Mail

What mail will not be processed by Smart Communications?

Smart Communications is unable to process the following mail, and if received it will be returned to sender:

• Mail which is missing an inmate number
• Mail which is addressed to DOC staff members
• Mail which is addressed to JPAY
• Mail which contains cash, personal checks or money orders
• Mail which is bound in the center or is in a format which prevents scanning
• Mail that has been damaged by the United States Postal Services
• Privileged Mail (Legal) described below
  
• Inmate personal packages
  
• Mail sent in bulk

What should I do if the vendor will not accept the full Smart Communications address because it is too long?

The DOC accepts abbreviated forms of the Smart Communications address. Smart Communications can be abbreviated to "Smart Comm" and the institution name can be removed from the address all together.

Smart Comm – John Smith/ AB1234
PO Box 33028
St. Petersburg, FL 33733

What return address should inmates use on outgoing mail?

Inmates are required to use the Smart Communications address with their name and inmate number as the return address.

Smart Communications
Joe Jones/AB1234
SCI Camp Hill
PO Box 33028
St Petersburg FL 33733

When will inmates receive their mail?

It can take 6-8 days for inmates to receive their mail. Smart Communications processes the mail within 24 hours of its reception at their processing center in St. Petersburg, Florida. However, it can take the United States Postal Service 3-5 days to deliver the mail to Smart Communications. A reasonable effort will then be made by the DOC mailrooms to ensure that incoming inmate mail is delivered to the inmate within 48 hours from the time the mail is delivered to the prison.

This excludes weekends and holidays, mail which contains content requiring review by the IPRC and mail that is being held for investigative purposes at the prison. 

What does Smart Communications do with the original mail?

All original mail will be retained for a period of 45 days unless otherwise instructed by DOC. After 45 days, original mail will be destroyed.  

What happens to the electronic copies?

All scanned mail is uploaded to a database that is organized/sorted by inmate. It is sent to inmates' location six days per week. When the electronic mail reaches the facility, staff can approve, deny or forward mail. Approved mail is printed and delivered to inmates.

How long is the electronic mail saved?

Smart Communications maintains electronic copies for 45 days.

What happens if official documents are included in my mail sent to Smart Communications, such as drivers' license, social security cards, checks, court orders with raised seals, etc.?

Smart Communications will forward all official documents to the SCI business office where the inmate is located.

Can general incoming correspondence sent to Smart Communications be returned to the sender once its' been processed?

No. All general incoming correspondence will be destroyed after the 45-day retention unless otherwise instructed by DOC. 

How will the senders of mail know when the mail is delivered?

Senders of mail who register with Smart Communications can receive alerts when mail arrives at Smart Communication and when it is delivered to or rejected by the DOC. 

Will the general incoming correspondence mail procedures delay the parole process?

Green sheets, home plans and other time sensitive matters will not be delayed.

Where can I get more information about Smart Communications?

The Smart Communications website is great resource of information regarding their services.

I accidentally sent my mail to the Security Processing Center address and not the Smart Communications address; what will happen to my mail?

All general incoming correspondence needs to be sent to the DOC’s third-party mail vendor Smart Communications. Mail sent to the Security Processing Center will be processed through to the facility where the inmate is located. Upon arriving at the facility mailroom the mail will be denied and confiscated. Upon this denial if the inmate wishes to appeal they have 15 working days to notify the Facility Manager in writing, in accordance with the DC-ADM 804 Inmate Grievance System policy. If the inmate does not wish to appeal they can forward a cash slip with an addressed envelope to the mailroom within 15 working days from the denial to have the publication mailed out of the facility to friend or family member. Otherwise, the photo book will be destroyed.

I sent mail to an inmate through Smart Communications; however, the inmate never received the mail. What should I do?

You should reach out to the prison mailroom. Please provide the following information in your email:

• The exact address the mail was sent to
• The return address listed on the envelope
• The inmate’s full name and inmate number
• The mail carrier who delivered the mail
• Did the mail contain photos?
• Did this mail contain publications or materials which open like a book?

What happens to my photographs when they arrive at Smart Communications?

Upon arriving at Smart Communications the mail containing photographs will be opened and scanned into an electronic document. The electronic document will 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. The original mail containing photographs will be securely stored for 45 days. At the end of this 45 day period the photos will be securely destroyed.

Can photographs sent to Smart Communications be returned to the sender once its' been processed?

No. All general incoming correspondence and photographs will be destroyed after the 45-day retention unless otherwise instructed by DOC. 

What type of paper will photos be printed on?

Standard 8 ½ by 11 copy paper. Photos will be printed in color.

Will photographs from outside vendors like FreePrints or ShutterFly be permitted?

