How to mail a letter to an inmate at SCI Albion

To write to someone held at SCI Albion, address your envelope to the inmate's full committed name and inmate number, Smart Communications/PA DOC, SCI Albion, PO Box 33028, St. Petersburg, FL 33733. SCI Albion is a state prison in Erie County in Albion, Pennsylvania, operated by Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Under the Pennsylvania DOC's rules, personal mail is sent to this central address — not the prison — where it is opened, scanned, and delivered to the inmate as a photocopy.

Inmate mail — SCI Albion

[Inmate's full committed name]  [inmate number]
Smart Communications/PA DOC
SCI Albion
PO Box 33028
St. Petersburg, FL  33733

All personal mail for SCI Albion is processed offsite — do not mail the prison at 10745 Route 18, Albion, PA. Put the inmate's full committed name and inmate number on the first line so it can be matched and delivered.

Verified August 2026pa.gov pa.gov

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Smart Communications/PA DOC · SCI AlbionPO Box 33028St. Petersburg, FL 33733

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Key facts

Send mail to Smart Communications/PA DOC, SCI Albion, PO Box 33028, St. Petersburg, FL 33733 — the central processing center, not the prison.
All general personal mail for Pennsylvania state inmates goes to the Smart Communications processing center in Florida — not to the prison. Letters sent to the institution’s own street address are returned.
The envelope must show the inmate’s full committed name and inmate number and the correct facility name, plus your full first and last name and return address. Mail missing the inmate number or name is returned.
Incoming mail is opened, scanned, and the inmate receives a photocopy — not your original. Originals are held about 45 days and then destroyed; they are never returned to you.
Keep it to standard letter-size paper (8.5" x 11" or smaller). Do not send anything bound like a book — bound items are rejected.
Because it is scanned, avoid anything that will not photocopy or that reads as contraband: no crayon or marker, no perfume, lipstick, stickers, glitter, tape, or stains.
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
Confirm the person is still at SCI Albion
Inmates are transferred between facilities without notice. Confirm they are still at SCI Albion — and double-check the inmate number — before you mail anything, using the Pennsylvania DOC's official inmate locator.
2
Address it exactly
First line: the inmate's full committed name and inmate number. Then Smart Communications/PA DOC, SCI Albion, PO Box 33028, St. Petersburg, FL 33733. Add your full first and last name and return address, or the letter is rejected.
3
Keep the contents allowed
Plain letter-size paper is safest. Remember it will be opened and scanned, so send copies of photos or documents you are willing to lose. 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
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 SCI Albion?

Put the inmate's full committed name and inmate number on the first line, then Smart Communications/PA DOC, SCI Albion, PO Box 33028, St. Petersburg, FL 33733. Include your full first and last name and return address on the envelope.

Is mail to SCI Albion opened, read, or scanned?

Yes. Under the Pennsylvania DOC's rules, incoming personal mail is opened and scanned at a central processing center offsite, and the inmate receives a photocopy or digital scan rather than your original. Originals are not returned to you.

What can I send to SCI Albion — photos, cards, or books?

Up to 25 photos per envelope. They are scanned and not returned, and cannot be nude, sexually explicit, or obscene. Books and magazines cannot be sent as personal mail. Publications must come directly from an approved publisher or vendor under the DOC’s incoming-publications policy (DC-ADM 803).

What can't I mail to SCI Albion?

Do not send: Cash, checks, money orders, gift cards, or postage stamps; Bound materials or anything that opens like a book; Nude, sexually explicit, or obscene photos; Stickers, glitter, glue, tape, crayon, marker, perfume, or lipstick; Any physical object other than paper (no polaroids, laminated items, or enclosures). 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 SCI Albion before mailing, since the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania inmate mail rules — what you can and can’t send, photos & more →