Pennsylvania Department Of Corrections Family & Friends Information

Pennsylvania Department Of Corrections Inmate Mail Guidelines

PERSONAL MAIL

Postcards
The Pennsylvania Department Of Corrections allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.

Envelopes
The Pennsylvania Department Of Corrections also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.

Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope. 

All personal mail is sent to A THIRD PARTY WHERE IT IS SCANNED AND FORWARDED DIGITALLY TO THE INMATES.

Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Smart Communications / PA DOC
Inmate Name / Inmate Number
Pennsylvania Department Of Corrections
PO Box 33028
St Petersburg, Florida 33733

PHOTOS
All photographs sent to an inmate must contain a full return address with a first and last name of the sender on the envelope. It must also contain the full and correct inmate name and inmate number on the envelope. Upon arriving at Smart Communications the mail containing photographs will be opened and scanned into an electronic document. The electronic document will then be made available to the facility mailroom for printing. The mail containing photographs will then be printed and delivered to the inmate by the facility mailroom.

Photographs are limited to 25 photos per mailing. If more than 25 photos are contained within one mailing, they will be confiscated. Original photographs should not be sent to Smart Communications or any State Correctional Institution. Originals will not be returned if confiscated. Photographs containing obscenity, explicit sexual material, or nudity are prohibited. 



Legal Mail

Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate Name / Inmate #

Confirm Mailing Address here



Newspapers
Newspapers may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher.

Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.

Books
The Pennsylvania Department Of Corrections allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as AmazonBarnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address noted.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Pennsylvania Department Of Corrections standards will be disposed of. 
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.


All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate name, Inmate #
268 Bricker Road
Bellefonte, PA 16823-1667