Sending Mail to Inmates in Pennsylvania
Offenders incarcerated in Pennsylvania are allowed to correspond with the public and have no limit to the number of people they can mail or the amount of mail they can receive or send. Inmates may not correspond with other inmates, current or former employees/volunteers, or victims (unless they have prior authorization from the Facility Manager). Offenders are permitted eight stamps per month at no cost. All mail is opened, inspected and may be read with the exception of legal mail, which can still be opened and inspected but not read.
Inmates can receive greetings cards, but they may not contain electronics or be multi-layered. Never embellish your letter or envelope in any way. This means you may not place stickers, glitter, glue, lipstick, perfume, or any other items in or on your correspondence. Stamps and envelopes may not be sent to an inmate, these items must be purchased by the inmate through the commissary.
Sending Photos to inmates in Pennsylvania
Inmates in Pennsylvania can also receive 4"x6" photos. Polaroid and instant photos are not allowed as they have been used to hide and introduce contraband. No photos may contain nudity, or illegal activities. All photos will be screened and reviewed by the mail room upon receiving them. When sending photographs to an inmate you should place the offenders name and identification number in pen on the back of the photo.
Always include your complete name and return address in the upper left hand corner of the envelope. Furthermore, you should format the inmate's address as follows:
Inmate's Name, ID Number
Facility Name
PO Box or Street address
City, State, Zip Code
You can also send electronic mail to an offender through JPAY. JPAY charges a fee for this service. You type and send the letter online through their website and it is then printed in the facilities mail room and delivered with the regular mail to the inmate. Offenders do not have access to the internet and cannot respond electronically.
How to Send Books and Magazines to Pennsylvania Inmates
Friends and family members of Pennsylvania inmates can send books, magazines, and newspapers to an inmate. All publications must be ordered directly from a reputable vendor like Amazon.com. No books, or magazines may contain nudity, maps, or describe the manufacture of drugs, alcohol, or weapons. All books should be new and paperback editions, hardcover books are prohibited. When ordering from Amazon be sure to mail to the inmate's name and ID number and send to the inmate's institutional mailing address. If you want to learn more about sending these items to an inmate read about it here.
Sending Money to Inmates in Pennsylvania
Offenders in Pennsylvania prisons have access to a personal trust account. This account is used by the inmate for various reasons, like purchasing items from the commissary. If an inmate has an outstanding debt, or owes restitution or court fines/fee's a portion of the money (not to exceed 50%) that is deposited will automatically be allocated towards paying off/down these debts.
You can send funds to an inmate by:
- Walk In
- Internet
- Phone
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
Deposit by Walk In
Friends and family members can deposit money to a Pennsylvania inmate's account by visiting any MoneyGram location, this includes any 7-Eleven, CVS or Walmart. You will need to use the receive code 3209. The deposit may be made for a fee and can be paid with cash or debit card.
Deposit by Internet
You can also deposit money to an inmate's account online through JPAY. JPAY will charge a fee to send the money, and allows you to pay with a debit or credit card.
Deposit Funds Over the Phone
Deposit funds to your Pennsylvania inmate's account over the phone by calling JPAY at 1-800-574-5729. You can fund the transaction with a debit or credit card and are charged a fee depending on the amount you are sending.
Deposit Funds Through the Mail
The method of sending funds with the lowest associated fee is through the mail, unfortunately it is also the method that takes the longest amount of time for the inmate to receive the funds. You can do this by using a United States Postal Money Order. Completely fill out the money order including your name and return address, make it payable to 'JPAY', and include the inmate's name and ID number in the memo field. You will also need to print a Pennsylvania money order inmate deposit slip. Fill out the deposit slip, then mail it and the completed money order to:
JPAY
P.O. Box 531250
Miami Shores, FL 33153
For more information on sending funds to an inmate, read our guide here.
Pennsylvania Inmate Phone Calls
Inmates in Pennsylvania are allowed to make outgoing calls only. In order to receive a call, the inmate must add you to their telephone list, and you must setup an account with Securus. All calls can be recorded and monitored. Three way calling and call forwarding is prohibited. At no time can you make an incoming call to an offender or can a staff member take a message and relay it to the offender for you. If there is a family emergency or a death you can contact the inmate's counselor, the prison chaplain, or the unit manager.
The phone service provider for Pennsylvania is Securus, and you must setup an account to receive calls from your inmate. You can setup your account over the phone by calling 1-800-844-6591 or by visiting their website at securustech.net.
Securus 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.