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How to mail an inmate in New York

To write to someone in New York state custody, address the envelope to the inmate's full committed name and DIN, then the facility’s own mailing address. Each facility has its own mailing address, listed below. Run by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

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The mailing address

[Inmate's full committed name]  [DIN]
[Facility name]
[Facility mailing address — see the facility page]

Replace the bracketed lines with the person's details and their facility (pick it below for the exact wording).

How New York inmate mail works

  • New York sends mail to each prison directly. Address it to the incarcerated person’s full name and DIN (Department Identification Number), then the facility’s own mailing address.
  • Your full return address must appear in the top-left corner. Mail without the DIN or a return address is delayed or returned.
  • Incoming mail is opened and inspected for cash, contraband, and printed material. A single letter may include at most five pages of printed or photocopied material.
  • You may not write to someone who has placed you on their negative correspondence list or who is covered by an order of protection against you.
  • Confirm the person’s current facility on DOCCS’s incarcerated-lookup before mailing — people are transferred between prisons without notice.

What you can't send

  • Cash, checks, money orders, or postage stamps
  • Polaroid photos, or nude / sexually explicit photos
  • Any item other than paper (no laminated items or enclosures)
  • More than five pages of printed or photocopied material in one letter
  • Letters written by anyone other than you (except letters from children)

Photos: Photo prints are generally allowed, but no polaroids and nothing nude or sexually explicit.

Books & magazines: Books, magazines, and packages must come from an approved vendor — they cannot be sent in personal mail.

All 44 New York facilities

Common questions

What is the mailing address for an inmate in New York?

Address the envelope to the inmate's full committed name and DIN, then the facility’s own mailing address. Use the specific facility’s mailing address, listed on its page below.

Is inmate mail in New York opened or scanned?

Incoming personal mail is opened and inspected for contraband and can be read under the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS)'s rules.

What can't I send to a New York inmate?

Do not send: Cash, checks, money orders, or postage stamps; Polaroid photos, or nude / sexually explicit photos; Any item other than paper (no laminated items or enclosures); More than five pages of printed or photocopied material in one letter; Letters written by anyone other than you (except letters from children). Prohibited items get the letter rejected.

How do I find which facility someone is in?

Use the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS)'s official inmate locator, then open that facility's page below for the exact addressing. People are transferred without notice, so confirm before mailing anything important.

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Type your letter, pick the facility, and PostPal prints and mails it via USPS — with your return address so they can write back. No printer or post office.

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