How to mail an inmate in South Dakota
To write to someone in South Dakota state custody, address the envelope to the inmate's full committed name and DOC number, then the facility’s own mailing address. Each facility has its own mailing address, listed below. Run by the South Dakota Department of Corrections.
The mailing address
[Inmate's full committed name] [DOC number] [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 South Dakota inmate mail works
- South Dakota delivers mail to each facility directly. Address it to the offender’s full name and DOC number, then the facility name and its own mailing address.
- Incoming mail is opened and inspected for contraband, then delivered — the DOC reserves the right to photocopy mail for security reasons, but letters are not routed through an out-of-state scanning vendor.
- Every envelope must show the offender’s name and DOC number and a complete, legible return address. Look up the DOC number with the South Dakota Offender Locator if you don’t have it.
- Books, magazines, and photos must be sent directly from a publisher, distributor, or approved vendor — not from a personal envelope or a marketplace like Amazon or eBay.
What you can't send
- Cash, personal cheques, money orders, or postage stamps
- Hardcover, hollow, or wire-bound books
- Books or publications from Amazon, eBay, or other third-party marketplaces
- More than 12 photos per mailing; polaroids or laminated items
- Paper or items treated with any substance or drug residue
- Nude, sexually explicit, or contraband-promoting content
Photos: Up to 12 photos may be included per mailing; no polaroids, laminated, nude, or sexually explicit photos.
Books & magazines: Books and magazines must ship directly from a publisher, distributor, or school — not from a personal envelope or a marketplace such as Amazon or eBay; no hardcover or wire-bound books.
Common questions
What is the mailing address for an inmate in South Dakota?
Address the envelope to the inmate's full committed name and DOC number, then the facility’s own mailing address. Use the specific facility’s mailing address, listed on its page below.
Is inmate mail in South Dakota opened or scanned?
Incoming personal mail is opened and inspected for contraband and can be read under the South Dakota DOC's rules.
What can't I send to a South Dakota inmate?
Do not send: Cash, personal cheques, money orders, or postage stamps; Hardcover, hollow, or wire-bound books; Books or publications from Amazon, eBay, or other third-party marketplaces; More than 12 photos per mailing; polaroids or laminated items; Paper or items treated with any substance or drug residue; Nude, sexually explicit, or contraband-promoting content. Prohibited items get the letter rejected.
How do I find which facility someone is in?
Use the South Dakota DOC'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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