How to mail an inmate in Washington
To write to someone in Washington 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 Washington State 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 Washington inmate mail works
- Washington sends mail to each prison directly. Address it to the incarcerated person’s full committed name and six-digit DOC number, then the facility’s own mailing address (a P.O. box for some, a street address for others).
- A return address with an identifiable last name is required on every envelope. Mail without the DOC number or a return address is rejected and returned.
- Incoming mail is opened and inspected; as of August 2026 some facilities photocopy incoming personal mail (via TextBehind) and deliver a copy — but you still mail the facility’s own address, not a vendor.
- Confirm the person’s current facility on DOC’s inmate search before mailing, and note the unit — Monroe Correctional Complex uses a different P.O. box for each unit (IMU, MSU, SRTC, TRU).
What you can't send
- Cash, personal checks, or postage stamps (rejected and returned at the person’s expense)
- Any item other than paper (no polaroids, laminated items, or enclosures)
- Nude, sexually explicit, or contraband-promoting content
- Stickers, glitter, glue, tape, perfume, lipstick, or crayon/marker
- Publications not sent directly from a publisher or approved vendor
Photos: Photos are generally allowed; no polaroids or laminated photos, and nothing nude or sexually explicit.
Books & magazines: Books and magazines must come directly from a publisher or approved vendor (per Policy 450.100), not in personal mail.
All 12 Washington facilities
- Airway Heights Corrections CenterAirway Heights, WA
- Cedar Creek Corrections CenterLittlerock, WA
- Clallam Bay Corrections CenterClallam Bay, WA
- Coyote Ridge Corrections CenterConnell, WA
- FDC SeaTacSeattle, WA
- Mission Creek Corrections Center for WomenBelfair, WA
- Monroe Correctional ComplexMonroe, WA
- Olympic Corrections CenterForks, WA
- Stafford Creek Corrections CenterAberdeen, WA
- Washington Corrections CenterShelton, WA
- Washington Corrections Center for WomenGig Harbor, WA
- Washington State PenitentiaryWalla Walla, WA
Common questions
What is the mailing address for an inmate in Washington?
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 Washington opened or scanned?
Incoming personal mail is opened and inspected for contraband and can be read under the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC)'s rules.
What can't I send to a Washington inmate?
Do not send: Cash, personal checks, or postage stamps (rejected and returned at the person’s expense); Any item other than paper (no polaroids, laminated items, or enclosures); Nude, sexually explicit, or contraband-promoting content; Stickers, glitter, glue, tape, perfume, lipstick, or crayon/marker; Publications not sent directly from a publisher or approved vendor. Prohibited items get the letter rejected.
How do I find which facility someone is in?
Use the Washington State Department of Corrections (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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