Sending Mail to Inmates: Rules, Apps & Tips (2026)

Regular USPS mail is still the most common way to communicate with inmates. Every facility accepts postal mail, though rules vary.

How to address the envelope: - Inmate's full legal name (as registered with the facility) - Inmate ID number (CRITICAL -- mail without the ID number may be returned) - Facility name - Facility street address - City, State, ZIP code

Your return address must be on the envelope. Anonymous mail is typically not accepted. Use your full name and complete return address.

Paper and envelope rules: - White or light-colored paper (no construction paper or colored stock) - Blue or black ink only (no colored pencils, markers, or crayons in many facilities) - Standard white envelopes (no padded envelopes unless approved) - No stickers, tape, glitter, lipstick marks, perfume, or anything applied to the paper - No staples, paper clips, or fasteners - Pages should be loose (not in a binder or folder)

Content restrictions: - No content that threatens safety or security - No gang-related material - No sexually explicit content (rules vary -- check facility policy) - No information about manufacturing weapons, drugs, or escape - No maps of the facility or surrounding area - No content encouraging criminal activity

Federal BOP mail specifics: Federal inmates can send and receive regular mail without limits on volume. There is no restriction on the number of people who can write to an inmate. All incoming mail is opened and inspected (except legal mail, which is opened in the inmate's presence).

Electronic messaging is faster than postal mail (delivered same-day or next-day vs. 3-7 days for USPS) and increasingly popular. Here are the main platforms:

Corrlinks / TRULINCS (Federal BOP): - Used by all federal inmates - Inmates access email through TRULINCS terminals in their housing units - Free to send messages to inmates (the inmate pays $0.05 per minute of computer time from their commissary account) - You must register at corrlinks.com and the inmate must add you to their contact list - Messages are text-only (no attachments in standard Corrlinks) - Messages are monitored by facility staff

ViaPath (formerly JPay/GTL): - Used by most state prison systems (30+ states) - Download the JPay/ViaPath app or go to jpay.com - E-messages ("stamps") cost $0.25-$0.50 each depending on the state - You can attach photos to e-messages (1-3 photos per message, costs extra) - Video messages (short recorded clips) available in some facilities - Delivery is usually same-day but can take 24-48 hours depending on facility review

Securus Technologies: - Used by many state prisons and county jails - Access through the Securus app or securustech.net - E-messages cost $0.25-$0.50 each - Photo attachments available - Similar functionality to JPay/ViaPath

Cost comparison: A first-class USPS stamp costs $0.73 (2026). An e-message costs $0.25-$0.50. E-messages are faster and often cheaper, but the inmate needs access to a tablet or kiosk to read them. Not all facilities have tablet programs.

Photos are incredibly important to inmates. They are often the most treasured items in a cell. Here are the rules:

Physical photos by mail: - Standard photo sizes accepted: 4x6, 5x7, and sometimes up to 8x10 - Must be actual photographs, not printed on regular paper (some facilities now accept printed photos) - Polaroid/instant photos may not be accepted at some facilities (security concern about the layers) - No Polaroid-style photos at federal facilities - Typical limit: 5-10 photos per envelope - No photos depicting nudity, gang signs, weapons, or drug use - No photos showing the facility or its perimeter - Write the inmate's name and ID number on the back of each photo

Electronic photos: - Through JPay/ViaPath: Attach 1-3 photos per e-message. Each photo costs $0.25-$0.50. The inmate views them on their tablet. - Through Securus: Similar photo attachment options - Resolution requirements vary -- standard phone photos are fine - Same content restrictions as physical photos

Tips: - Send photos of family events, children growing up, holidays, and everyday life. Inmates say these are the most meaningful items they receive. - Keep copies of any photos you send -- mail can be lost or confiscated - Some facilities now accept photo prints from services like Pelipost, Pigeonly, and Flikshop that print and mail photos from your phone directly to the facility

Sending reading material to inmates has specific rules that vary significantly by facility:

Federal BOP rules: - Books must be sent directly from the publisher, a bookstore, or a book club (not from individuals) - Softcover/paperback only at most facilities (hardcovers may be rejected as a security concern) - Amazon is an approved vendor for sending books to federal inmates - Magazines and newspapers must come directly from the publisher via subscription - No limit on the number of books an inmate can receive, but storage space is limited

State prison rules (vary by state): - Many states have similar "vendor only" rules - Some states allow individuals to send books directly - Some states have restricted or banned books lists - Used books may be rejected at some facilities - Religious texts are generally always allowed

Book donation programs: - Prison Book Program (prisonbookprogram.org): Sends free books to inmates in 49 states - Books Through Bars (booksthroughbars.org): Sends free books to inmates in multiple states - Inside Books Project: Serves Texas inmates - These organizations accept book requests directly from inmates

Important: Some facilities have banned books that they consider security risks. The content cannot discuss weapons manufacturing, drug production, lock picking, or escape techniques. The Texas prison system's banned books list is one of the most extensive. Some bans have been challenged in court as unconstitutional restrictions on First Amendment rights.

Magazines: Most facilities allow magazine subscriptions sent directly from the publisher. Popular options include newspapers, news magazines, sports magazines, and puzzle books. Magazines with excessive nudity or violence may be rejected.

