Sending Mail to Inmates in Wisconsin
Offenders incarcerated in Wisconsin are allowed to communicate with friends, family members, courts, government officials, and generally anyone with the exception of victims, victim families, and other inmates. All mail is opened, inspected/searched for contraband and may be read with the exception of legal or privileged mail, which may still be opened and inspected in the presence of the inmate but not read.
Friends and family can send 4"x6" photos to an inmate. You can send a maximum of five photos per a single stamped envelope. Polaroid/instant photos are prohibited for security reasons. Photographs that contain nudity are not allowed.
Do not send any other items to an inmate. Paper, stamps, envelopes, pens, and other items must be purchased by the inmate through the institutions commissary.
Always include your name and complete return address in the upper left hand corner of the envelope, address the mail using the following format:
Inmate Name, Identification Number
Facility Name
PO Box or Street address
City, State, Zip Code
Sending Inmate Care Packages to Wisconsin Inmates
Friends and family members can purchase canteen property for inmates through two suppliers JL Marcus and Union Supply Company. Certain restrictions may apply pertaining to the size of the package and number of packages that can received depending on the facility and custody level of the inmate. Contact the offender or the specific facility for more details.
How to Send Books and Magazines to Wisconsin Inmates
Inmates in Wisconsin are also allowed to receive publications sent directly from a reputable vendor like Amazon.com. Publications include paperback books, magazines and newspapers. All books must be paperback editions and must come new directly from Amazon, no third party sellers or resellers are allowed. No publications, including magazines, can contain nudity, maps, or have any content that could potentially put the safety or security of the facility at risk, this includes books that explain how to make weapons, drugs, or alcohol and publications that advocate hate or violence. When ordering through Amazon, include the inmate's full name and identification number in the address, and mail to the inmate mailing address listed on the facilities page. Order no more than three publications at a time.
Sending Money to Inmates in Wisconsin
Offenders in Wisconsin have access to funds that are placed in their inmate trust account. They can use these funds to purchase a variety of items from the commissary including food, snacks, hygiene items, stationary, stamps, electronics and more.
Before you can send the funds you will need to know the following information:
- The Inmates Name
- The Inmates Identification Number
- The current location of the inmate
You can send funds to an inmate in Wisconsin by using a money order or cashier's check made payable to the inmate's name and ID number. Personal checks and cash are not allowed. Mail the completed money order or cashier's check to the address listed on the facilities page for sending funds or the inmate mailing address.
Alternatively you can send funds to an inmate online through Western Union. This method gets the money to the inmate faster then through the mail. Additionally, you can walk in to any Western Union location and use cash or a debit card. You will need to use the company name 'Wisconsin Dept Corrections' the account number will be the inmate's DOC number and last name (for example 123456Smith) and the code city 'WIDOC WI'. Funds sent through Western Union walk in will take one to three business days to be received by the offender.
For more information on sending funds to an inmate, read our guide here.
Wisconsin Inmate Phone Calls
At no time can inmates receive incoming calls, they can however make outgoing collect calls to friends and family members. If your telephone service provider will not bill collect calls you can sign up for an account through the CenturyLink website, or over the phone by calling 1-877-870-3259.
Pre-paid telephone billing accounts in Wisconsin are provided through Securus. You can setup your account over the phone by calling 1-800-844-6591 or by visiting their website at securustech.net.
All phone calls are recorded and monitored. Three way calling, call forwarding, and call waiting may result in the call terminating.
In the event of a family emergency, such as a death or serious illness of a family member, you can contact the facility and speak with a staff member or the inmate's counselor who will verify the emergency and will decide if the inmate is allowed to make a special emergency call.
The providers above will charge you a fee for each call, plus a rate per minute. You may be able to drastically reduce your inmate phone bill by setting up your account with a number local to the facility. Learn more about how you can save money on your inmate phone calls.