Sending mail to incarcerated loved ones

Having a hard time communicating with your loved one because they are in custody. The cost of collect calls can be overwhelming for some families, however, that is not the only way to communicate with your family member as most jails accept incoming direct mail. Here are the guidelines for a few counties in Arizona:

Information from Maricopa County Sheriff’s Jail: 

MCSO utilizes a central mailroom located at the Lower Buckeye Jail.  All incoming inmate mail, including newspapers, magazines, and books must be addressed as follows, regardless of which jail the inmate is housed in:

Inmate Name and Booking Number
Lower Buckeye Jail
3250 West Lower Buckeye Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85009

All incoming mail, with the exception of legal mail, must be standard postcards. This is to ensure the safety and security of jail facilities, inmates, and staff.

• Acceptable :
  • STANDARD Postcards (Metered postage or USPS stamps)
  • Minimum size postcards: 3.5 x 4.25 inches
  • Maximum size postcards: 4.25 x 6 Inches
  • Written in blue or black ink only
  • All stamps are removed from postcards
• Unacceptable:
  • Custom Postcards
  • Postcards contaminated in any way
  • Defaced or altered postcards
  • Plastic(s) or wrapping(s) on postcards
  • Postcards marked with anything other than blue or black ink
  • Postcards with labels or stickers
  • Postcards with any watermarks, stains, perfume, lipstick, et cetera
  • Postcards depicting nudity, weapons, criminal activity or gang references

BOOKS, NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES: All Books and subscription publications must be purchased directly through a publisher. All books must be softback paper only. Book covers with any other materials such as, but not limited to, hard covers, leather, et cetera, as well as spiral bound publications are prohibited. All books must be accompanied by a shipping manifest or invoice. An inmate may only possess 3 books, 5 magazines and 1 newspaper at any one time. Publications that may pose a threat to the safety or security of the jail, or are pornographic in nature, are prohibited. Inmates will be provided a Rejection Notification for all items determined to be unacceptable, prohibited or exceeds the maximum limit.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Only 5 photographs at any one time and may be mailed to the inmate at a time, provided the envelope is clearly marked “PHOTOGRAPHS”. The envelope cannot contain anything other than the photographs or it will be rejected. Photographs may not be larger than 4 inches by 6 inches. The inmate’s name and booking number must be written on the back of each photograph to show ownership. Nothing else is to be written on the photographs. Photographs must be otherwise completely unadulterated. Inmates may possess an unlimited amount of photographs, unless possession of excess photographs creates a risk to safety and security of a jail facility. Inmates can release photographs via US Mail. Photographs depicting nudity, weapons, criminal activity, or gang references are also prohibited. Inmates will be provided a Rejection Notification for all items determined to be unacceptable, prohibited or exceeds the maximum limit.

Information from Pinal County Sheriff’s Jail:

**Effective 7/28/2019 The Pinal County Sheriff’s office will no longer accept personal mail.  All personal mail should be mailed to:

Inmate Full Name – Inmate ID

C/O Securus Digital Mail Center – Pinal County

PO Box 949

Lebanon, MO 65536

A return name and address must appear on the envelope. Failure to follow proper procedure will result in the mail being returned to the sender. The facility is not responsible for money orders sent to the wrong address but will make every attempt to obtain sent money order from vendor facility.

All mail will be scanned into the system for incarcerated individuals to view on various kiosks and tablets. If you are sending pictures and would like them returned you must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope.**

Information from Pima County Sheriff’s Jail:

Effective September 6th, 2021, inmates will only be allowed to receive personal mail in the form of a postcard.

• Postcard maximum allowable size is 4.25 inches by 6 inches.
• Postcards shall not be accepted if:
  • Defaced or altered;
  • In plastic or any other wrapping;
  • Contain nudity, sexual conduct, weapons, or gang references;
  • Contains glitter;
• Incoming postcards will be copied (digitally or photocopied) and inmates will receive a copy of the postcard either via tablet or on copy paper.  Inmates will not receive the original postcard.
  • Postcards will be destroyed after 14 calendar days.
• Postal services are provided Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
• Inmates may order magazines, newspapers, soft cover books, etc. These items must come directly from the publisher or a widely accepted distributor.
• All mail is subject to search. Mail is not read except in the course of an investigation.
• Inmates may not receive any mail, books, or magazines showing explicit sexual conduct.
• All personal mail coming into and leaving the facility must be by U.S. Mail.
• Inmates must have prior permission to receive incoming packages.
• Inmates cannot receive any item that is available through the facility commissary.
• Authorization must be obtained 5 days before the package is sent. Packages will be opened and searched by the mail officer. This prior authorization does not apply to books and other publications sent from the publisher or from a widely accepted distributor. 
• Acceptable forms of money (money orders or government checks) will be removed from incoming mail and deposited into the inmate’s account.
  • Envelopes containing acceptable must be addressed appropriately, with “Inmate Trust Account”
  • Any other mail items included, such as a personal letter or note, will not be delivered and will be returned to the sender.

Call For Your 30 Min Case Evaluation
(602) 718-1249