Prison Journalism Navigator
Contacting People By State
This is a state-by-state guide on how to communicate with people inside. The information focuses on the rules and restrictions of mail correspondence, but we also include basic email, phone and payment information where available.
General rules of thumb for mailing letters and other reading materials into carceral institutions:
- Do not use address labels or Post-Its. Nothing should be affixed to each other.
- Use black or blue ink only (If you are sending a mass mailing to multiple states, we recommend printing in B&W to ensure that it doesn’t get rejected).
- Use white paper and envelopes. We recommend using the lightest weight paper you can to keep mailing costs down.
- At a minimum, all mail should include the return address of the sender; the name and DOC number of the addressee; and the name and mailing address of the facility.
- Assume all non-confidential or non-legal mail is subject to inspection.
Please note that the information about accepted payment systems comes from corrections websites meant for friends and family. We are still working on consolidating our understanding about practices and regulations by state and will update this information as we can.
Federal Prisons
Page limit: 3 pages
Weight limit: 16 ounces
Recipient receives: Photocopies only
Rules & Restrictions: Single-sided only; B&W (use blue or black ink, no pencil)
Email: CorrLinks
Payments: MoneyGram, JPay, Western Union
Additional information: Federal Bureau of Prisons
Alabama
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & Restrictions: Limit of 2 books and 4 magazines/newspapers per month; limit of 4 pages of internet material per letter.
Additional information: Alabama DOC Inmate Mail
Email: Securus eMessaging
Phone: Securus Technologies Advance Connect
Payments: Access Corrections
Additional information: Alabama DOC Inmate Money
Alaska
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & Restrictions: Must be on white paper in a white envelope; paper must not be joined together; no address labels or stickers; greeting cards must be commercially produced
Additional information: Alaska DOC Prison Mail, Publications and Packages
Phone: Securus Technologies Advance Connect
Payments: No information provided
Arizona
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Additional information: Arizona DOC: Inmate Mail
Email: JPay
Phone: CenturyLink
Payments: Jpay, Keefe, GTL, Access Corrections
Additional information: Arizona DOC: Electronic Payments
Arkansas
Page limit: 3 pages
Recipient receives: Photocopies only
Rules & Restrictions:Single-sided only; B&W ( use blue or black ink, no pencil); no greeting cards
Email: Access Corrections
Phone: Securus Technologies Advance Connect
Payments: Access Corrections
Additional information: Arkansas DOC: Mail and Money
California
Weight limit: 13 ounces for first class mail; 16 ounces for bulk mail
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Envelope requirement: Recommended (not required) to include housing number
Additional information: CDCR Operations Manual (Article 41: Inmate Mail)
Email: GettingOut depending on facility (California is rolling out free GTL tablets). Note: As of July 2022, JPay has disabled the ability to send people messages regardless of whether the institution has rolled out the GTL tablets. This means that some institutions do not have a digital means of communication.
Phone: Connect Network
Payments: JPay, GTL/ViaPath Connect Network, Access Corrections
Additional information: CDCR Sending Money to an Inmate
Colorado
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail (copies only in some institutions)
Rules & Restrictions:No stickers
Additional information: Colorado DOC Offender Mail
Email: JPay, Connect Network
Phone: Connect Network
Payments: JPay, Western Union, GTL
Additional Information: Colorado DOC Send Money to an Inmate
Connecticut
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & Restrictions: No padded envelopes
Additional information: Connecticut DOC Inmate Communications
Email: JPay
Phone: Securus Technologies (first state to offer free phone calls for 90 minutes a day)
Payments: JPay, TouchPay, Western Union
Additional information: Connecticut DOC Inmate Accounts
Delaware
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Digital photocopies
Third-party mailing service: Pigeonly Corrections
Rules & Restrictions: Pigeonly will process letters (including children’s drawings), greeting cards, postcards, 4×6 photos (limit 10) and unbound newsletters.
Envelope requirement: Envelope must include the facility’s name and individual mailing code.
Additional information: Delaware DOC
Incarcerated Individual Name – Offender ID Number
Facility Name – Facility ID Number
PO Box 96777
Las Vegas, NV 89193
Phone: Connect Network
Payments: Money orders only
Additional information: Delaware DOC Send Money
Florida
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail or electronic copy (see note)
Rules & Restrictions: Up to 15 pages of additional written materials; items cannot be glued, taped, stapled or otherwise affixed.
Note: Florida has fully transitioned to electronic copies.