Yes. Photos from outside vendors are permitted. Photo orders from outside vendors are also limited to 25 photos per mailing and all photo orders must be sent to the Smart Communications address. The DOC recommends using the following address format for photos that are ordered from an outside vendor:  

Inmate Name, Inmate Number
PO Box 33028
St Petersburg, Florida 33733

Why is the address for photographs from outside vendors different from photographs sent from a home address?

The DOC experiences a lot of issues with the way outside photo vendors print their address labels. Although the person ordering the publication enters the full and correct address information photo vendors frequently cut the inmates name/inmate number out of the label. Photo vendors do this because they have a character restraint for their address label. Smart Communications is unable to process a mailing that does not have the inmates name and number on it. To ensure your photos ordered from outside vendors are accepted, please use the abbreviated form of the Smart Communications address listed above.

What happens if I send a mailing which contains more than 25 photographs?

Photographs are limited to 25 per mailing. Any mailing containing more than 25 photos will be denied in its entirety by the facility mailroom. Upon this denial if the inmate wishes to appeal they have 15 working days to notify the Facility Manager in writing, in accordance with the DC-ADM 804 Inmate Grievance System policy. If the inmate does not wish to appeal they can forward a cash slip with an addressed envelope to the mailroom within 15 working days from the denial to have the publication mailed out of the facility to friend or family member. Otherwise, the photo book will be destroyed.

What happens if my photographs are denied because of content?

At the facility, each photo will be inspected to ensure the photos comply with DOC policy – specifically, photographs containing obscenity, explicit sexual material or nudity, as outlined in Section 2 of the DC-ADM 803 Inmate Mail and Incoming Publications are prohibited. If a mailing contains at least one prohibited photo, the entire mailing will be denied. Upon this denial if the inmate wishes to appeal they have 15 working days to notify the Facility Manager in writing, in accordance with the DC-ADM 804 Inmate Grievance System policy. If the inmate does not wish to appeal they can forward a cash slip with an addressed envelope to the mailroom within 15 working days from the denial to have the publication mailed out of the facility. Otherwise, the photobook will be destroyed.

Can I send a photo book instead of photographs?

Yes, please scroll down to the photo book portion of this webpage for more information about the DOC's photo books policies and procedures.

I accidentally sent photographs to the Security Processing Center address, not the Smart Communications address, what will happen to my photographs?

All photographs need to be sent to the DOC's third party mail vendor Smart Communications. Photographs sent to the Security Processing Center will be processed through to the facility where the inmate is located. Upon arriving at the facility mailroom the photographs will be denied and confiscated. Upon this denial if the inmate wishes to appeal they have 15 working days to notify the Facility Manager in writing, in accordance with the DC-ADM 804 Inmate Grievance System policy. If the inmate does not wish to appeal they can forward a cash slip with an addressed envelope to the mailroom within 15 working days from the denial to have the publication mailed out of the facility to a friend or family member. Otherwise, the photo book will be destroyed

I sent mail containing photographs to an inmate through Smart Communications; however, the inmate never received the photographs. What should I do?

You should reach out to the prison mailroom. Please provide the following information in your email:

• The exact address this mail was sent to
• The return address listed on the envelope
• Indicate whether this mail was ordered from a photo vendor or sent from a home address
• The inmate's full name and inmate number
• The mail carrier who delivered the mail
• The amount of photos in the mail
• Indicate whether this mail contained publications or materials which open like a book?

How does the SPC operate?

The SPC operates five days a week. DOC security staff will conduct thorough security screenings of all incoming publications. After publications clear the SPC, they will be sent to the mailroom at the prison where the inmate is located. From there, books and magazines will be delivered to inmates. Facilities receiving publications that are addressed to a specific state prison rather than to the SPC will be returned to the sender. Newspapers will not be processed by the SPC — newspaper subscriptions should continue to be shipped directly to the SCI by the publisher.

How long does it take the SPC to process a publication?

The SPC operates at a strict 2-3 week turnaround time. This means that all publications which are successfully delivered to the SPC and are addressed correctly will reach the inmate within 2-3 weeks of the date it is delivered to the SPC.

How can inmates purchase books/publications for themselves?

Inmates may order publications through catalogs and brochures sent to the prison by publication companies. Inmates must use the SPC as the shipping address for all books and magazines they order. Inmates with tablets may order eBooks.

Are inmates limited to the number of books they may receive?

Inmates are not limited to the number of books they may purchase and/or receive; however, inmates are limited to the amount of property they may own at one time. Please resort the ADM 824 Property policy for more information.

Are there limitations as to what books an inmate can order?

An inmate can order any book; however, it is still subject to content review by the Incoming Publication Review Committee, and content may not violate DC-ADM 803 Inmate Mail and Incoming Publications.