Legal mail has special protections under the law that regular mail does not:

What counts as legal mail: Correspondence between an inmate and their attorney, courts, elected officials, the ACLU, and other legal organizations. The envelope must be clearly marked as "legal mail" or "privileged correspondence" and must come from a law firm, court, or legal organization with an identifiable return address.

Protections: - Legal mail must be opened in the inmate's presence (not in a mailroom without the inmate) - Staff can inspect legal mail for contraband (physical items) but cannot read the content - Legal mail cannot be censored or withheld based on content - Delays in delivering legal mail can be challenged as a violation of the inmate's constitutional right to access the courts

Federal rules: BOP Program Statement 5265.14 governs legal mail. It defines "special mail" that must be opened in the inmate's presence, including mail from attorneys, courts, members of Congress, the President, the Department of Justice, and other government entities.

State rules: All states have legal mail protections, but implementation varies. If you believe an inmate's legal mail is being improperly handled, contact the inmate's attorney or a prisoners' rights organization.

Tip for attorneys: Always clearly identify your mail as legal/privileged correspondence. Use firm letterhead. Include your bar number on the envelope. Mark the envelope "LEGAL MAIL -- OPEN IN PRESENCE OF INMATE." This reduces the chance of it being treated as regular mail.

If your mail is rejected, the facility will typically send the letter back to you with a notice explaining why. Common rejection reasons:

Formatting issues: - Missing inmate ID number on the envelope - Missing or incomplete return address - Used a colored envelope or non-standard paper - Included stickers, glitter, tape, or other attachments - Used markers or colored ink instead of blue/black pen

Content issues: - Sexually explicit content (standards vary by facility) - Gang-related references, symbols, or code - Discussion of criminal activity - Threats or harassment - Maps or descriptions of the facility - Information about making weapons or drugs

Security issues: - Substance detected on the paper (drug-infused paper is a major concern -- many facilities now photocopy all incoming mail or require electronic-only mail) - Too many pages (some facilities limit pages per letter) - Items attached to or hidden in the paper - Stains or unknown substances on the paper

What to do if mail is rejected: - Read the rejection notice carefully for the specific reason - Correct the issue and resend - If you believe the rejection was improper, the inmate can file a grievance - For federal prisons, rejection can be appealed through the Administrative Remedy Process - Contact a prisoners' rights organization if mail is consistently blocked without valid reason

Trend: Many facilities are moving to photocopy-only or electronic-only mail policies to combat drug-infused paper. Under these policies, the original letter is scanned/photocopied, the copy is delivered to the inmate, and the original is destroyed or stored.

Sending cards during holidays and special occasions is one of the most meaningful things you can do for an incarcerated loved one. Here are the specific rules:

Greeting cards: - Most facilities accept standard greeting cards - No musical or electronic cards (security concern) - No glitter cards (treated as potential contraband carrier) - No pop-up or 3D cards (security concern about concealed items) - No padded or thick cards - Keep it simple: flat, standard paper/cardboard cards

Holiday-specific considerations: - Mail volume increases dramatically around holidays (Thanksgiving through New Year, Mother's Day, Father's Day) -- mail delivery slows down - Send holiday cards 2-3 weeks early to account for processing delays - Christmas packages may have special rules or windows for receiving them

Packages and care packages: - Most prisons do NOT accept packages from individuals - Many facilities allow approved vendors to send packages (catalogs like Union Supply, Access Securepak, Walkenhorst's) - Package contents, sizes, and frequency are strictly regulated - Some facilities allow one package per year around the holidays - County jails rarely accept any packages

Alternative: Instead of trying to send a physical package (which will likely be rejected), deposit money into the inmate's commissary account so they can buy items they want. Or send approved items through the facility's approved vendor program.

Here is what it costs to stay in touch with an incarcerated loved one through different methods:

Physical USPS Mail: - First-class stamp: $0.73 per letter (2026) - Delivery time: 3-7 days (sometimes longer with facility processing) - Photos: Cost of printing + postage - Pros: No account setup required, no technology needed, inmates can keep letters - Cons: Slowest method, subject to photocopying at many facilities, risk of rejection

Electronic Messaging (JPay/Securus): - E-message (stamp): $0.25-$0.50 each - Photo attachment: $0.25-$0.50 per photo - Delivery time: Same day to 48 hours - Video message: $0.50-$1.00 per video clip - Pros: Fast delivery, easy to send photos, convenient from phone - Cons: Inmate needs tablet access, costs add up, messages may not be printable

Corrlinks (Federal): - Messages: Free to send (inmate pays $0.05/min computer time) - No photo attachments in standard system - Delivery time: Same day typically - Pros: Free for outside contacts, reliable - Cons: Text-only, inmate must add you to contact list

Phone calls: $0.03-$0.25 per minute (FCC caps). A 15-minute call costs $0.45-$3.75.

Video visits: $0-$12 per session (15-30 minutes).

Monthly cost estimate for staying in regular contact (2-3 letters/week + 1 phone call/week + 1 video visit/month): $30-$80 per month. The financial burden of maintaining contact with an incarcerated loved one falls disproportionately on families who are often already economically vulnerable.