Address for mail for processing center:
Last name, First name DC#
PO Box 23608
Tampa, FL 33623
Additional information: Florida DOC
Email: JPay
Phone: Connect Network
Payments: JPay
Rules & Restrictions: Writers cannot be compensated for their work. As of March 2022, only people on the approved visitors list can send money.
Additional information: Florida DOC FAQ on Funds
Georgia
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & Restrictions:Additional enclosed materials page limit is 25 pages
Additional information: GDC Standard Operating Procedures: Offender Receipt of Mail
Email: JPay (receipt within 3 business days)
Phone: Securus Technologies
Payments: JPay
Additional information: Georgia JPay Q&A
Hawaii
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & Restrictions:No stickers
Additional information: Hawaii Department of Public Safety: Correspondence
Email: GettingOut
Phone: Connect Network
Payments: Each facility has its own process for sending money.
Idaho
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Address requirement: Facility name and unit number
Additional information: Idaho DOC
Email: JPay
Phone: IC Solutions
Payments: Access Corrections
Additional information: Idaho DOC Sending Money
Illinois
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Additional information: Illinois DOC FAQs (Regarding mail)
Email: Connect Network
Phone: Securus Technologies
Payments: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network, JPay, Western Union
Additional information: Illinois DOC FAQ (Regarding sending money)
Indiana
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Photocopies only
Additional information: Indiana DOC: Offender Correspondence
Email: JPay
Phone: Connect Network
Payments: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network
Additional information: Indiana DOC GTL Information
Iowa
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Photocopies only
Third-party mailing service: Pigeonly Corrections
Rules & Restrictions: Pigeonly will process letters (including children’s drawings), greeting cards, postcards, 4×6 photos (limit 10) and unbound newsletters.
Envelope requirement: Envelope must include the facility’s name and individual mailing code.
Additional information: https://doc.iowa.gov/faq/how-can-i-write-offender
Incarcerated Individual Name – Offender ID Number
Facility Name – Facility ID Number
PO Box 96777
Las Vegas, NV 89193
Email: CorrLinks
Payments: Access Corrections, JPay, Western Union
Additional information: Iowa DC Offender Banking Policy
Kansas
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & Restrictions: Must include full name and address of sender; greeting cards must be commercially produced
Additional information: Kansas DOC Mail
Email: GettingOut
Phone: IC Solutions
Payments: Access Corrections, JPay
Additional information: Kansas DOC Inmate Banking
Kentucky
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & Restrictions:Envelope must be white and no larger than 9.5″ by 4″; No drawings; greeting cards must be commercially produced and sent in a conforming envelope
Additional information: Kentucky Corrections Inmate Correspondence
Email: JPay
Payments: Access Corrections
Additional information: Kentucky DOC
Louisiana
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & Restrictions:No greeting cards; limit of 5 articles or clippings
Additional information: Louisiana DOC Offender Mail and Publications
Email: JPay
Phone: Securus Technologies
Payments: JPay
Additional information: Louisiana DOC
Maine
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Photocopies only
Rules & Restrictions:White paper and envelope only; black or blue ink; limit of 5 articles or clippings; greeting cards are permitted but they must be on single card stock with one fold that is white on the back, inside (except for the printed message) and front (except for the picture on the card)
Additional information: Maine DOC Prisoner Mail
Payments: Maine DOC Money Deposit Service
Rules & Restrictions: Can deposit maximum of $100 per day, $200 per week.
Additional information: Maine DOC
Maryland
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & Restrictions: No glue, no stickers
Additional information: Maryland DOC General Mail Policy
Phone: Connect Network
Payments: Access Corrections
Rules & Restrictions: A 30-day hold will be placed on the recipient’s account if more than $250 is deposited.
Additional information: Maryland DOC Inmate Banking Services
Massachusetts
Page Limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail (mail may be subject to photocopying)
Additional information: Massachusetts DOC Inmate Mail
Email: CorrLinks
Phone: Securus Technologies
Payments: Access Corrections, money orders/checks can be sent with a deposit to Secure Deposits – Massachusetts DOC, PO Box 12486, St. Louis, Mo. 63132.
Rules & Restrictions:Personal checks and money orders over $200 will result in a 7-business day hold on the recipient’s account.