I accidentally sent publications to the Smart Communications address, not the SPC address, what will happen to my publications?

All publications need to be sent to the DOC’s Security Processing Center. Publications sent to the Smart Communications address will be returned to the sender.

I ordered a book for an inmate and had it shipped to the SPC; however, the inmate has not received the book yet. What should I do?

You should reach out to the prison mailroom. Please provide the following information in your email:

• The name of the company/organization where the publication was ordered from
• The full address the books were sent to
• The name and inmate number of the inmate the books were sent to
• The total number of missing publications
• The name of the mail carrier who delivered your order
• The tracking numbers assigned to your order by the mail carrier
  

*The DOC is unable to verify a missing publication claim without a tracking number from the mail carrier who delivered the book.

Where can I order photo books from?

All photo books must be ordered from an original source/third-party vendor which includes but is not limited to publishers, bookstores, and online distributors. Any photo book which does not originate from an original source/third-party vendor may be returned or denied. Individuals interested in purchasing a photo book for an inmate can use their favorite search engine to find a company who offers soft-cover photo books with a maximum of 25 pages and a size not to exceed 8x11 inches.

What happens to my photo book once it arrives at the Security Processing Center?

All publications, including photo books, are searched for contraband at the Security Processing Center. Once a photo book clears the Security Processing Center it is shipped to the State Correctional mailroom where the inmate is located. At the institution, each photo book will be inspected by the mailroom to ensure the photos comply with DOC policy. Once the book is processed and approved by the mailroom it will be delivered to the inmate.

What happens if I send a photo book with more than 25 pages?

Each photo book is limited to a maximum of 25 pages. Any photo book containing more than 25 pages will be denied by the facility mailroom. Upon this denial if the inmate wishes to appeal they have 15 working days to notify the Facility Manager in writing, in accordance with the DC-ADM 804 Inmate Grievance System policy. If the inmate does not wish to appeal they can forward a cash slip with an addressed envelope to the mailroom within 15 working days from the denial to have the publication mailed out of the facility. Otherwise, the photo book will be destroyed.

Does the DOC accept hard-cover photo books?

No, the DOC requires all photo books be soft-cover. Any hard-cover photo books will be denied by the facility mailroom. Upon this denial if the inmate wishes to appeal they have 15 working days to notify the Facility Manager in writing, in accordance with the DC-ADM 804 Inmate Grievance System policy. If the inmate does not wish to appeal they can forward a cash slip with an addressed envelope to the mailroom within 15 working days from the denial to have the publication mailed out of the facility. Otherwise, the photo book will be destroyed.

What happens if my photo book is denied because of content?

At the facility, each photo book will be inspected to ensure the photos comply with DOC policy – specifically, photographs containing obscenity, explicit sexual material or nudity, as outlined in the policy, are prohibited. If a photo book contains at least one prohibited photo, the entire photo book will be denied. Upon this denial if the inmate wishes to appeal they have 15 working days to notify the Facility Manager in writing, in accordance with the DC-ADM 804 Inmate Grievance System policy. If the inmate does not wish to appeal they can forward a cash slip with an addressed envelope to the mailroom within 15 working days from the denial to have the publication mailed out of the facility. Otherwise, the photo book will be destroyed.

What happens to my photo book if it sent from a home address or unverifiable vendor?

The DOC requires all photo books come directly from an original source/ third party vendor. All photo books which do not originate directly from an original source/third party vendor will be returned to the sender.

Do photos need to be a certain size?

No, they just need to fit within the confines of the photo book and not exceed 25 pages in the book and a size not to exceed 8x11 inches.

Are photo collages in photo books accepted?

Yes, photo collages in photo books are accepted. Photo collages within photo books will be counted as 1 photo toward the 25 page maximum.

I accidentally sent my photo book to the Smart Communications address, not the SPC address, what will happen to my photo book?

All publications need to be sent to the DOC’s Security Processing Center. Publications sent to the Smart Communications will be returned to the sender.

Who do I contact if a photo book I ordered was never received by the inmate?

You should reach out to the prison mailroom. Please provide the following information in your email:

• The company/organization where the photo book was ordered from
• The exact address the photo book was shipped to
• The full name and inmate number of the person the book was sent to
• The number of photo books missing
• The mail carrier who delivered your photo book
• The tracking number assigned to your photo book by the mail carrier
• The number pf photographs included in the book

*The DOC is unable to verify a missing photo book claim without a tracking number from the mail carrier who delivered the book.

What happens to my mail containing an official document when it's mailed directly to the institution?

