopied in black and white by the facility mailroom. The incarcerated individual receives the copy, not the original. Originals are retained on-site for a minimum of 14 days (beginning the day the copy is distributed), then destroyed. The 14-day window exists to allow the incarcerated individual to file a grievance if they wish to challenge the destruction of the correspondence.
IDOC must distribute copied correspondence within 48 hours of receipt (excluding weekends, holidays, and facility emergencies).
If general correspondence is suspected of contamination, staff destroy it and send written notice to the incarcerated individual within two business days.
Sending photos
Photos included in personal correspondence are photocopied along with the rest of the mail. The incarcerated individual receives the black and white copy; the original is retained 14 days and then destroyed.
An incarcerated individual may choose to have original photographs, noncommercially published photobooks, or art mailed back to the sender at their own cost, instead of being destroyed. If your person wants to return originals to you, they need to arrange this through the facility.
Photos and videograms must comply with the same content rules as printed matter under IDOC policy 02-01-103.
Sending publications - books, magazines, newspapers
Incarcerated individuals may receive publications from publishers only. Publications are reviewed to determine whether they are obscene or constitute a danger to safety and security.
Used books are inspected for modifications or alterations before being delivered. If a used publication contains writing, pictures, or is otherwise altered or annotated, it will be rejected and returned to sender.
Amazon packages: items purchased from Amazon must be sold by Amazon and shipped directly from Amazon. This can be verified in the product information on the listing. Packages from third-party fulfillment services are rejected and returned to sender.
Packages generally: incarcerated individuals may not receive packages from third-party fulfillment services. Any package with a return label belonging to a third-party fulfillment service will be rejected and returned.
Restricted correspondence
Incarcerated individuals must obtain prior approval from IDOC before corresponding with another person who is:
Held in a federal, state, or local correctional facility. On parole. Sentenced to a community corrections program. Held in a county jail. Released to county probation supervision. Participating in a Community Transition Program. Participating in a work release program.
The burden is on the incarcerated individual to request permission, using State Form 11985, directed to the Warden or designee.
Privileged and legal mail
Privileged correspondence - mail to or from government officials in their official capacities - may be sent uncensored. Incarcerated individuals must mark the envelope "privileged."
Legal mail - mail to or from courts, attorneys, and legal organizations (such as the ACLU, ICLU, LSO) - is treated separately. Only mail clearly identified as legal mail is treated as such. It is the sender's responsibility to indicate on the envelope that it is legal mail.
Foreign nationals may correspond with their embassy or consulate, treated as legal mail.
Electronic messaging - GettingOut.com
Friends and family now send electronic messages and photos through GettingOut.com. Create an account at gettingout.com, search for your incarcerated loved one, and add them as a contact. The "Friends and Family" feature in the account allows you to add funds for messaging and photos.
After the platform transfer is complete, PIN Debit funds from ConnectNetwork continue to work for both phones and tablets.
Sending money - ViaPath/ConnectNetwork, four account types
IDOC uses ViaPath/ConnectNetwork for money accounts. There are four account types:
Trust Fund: deposit funds the incarcerated individual uses like cash for commissary purchases. Fund online at web.connectnetwork.com or by phone at 888-988-4768. Fees vary by facility.
AdvancePay: a prepaid calling service that allows the incarcerated individual to call only your specific phone number. Fund at web.connectnetwork.com or by phone at 800-483-8314.
PIN Debit: allows the incarcerated individual to pay for phone calls to any allowed number. Can also be funded from commissary or trust account. Fund at web.connectnetwork.com or by phone at 855-706-2445. PIN Debit funds now work for both phones and tablets.
Debit Link: funds ViaPath tablet services such as streaming music, games, and eBooks. May not be used for commissary. Fund at web.connectnetwork.com. One dollar buys 100 link units. All Debit Link purchases are final - no refunds.
By money order: maximum $300 per money order. Use blue or black ink. Make payable to "ViaPath Financial Services." Include the incarcerated individual's full name and DOC number. Include the deposit form (available at in.gov/idoc in English or Spanish). Do not include staples, paper clips, stamps, cash, letters, or photos with the money order - only the form and the money order. Mail to:
ViaPath Financial Services
2603 NW 13th Street P.O. Box #328
Gainesville, FL 32609-2835
Mobile app: ConnectNetwork by ViaPath (Android and iOS).
Indiana county jails: different rules
Indiana has 92 counties, each with its own jail operated by the county sheriff. County jails are not part of IDOC and set their own mail rules independently. Each sheriff establishes written mail procedures consistent with Indiana and constitutional law. Verify current rules with the specific county sheriff's office before sending anything.
What to know before you send anything
Mail goes directly to the facility - include the incarcerated individual's name and DOC number, facility name, and facility address. Find the address at in.gov/idoc/facilities/adult.
All general mail is photocopied in black and white. Originals are held 14 days and then destroyed. Incarcerated individuals receive the copy, not the original.
Photos are photocopied. Originals can be mailed back to sender at the incarcerated individual's expense - they must arrange this.
Publications from publishers only. Used books inspected for alterations - rejected if written in or annotated.
Amazon packages must be sold and shipped directly by Amazon. No third-party fulfillment services.
Electronic messages now through GettingOut.com - create a new account there.
Money through ViaPath/ConnectNetwork - four account types: Trust Fund, AdvancePay, PIN Debit, Debit Link. Money orders max $300, payable to ViaPath Financial Services, mailed to Gainesville FL with a deposit form.
Related pages:
/prisons/indiana
How to send money to an Indiana inmate
Send mail and photos through InmateAid
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I mail a letter to an Indiana DOC inmate?
Directly to the facility where they are housed. Include the incarcerated individual's name and DOC number, facility name, and facility address. Find the DOC number and facility at offenderlocator.idoc.in.gov and the facility address at in.gov/idoc/facilities/adult.
What happens to my original letter?
The facility photocopies it in black and white. The incarcerated individual receives the copy. The original is held on-site for at least 14 days, then destroyed.
Can I send photos?
Yes - photos are photocopied along with your letter. The original is held 14 days and then destroyed. Your person can arrange to have originals mailed back to you at their own expense, but they must initiate that through the facility.
Can I send books or magazines?
Publications from publishers only. Used books are inspected for modifications - writing, drawings, or other alterations cause rejection and return to sender.
What about Amazon orders?
Amazon packages must be sold by Amazon and shipped from Amazon directly - not by a third-party seller using Amazon's fulfillment. Check the product listing to verify. Third-party fulfillment packages are rejected.
How do I send electronic messages?
Through GettingOut.com. Create a new account, search for your person, add them as a contact, and use the Friends and Family feature to add funds for messages and photos.
How do I send money?
Through ViaPath/ConnectNetwork at web.connectnetwork.com. Four account types: Trust Fund (888-988-4768), AdvancePay (800-483-8314), PIN Debit (855-706-2445), Debit Link. Or mail a money order payable to ViaPath Financial Services - max $300, with a deposit form - to 2603 NW 13th Street PO Box #328, Gainesville FL 32609-2835.
What is the difference between AdvancePay and PIN Debit?
AdvancePay is prepaid - only the phone number you fund can be called. PIN Debit is funded by the incarcerated individual and can call any approved number on their list. PIN Debit funds now work for both phones and tablets. ====================================================================
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