Additional information: Massachusetts DOC
Michigan
Page Limit: None
Recipient receives: Photocopied mail
Rules & Restrictions:Black or blue ink recommended; commercially produced greeting cards
Additional information: Michigan DOC Prisoner Mail
Email: JPay
Phone: Connect Network
Payments: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network
Additional information: Michigan DOC
Minnesota
Page Limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Weight limit: 16 ounces
Rules & Restrictions: Greeting cards must be commercially produced
Additional information: Minnesota DOC Send Mail
Email: JPay
Payments: JPay
Additional information: Minnesota DOC Send Money
Mississippi
Page Limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & Restrictions: Legal or letter-sized envelopes only (including greeting cards)
Additional information: Mississippi DOC Inmate Mail
Phone: Connect Network
Payments: Premier Services
Additional information: Mississippi DOC Send Funds to Inmates
Missouri
Page Limit: A maximum of 10 pieces of mail (a page appears to be considered a piece).
Recipient receives: Scanned electronic copies
Rules & Restrictions: Recommended to number pages.
Third-party mailing service: Digital Mail Center (owned by Securus Technologies)
Address for mail:
Writer Name and ID #
c/o Digital Mail Center – Missouri
P.O. Box 25678
Tampa, FL 33622-5678
Address for newspapers, publications, etc.: Send directly to prison
Additional information: Missouri DOC Mail
Email: JPay
Phone: Securus Technologies
Payments: JPay
Additional information: Missouri DOC Money Transfer
Montana
Page Limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & Restrictions: Must be on white copy printer, loose-leaf paper or standard stock postcards; must be written in pen or pencil; maximum of 5 articles or clippings; no greeting cards
Additional information: Montana DOC Offender Mail
Email: Edovo (in a few prisons)
Phone: IC Solutions
Payments: Inmate Trust Account Deposits
Rules & Restrictions: “Inmates may receive funds for their use in the prison canteen, etc. from immediate family members on their visiting list, their attorney, and one approved non-family member (with certain restrictions).” $250 limit for transactions.
Additional information: Montana DOC Inmate Financial Transactions
Nebraska
Page Limit: None
Recipient receives: Photocopies (including greeting cards)
Additional information: Nebraska DOC Inmate Mail
Email: JPay
Phone: Connect Network
Payments: JPay
Additional information: Nebraska DOC
Nevada
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & Restrictions:No more than 10 pages of additional enclosed materials.
Additional information: Nevada DOC Inmate Correspondence and Mail
Email: CorrLinks
Phone: Securus Technologies
Payments: Access Corrections
Additional Information: Nevada DOC
New Hampshire
Page limit: 10 pages
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & Restrictions: Must be on white copy, printer or loose-leaf paper, or standard stock postcards. Must be written in blue/black ink or pencil. Newspaper articles and Internet clippings must not be altered. No greeting cards.
Additional information: New Hampshire DOC Inmate Correspondence and Mail
Email: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network
Phone: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network
Payments: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network
Rules & Restrictions: Must be on an approved list
Additional information: New Hampshire DOC
New Jersey
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Envelope requirement: Must include recipient’s SBI # and State #
Additional information: New Jersey DOC Family Resource Guide (pg 32)
Email: JPay
Phone: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network
Payments: JPay
Additional information: New Jersey DOC
New Mexico
Page limit: None
Weight limit: 3.5 ounces
Recipient receives: Photocopies
Third party mailing service: Securus Digital Mail
Address for mail:
Last name, First name DC#
c/o Securus Digital Mail Center – NMCD
PO Box 25397
Tampa, FL 33622
Additional information: New Mexico DOC Correspondence Regulations; Article on new third party system
Phone: Securus Technologies
Payments: Money order
Rules & Restrictions:Must be on an approved list.
New York
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & Restrictions: May enclose up to 5 articles or clippings (5 pages). One newspaper article is considered one page.
Additional information: New York DOC
Email: JPay
Phone: Securus Technologies
Payments: JPay
Additional information: New York DOC Account Deposits
North Carolina
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Photocopies
Rules & Restrictions: Single-sided only
Third-party mailing service: TextBehind
Address for mail:
Writer Name and ID #
Name of prison (do not abbreviate)
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Address for newspapers, publications, etc.: Send directly to prison
Additional information: North Carolina Dept. of Public Safety Offender Mail
Phone: Connect Network
Payments: JPay
Additional information: North Carolina Dept. of Public Safety
North Dakota
Page limit: 10
Recipient receives: copies
Rules & Restrictions:One-sided only, sender may send no more than one envelope in a day with the maximum number of pages.
