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How to mail a letter to an inmate at Kentucky State Penitentiary

To write to someone held at Kentucky State Penitentiary, address your envelope to the inmate's full committed name and inmate number, Kentucky State Penitentiary, 266 Water Street, Eddyville, KY 42038. Kentucky State Penitentiary is a state penitentiary in Eddyville, Kentucky, operated by the Kentucky Department of Corrections.

Inmate mail — Kentucky State Penitentiary

[Inmate's full committed name]  [inmate number]
Kentucky State Penitentiary
266 Water Street
Eddyville, KY  42038

Put the inmate's full committed name and inmate number on the first line, and mail to the institution's inmate-mail address here — not its street address. Mail without a usable name and inmate number is returned.

Verified August 2026corrections.ky.govapps.legislature.ky.gov

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Your name
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Kentucky State Penitentiary266 Water StreetEddyville, KY 42038

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Key facts

  • Send mail to Kentucky State Penitentiary, 266 Water Street, Eddyville, KY 42038 — the institution's inmate-mail address, not its street address.
  • Kentucky sends mail to each institution directly. Address it to the incarcerated person’s full name and inmate number (for example, John Doe #000000), then the facility’s own mailing address.
  • Include your full name and return address. Mail without the inmate number or a return address can be rejected (governed by CPP 16.2 / 501 KAR 6:020).
  • Use only the U.S. Postal Service. Incoming mail is opened and inspected for contraband, and some facilities scan mail for viewing at a kiosk before delivery.
  • Confirm the person’s current institution on KY DOC’s offender online lookup before mailing — people are transferred between facilities without notice.
  • PostPal prints and mails your letter for you the next business day for $5 — with your return address printed so the inmate can write back, and no printer, envelope, or stamp needed.

How to send your letter

  1. 1

    Confirm the person is still at Kentucky State Penitentiary

    Inmates are transferred between facilities without notice. Confirm they are still at Kentucky State Penitentiary — and double-check the inmate number — before you mail anything, using the Kentucky Department of Corrections (KY DOC)'s official inmate locator.

  2. 2

    Address it exactly

    First line: the inmate's full committed name and inmate number. Then Kentucky State Penitentiary, 266 Water Street, Eddyville, KY 42038. Add your full return address.

  3. 3

    Keep the contents allowed

    Plain letter-size paper is safest. Do not enclose cash, stamps, gift cards, or any object other than paper — prohibited items get the whole letter rejected. Check the mail rules above before adding photos.

  4. 4

    Send it without a printer

    Write or upload your letter to PostPal with this address prefilled, and we print, envelope, and mail it via USPS the next business day for $5 — your return address printed so they can reply.

Common questions

How do I address a letter to an inmate at Kentucky State Penitentiary?

Put the inmate's full committed name and inmate number on the first line, then Kentucky State Penitentiary, 266 Water Street, Eddyville, KY 42038. Include your full first and last name and return address on the envelope.

Is mail to Kentucky State Penitentiary opened, read, or scanned?

Expect it to be. Incoming personal mail is opened and inspected for contraband and can be read under the Kentucky Department of Corrections (KY DOC)'s rules.

What can I send to Kentucky State Penitentiary — photos, cards, or books?

Photos are generally allowed; no polaroids or laminated photos, and nothing nude or sexually explicit. Books and magazines must come directly from a publisher or approved vendor, not in personal mail.

What can't I mail to Kentucky State Penitentiary?

Do not send: Cash, checks, money orders, or postage stamps; Any item other than paper (no polaroids, laminated items, or enclosures); Nude, sexually explicit, or contraband-promoting content; Stickers, glitter, glue, tape, perfume, lipstick, or crayon/marker; Publications not sent directly from a publisher or approved vendor. Prohibited items get the letter rejected or destroyed.

What if the person has been transferred or released?

The letter will not reliably reach them or come back to you. Confirm they are still at Kentucky State Penitentiary before mailing, since the Kentucky Department of Corrections (KY DOC) moves people without notice.

Can the inmate write back to me?

Yes, if you include a complete return address. Inmates can send outgoing mail, though they may need to cover their own postage. PostPal prints your return address for you.

Sources

Addresses verified August 2026 against official sources. Always confirm on the official site before time-sensitive filings.

See the full Kentucky inmate mail rules — what you can and can’t send, photos & more →

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