Why Mail Matters
Research on incarceration and recidivism is consistent on this point: inmates who maintain regular contact with family and friends during incarceration have significantly better outcomes after release. They are less likely to reoffend, more likely to find stable employment, and more likely to reconnect successfully with their communities. A letter costs less than a dollar to send and accomplishes something that money alone cannot -- it tells someone they are still thought about, still loved, still worth someone's time.
Getting mail through requires knowing the rules. Every facility has specific requirements, and what works at one prison may get rejected at another. This guide covers the federal Bureau of Prisons system in detail and the most common state rules, but always verify the specific facility's current policy before sending anything other than a plain letter.
How to Address a Letter to a Federal Inmate
The most common reason federal mail is rejected or delayed is an incorrectly addressed envelope. The BOP requires a specific format and the registration number is not optional -- it is how the mailroom identifies which inmate the letter is for when multiple inmates share a similar name.
Your return address must be complete and legible. Mail without a return address is frequently rejected without being delivered. If you are unsure whether you are on the approved senders list at a particular facility, send a first letter and wait for a reply -- some facilities limit incoming mail to approved contacts.
Addressing Mail to a State Inmate
State formats vary, but most follow the same basic pattern: full legal name, state ID or inmate number, facility name, and address. The inmate number for state inmates is assigned by the state DOC rather than the BOP and will be different from a federal registration number. Find it through the state DOC inmate locator or ask the inmate to include it in their first letter to you.
Some state facilities use unit and bed numbers in addition to the name and ID. Others use just a P.O. Box with no street address -- always use the address exactly as listed on the facility's official website, not an address found anywhere else.
What You Can Send
These items are accepted at most federal and state facilities, though rules vary and you should always verify with the specific institution:
Plain white paper in a standard white envelope. Write clearly, print if possible. Multiple pages are fine. Most facilities have no page limit for letters, though extremely bulky mail may be flagged.
Standard 4x6 prints. No Polaroids. No nudity, no gang imagery, no photos of weapons. Most facilities allow 5 to 10 photos per envelope. Photos must be in the regular envelope, not a separate photo mailer. Some facilities accept only photos printed on non-glossy paper.
Simple flat greeting cards without additions. A birthday card in a standard envelope is generally fine. The card must fit in a standard envelope without folding in unusual ways.
Must come directly from the publisher or an approved retailer such as Amazon. New books only, paperback preferred. Hardcovers are prohibited at many facilities. Must be shipped to the facility, not sent inside a regular letter envelope.
Loose newspaper or magazine clippings are accepted at most facilities when included with a letter. Do not send entire newspapers or magazines through regular mail -- those must come from the publisher.
Drawings or artwork from children on plain paper are generally accepted and deeply meaningful to incarcerated parents. Avoid glitter, glue, tape, staples, or any three-dimensional additions. Flat crayon or pencil drawings on a single sheet of plain paper are the safest option.
What You Cannot Send
The rule of thumb: if something could conceal contraband in the folds of a letter or inside packaging, do not send it. Mailroom staff have seen every trick and anything unusual will be rejected. Beyond the concealment rule, here is what is specifically prohibited at most facilities:
When in doubt, a plain white letter on plain white paper in a plain white envelope will get through. Every extra element you add is a potential rejection point.
Faster Options: Electronic Messaging
Physical mail takes days. Most federal facilities and many state facilities now offer electronic messaging that arrives in minutes. These services are not free -- the inmate pays for each message from their commissary account -- but they are dramatically faster and allow back-and-forth communication in something closer to real time.
The federal system uses TRULINCS (Trust Fund Limited Inmate Computer System), accessible through CorrLinks.com. The inmate must initiate the connection by adding your email address. You receive an invitation email to activate the connection, then can send and receive messages. Messages are monitored. The service has a small per-message fee charged to the inmate's account. Visit CorrLinks.com to register.
JPay is used by over 35 state DOC systems. You create a free JPay account and fund it to purchase email stamps. The inmate receives your message on a JPay tablet in their cell or a facility kiosk. JPay also handles phone calls, money transfers and video visits for participating facilities. Visit JPay.com.
Securus provides messaging, phone calls and video visits for a large number of state and county facilities. Visit SecurusTech.net to find participating facilities and set up an account.
Getting.Out (Telmate) is widely used in county jails. If your loved one is in a county facility awaiting trial or transfer, Getting.Out may be the primary messaging option. Visit GettingOut.com.
All electronic messages are monitored and stored by the facility. Do not write anything in an electronic message that you would not want read by a corrections officer or potentially used in a legal proceeding.
The Letter You Write Matters More Than You Think
People who have done time are consistent about one thing: mail call is the best -- and sometimes the only -- good moment of the day. A letter is proof someone outside is still counting you. It is read and reread. It is folded and kept. It is shown to people. It means something that a phone call does not.
But writing a letter that actually reaches the person -- that does not get rejected, confiscated, or accidentally say something that creates a problem -- requires understanding the environment your loved one is living in. What is mail call like? Who watches? What happens when a guard reads something you wrote? What does the person look like right now, and what do they actually need to hear?
The How to Survive in Prison guide was written by the founder of JailGuide from direct experience in the federal system. It covers prison life from surrender day through release in full detail -- not to scare you, but to give you a complete, honest picture of what your loved one is going through. When you understand that, every letter you write becomes more meaningful and more useful to them.
"I came out of federal prison knowing what information was missing. I built this site because it did not exist when I needed it. This book is the resource I wish I had going in -- and the one your family member needs now."
Related Guides
Sending Money to an Inmate
How to put money on the books for commissary. JPay, money orders, facility kiosks and what the money is actually used for.
Visiting an Inmate
How to get on the approved visitor list, what to bring, what to wear, and what to expect at a prison visit.
Prison FAQ
Answers to the most common questions about prison life, mail, phone calls and staying connected.
Prison Survival Guide
The 140+ page guide to surviving incarceration written from direct experience inside the federal system.
Find an Inmate
Look up facility address and inmate information for federal, state and county facilities.
Need Help?
Questions about a specific facility's mail rules? Contact us and we will help you find the answer.