Third-party mailing service: Securus Digital Mail
Address for mail:
Writer Name and ID #
Securus Digital Mail Center – ND Department of Corrections
P.O. Box 21408
Tampa, FL 33634
Address for newspapers, publications, etc.: Send directly to prison
Additional information: North Dakota Corrections and Rehabilitation
Email: JPay
Phone: Securus Technologies
Payments: JPay
Additional information: North Dakota Corrections and Rehabilitation
Ohio
Page limit: 5 pages
Recipient receives: Photocopies
Rules & Restrictions: Must be on white paper in a white envelope; black or blue ink only; up to 5 pages of additional clippings; only commercially-produced greeting cards
Additional information: Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction Inmate Mail
Email: JPay
Phone: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network
Payments: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network
Rules & Restrictions: Only approved visitors may send funds
Additional information: Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction Inmate Funds
Oklahoma
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Additional information:Oklahoma DOC Correspondence
Email: Securus Technologies
Phone: Securus Technologies
Payments: JPay
Additional information: Oklahoma Corrections Offender Banking System
Oregon
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & restrictions: No more than 1/4-inch thick. No greeting cards.
Additional information: Oregon DOC Letters
Email: CorrLinks
Phone: Access Corrections
Payments: Access Corrections
Additional information: Oregon DOC Sending Money
Pennsylvania
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Photocopies
Third-party mailing service: Smart Communications
Address for mail:
Smart Communications/PA DOC
Writer Name and ID #
Institution Name
PO Box 33028
St. Petersburg, FL 33733
Address for newspapers, publications, etc.: Books and magazines must be sent to a different security processing center. PA DOC has confirmed with PJP that newspapers should be sent directly to the prison.
Additional information: Pennsylvania DOC Mail
Email: Connect Network
Phone: Securus Technologies
Payments: JPay
Additional information: Pennsylvania DOC How to Send Money
Rhode Island
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & restrictions: Envelopes must be white
Additional information: Rhode Island DOC Inmate Mail
Phone: Securus Technologies
Payments: Access Corrections
Additional information: Rhode Island DOC Inmate Accounts
South Carolina
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & restrictions: Additional materials is limited to 5 pages
Additional information: South Carolina DOC Inmate Correspondence Privileges
Email: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network
Phone: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network
Payments: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network
Additional information: South Carolina DOC Sending Money
South Dakota
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & restrictions: Plain white paper only; Additional materials is limited to 5 pages; commercially-produced greeting cards only; no Post-Its
Additional information: South Dakota DOC Inmate Correspondence
Phone: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network
Payments: JailATM.com
Additional information: South Dakota DOC Inmate Finances
Tennessee
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Additional information: Tennessee DOC Inmate Mail
Phone: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network
Payments: JPay
Additional information: Tennessee DOC Offender Trust Fund Account
Texas
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & Restrictions: White 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper only
Additional information: Texas DCJ
Email: JPay
Phone: Texas Prison Phone
Payments: JPay, Access Corrections, eCommDirect, TouchPay
Rules & Restrictions: Must be on approved list
Additional information: Texas DOJ Inmate Trust Fund
Utah
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & restrictions: White paper only; no greeting cards
Additional information: Utah DOC Phone Calls & Letters
Phone: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network
Payments: Access Corrections
Additional information: Utah DOC Sending Money
Vermont
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Additional information: Vermont DOC Inmate Mail
Email: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network
Phone: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network
Payments: Access Corrections
Additional information: Vermont DOC
Virginia
Page limit: 5 pages (Recipient receives up to 3 pages, double-sided; envelope accounts for 1 page)
Recipient receives: Photocopies
Additional information: Virginia DOC
Email: JPay
Phone: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network
Payments: JPay
Additional information: Virginia DOC Sending Money
Washington
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Additional information: Washington DOC Send Mail
Email: JPay
Phone: Connect Network
Payments: JPay
Additional information: Washington DOC Send Money
West Virginia
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Note: Information regarding correspondence with incarcerated individuals in West Virginia may be outdated and/or is extremely limited
Additional information: PrisonPro West Virginia
Phone: IC Solutions
Payments: GTL/ViaPath Connect Network, JailATM
Additional information: West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Wisconsin
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Photocopies
Third-party mailing service: TextBehind
Address for mail:
Writer Name and ID #
Correctional Facility name (do not abbreviate)
P.O Box 189
Phoenix, MD 21131
Address for newspapers, publications, etc.: Send directly to prison
Additional information: Wisconsin DOC Inmate Mail Changes
Email: CorrLinks
Phone: IC Solutions
Payments: Access Corrections
Additional information: Wisconsin DOC
Wyoming
Page limit: None
Recipient receives: Actual mail
Rules & restrictions: Additional enclosed materials is limited to pages
Additional information: Wyoming DOC Inmate Mail
Phone: IC Solutions
Payments: Access Corrections
Additional information: Wyoming DOC Money Transfers
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