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How to mail an inmate in Texas

To write to someone in Texas state custody, address the envelope to the inmate's full committed name and TDCJ number, then Texas Department of Criminal Justice, [facility name], PO Box 660400, Dallas, TX 75266-0400. All personal mail is handled at this central address — not the prison itself. Run by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

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The mailing address

[Inmate's full committed name]  [TDCJ number]
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
[Facility name]
PO Box 660400
Dallas, TX  75266-0400

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

How Texas inmate mail works

  • All general mail for Texas inmates goes to the TDCJ central processing center in Dallas — not to the unit. Mail sent to the unit’s own address is delayed or returned.
  • The envelope must show the inmate’s full committed name, TDCJ number, and unit of assignment, plus your full return address. Mail missing the name or TDCJ number is returned to the sender.
  • General mail is opened, inspected, and digitized — the inmate reads a scanned copy on a tablet or is given a printout. Send copies, not originals; scanned mail is not returned.
  • Legal, media, and other special correspondence is the exception: send those directly to the inmate’s unit of assignment, not the Dallas processing address.
  • A letter can only be handled if the person is correctly identified — double-check the TDCJ number and current unit before you send.

What you can't send

  • Cash, checks, money orders, gift cards, or postage stamps
  • Any object other than paper (no polaroids, laminated items, or enclosures)
  • Nude, sexually explicit, or gang-related photos or content
  • Stickers, glitter, glue, tape, perfume, lipstick, or crayon/marker
  • Books, magazines, or bound materials sent as personal mail

Photos: Photographs are generally allowed but must not be nude, sexually explicit, or gang-related, and polaroids are typically not accepted. Confirm TDCJ’s current limit on the number per envelope before sending.

Books & magazines: Books and magazines must be ordered directly from a publisher or approved vendor and are reviewed under TDCJ’s Uniform Offender Correspondence Rules (BP-03.91). They cannot be sent in personal mail.

All 118 Texas facilities

Common questions

What is the mailing address for an inmate in Texas?

Address the envelope to the inmate's full committed name and TDCJ number, then Texas Department of Criminal Justice, [facility name], PO Box 660400, Dallas, TX 75266-0400. All personal mail is processed at this central address, not the prison.

Is inmate mail in Texas opened or scanned?

Yes. Under the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)'s rules, incoming personal mail is opened and scanned, and the inmate receives a copy rather than your original.

What can't I send to a Texas inmate?

Do not send: Cash, checks, money orders, gift cards, or postage stamps; Any object other than paper (no polaroids, laminated items, or enclosures); Nude, sexually explicit, or gang-related photos or content; Stickers, glitter, glue, tape, perfume, lipstick, or crayon/marker; Books, magazines, or bound materials sent as personal mail. Prohibited items get the letter rejected.

How do I find which facility someone is in?

Use the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)'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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