Official documents sent directly to the institution will be transferred to the business office and held on file for the inmate. Department staff will notify the inmate and his/her counselor of the document being held. Any other forms of general incoming correspondence, like letters, pictures, greeting cards, children's drawings, etc., that are included with an official document sent directly to the institution's business office are prohibited. In this situation the official document will be transferred to the business office by the SCI mailroom staff and all other correspondence included in the mailing will be destroyed.

Why are official documents given to the business office?

Per policy, inmates are not permitted to hold official documents in their cells for security reasons. Instead, the business office at each institution holds all inmate's official documents on file for them. When an inmate is released they are given all their official documents before leaving.

Why will the general incoming correspondence included with an official document be destroyed?

All general incoming correspondence, including letters, pictures, greeting cards, children's drawings, etc., must be sent to and processed by Smart Communications.

What happens if I mail an official document to Smart Communications?

Smart Communications will continue to forward all official documents they receive to central office for proper distribution to the institution's business offices.  Any other forms of general incoming correspondence, like letters, pictures, greeting cards, children's drawings etc., that are included with an official document sent to Smart Communications will be forwarded along with the official document to Central office and then to the coordinating SCI's Business office. In this situation the official document will be transferred to the business office by the SCI mailroom staff and all other correspondence included in the mailing will be destroyed.

What happens to this official document mail from Smart Communications once it reaches the institution?

The official document will be transferred to the business office by the SCI mailroom staff and all other correspondence included in the mailing will be confiscated. An unacceptable correspondence form will be issued to the inmate and a copy of the Notice of Unacceptable Correspondence form will be sent to the Security Office at the Facility and the sender of the correspondence. At this time the inmate will be permitted to mail the unacceptable correspondence out of the facility at his/her own expense. If the inmate refuses to pay for the item to be mailed out, Department staff will destroy the confiscated items.  

Can I mail a photo copy of an official document?

Yes, all photo copies of official documents are also held in the business office. You may mail a photo copy of a business document to the institution address starting January 31st or to Smart Communications. When your photo copy is mailed directly to the institution the photo copy of the official document will be transferred to the business office by the SCI mailroom staff and all other correspondence included in the mailing will be destroyed.

What happens if I mail a photo copy of an official document to Smart Communications?

When you mail a photo copy of an official document to Smart Communications they will scan the mail into their electronic system. It will then be printed at the institution by the SCI mailroom staff and transferred to the SCI Business office. All general incoming correspondence included with a photo copy of an official document sent to Smart Communications will also be scanned into the electronic system. It will then be printed at the institution by the SCI mailroom staff and delivered to the inmate.

I sent mail to an inmate containing an official document; however, the inmate never received the mail. What should I do?

You should reach out to the facility's mailroom. Please provide the following information in your email:

• The exact address the mail was sent to
• The return address listed on the envelope
• The inmate's full name and inmate number
• The mail carrier who delivered the mail
  

I have more questions about sending Official Documents to an inmate. Who can I reach out to?

Please contact the facility's mailroom for more information about the DOC's procedures with Official Documents

I have more questions about sending Original Transactional Documentation to an inmate. Who can I reach out to?

Please contact the facility's mailroom for more information about the DOC's procedures with Original Transactional Documentation.

How do I obtain a DOC Issued Attorney Control Number?

The DOC issues Control Numbers to Attorneys who represent a DOC inmate as well as court and select non-attorney/court entities. A control number will be issued upon request by completing the online Control Number Request Form. Each request must be associated with a single physical address and email address.

How do I obtain the secondary Authentication Number?

A separate secondary authentication number will be emailed to each Attorney Control Number holder each week. The authentication number will be sent to the email address specified in the Request Form. Each Saturday at 10 p.m., a new secondary authentication number will be issued by the Department of Corrections. The authentication number provided is valid only for the following week.

I have more questions about the Legal Mail procedures – who should I contact?

Questions can be directed to the Office of Chief Counsel at 717.728.2573 or questions can be forwarded to the following emails:

• Attorney Control Number Information: RA-CRatrnycntrlnum@pa.gov
• Attorney Access Information: RA-CRattorneyissues@pa.gov

Will release clothing be permitted to be sent in?

Yes

How will commutation packets be processed?

Inmates will continue to write to the Board of Pardons and pay the fee for an Application for Commutation.  The application is mailed to the inmate, but it does not need to be an original document.  It will be mailed to Smart Communications for normal processing.

Will inmates continue to receive monthly account transaction statements?

Yes.  Inmate account statements, with all transactions, are printed at the SCI monthly.  They do not come in through the outside mail or a third party.  These statements will continue as usual.

Will pregnant inmates still be allowed to bring pictures back from the hospital of their new baby?

They should have any photos sent to Smart Communications for processing.