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How to mail a letter to an inmate at North Central Correctional Institution

To write to someone held at North Central Correctional Institution, address your envelope to the inmate's full committed name and commit number, North Central Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 466, Gardner, MA 01440. North Central Correctional Institution is a state prison in Gardner, Massachusetts, operated by the Massachusetts Department of Correction.

Inmate mail — North Central Correctional Institution

[Inmate's full committed name]  [commit number]
North Central Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 466
Gardner, MA  01440

Put the inmate's full committed name and commit 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 commit number is returned.

Verified August 2026mass.govmass.gov

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Your name
Your return address

North Central Correctional InstitutionP.O. Box 466Gardner, MA 01440

Your letter, printed and mailed for you.

Key facts

  • Send mail to North Central Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 466, Gardner, MA 01440 — the institution's inmate-mail address, not its street address.
  • Massachusetts sends mail to each facility directly. Address it to the incarcerated person’s full name and commit number, then the facility’s own mailing address (a P.O. box for most, a street address for some).
  • Include your full name and return address. Mail without the commit number or a return address can be rejected (governed by 103 CMR 481).
  • Incoming non-legal mail is opened and inspected for contraband before delivery; only letters, approved photos, and postcards are accepted — no enclosed items.
  • Confirm the person’s current facility before mailing — people are transferred between prisons 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 North Central Correctional Institution

    Inmates are transferred between facilities without notice. Confirm they are still at North Central Correctional Institution — and double-check the commit number — before you mail anything, using the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC)'s official inmate locator.

  2. 2

    Address it exactly

    First line: the inmate's full committed name and commit number. Then North Central Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 466, Gardner, MA 01440. 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 North Central Correctional Institution?

Put the inmate's full committed name and commit number on the first line, then North Central Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 466, Gardner, MA 01440. Include your full first and last name and return address on the envelope.

Is mail to North Central Correctional Institution opened, read, or scanned?

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

What can I send to North Central Correctional Institution — photos, cards, or books?

Approved photos are generally allowed; no polaroids, and nothing nude or sexually explicit. Books and magazines must be sent directly from a publisher or major vendor, not in personal mail.

What can't I mail to North Central Correctional Institution?

Do not send: Cash, checks, money orders, or postage stamps; Anything other than paper (no polaroids, stickers, glitter, or enclosures); Nude, sexually explicit, or contraband-promoting content; Glued items, scented or altered paper, 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 North Central Correctional Institution before mailing, since the Massachusetts Department of Correction (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 Massachusetts inmate mail rules — what you can and can’t send, photos & more →

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