Service overview
Individuals in custody may receive personal mail (letters, photos, drawings) from family and friends, as well as legal and professional correspondence from approved sources. All mail is subject to inspection to prevent contraband.
Beginning April 6, 2026, all personal mail to individuals in the custody of the Philadelphia Department of Prisons will be scanned and delivered electronically via tablets.
All personal mail must be sent to the secure mail processing center below. We will not accept personal mail at any PDP facility, and any mail sent to a facility after April 6, 2026, will be returned to the sender.
We will also not accept any money, checks, or money orders sent to the scanning center. Money orders and certified checks must continue to be sent directly to the individual’s facility. Cash and personal checks are not accepted.
Mailing address format:
Philadelphia IPCS, PA
John Doe, PPN #1234567
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Requirements
Legal and professional mail
Legal and professional mail must be clearly marked “Legal Mail” and sent directly to the incarcerated person’s facility.
Include the individual’s name, PPN (ID number), facility name, and facility address.
Use the following format to address your legal and professional mail:
John Doe, PPN #123456
Legal Mail
Facility Name
Facility Address
Philadelphia, PA ZIP Code
Money orders and certified checks
Money orders and certified checks must be sent directly to the incarcerated person’s facility. Items sent to P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD will be returned.
Include the individual’s name, PPN (ID number), facility name, and facility address.
Use the following format to address money orders and certified checks:
John Doe, PPN #123456
Legal Mail
Facility Name
Facility Address
Philadelphia, PA ZIP Code
Cash and personal checks are not accepted. Funds may also be deposited electronically via the following websites:
- Deposit commissary money for incarcerated people with Access Corrections.
- Deposit money for incarcerated people to make phone calls, video visits, send messages, and access tablet entertainment with GettingOut.
Letters, cards, or postcards
- Use only pencil or pen to write your message. Do not use crayons or markers.
- Write your letters on plain white paper. Colored paper, construction paper, or other specialty papers are not permitted.
- Send your letters in a plain white envelope.
- No more than two decorative stickers are allowed on each envelope.
- Do not include any glitter on the card or in the envelope.
Photos
- Photos must be 5 in. x 7 in. or smaller.
- Photos must not feature nudity, weapons, money, or drug use.
- Incarcerated people are allowed to have up to five pictures.
Books, magazines, or newspapers
Publications should be sent directly to the incarcerated person’s facility. Include the individual’s name, PPN (ID number), facility name, and facility address, as shown below:
John Doe, PPN #123456
Facility Name
Facility Address
Philadelphia, PA ZIP Code
- All books, magazines, and newspapers must come directly from third-party sellers. Acceptable vendors include Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Philadelphia Inquirer, etc.
- No hardback books are allowed.
Packages
- No packages are allowed.