Quick facts

System

Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)

Inmate ID

Register Number (8 digits)

General mail goes to

The inmate’s facility mailing address

Recipient receives

Photocopies only at non-minimum facilities (color copies for photos); minimum-security may differ

Agency page limit

No universal BOP page cap — local A&O handbooks often set sheet limits (e.g. 5)

Paper & envelope

Plain white paper in a white envelope required (Nov 2024 directive)

Best practice for documents

Single-sided clear print; keep packets short unless the handbook allows more

Where to send mail

General correspondence

Use the inmate’s full committed name and register number. Get the facility mailing address from the BOP inmate locator (addresses differ by institution).

[Inmate Full Committed Name] [Register Number]
[Facility Name]
[Facility Mailing Address]
[City, State ZIP]

Special cases

• Special / legal mail → Same facility, properly marked as special mail

  Opened in the inmate’s presence after sender verification. Envelope may be photocopied; contents are still provided (not replaced by a photocopy of the letter body under the Nov 2024 description).

• Books and magazines → Usually from publisher, book club, or bookstore

  Per BOP community-ties guidance; newspapers generally from the publisher. Softcover rules can differ at minimum security.

• Packages from home → Not allowed without prior written approval

  Typically only release clothing or authorized medical devices, with staff approval.

Format & content rules

• Use plain white paper and a white envelope (required under the Nov 2024 mail directive for general correspondence).
• No glitter, stickers, lipstick, crayon, marker, perfume/cologne, or suspicious stains — these are grounds for rejection.
• No labels on incoming general mail (limited exceptions for approved inmate-to-inmate mail and sanctioned publications).
• Always include a complete return address and the inmate’s committed name + register number.
• There is no agency-wide page limit; some facility handbooks cap sheets per envelope (examples of ~5 single-faced sheets exist). Check the A&O handbook.
• Do not send cash or unauthorized packages.

Document mailing checklist

1. Look up the person on the BOP inmate locator and confirm their register number and facility.
2. Check that facility’s A&O / inmate handbook for local sheet limits and any extra rules.
3. Print on plain white paper; use a white envelope; avoid stickers and labels.
4. Address to the facility using committed name + register number, then mail.

Look up a BOP register number →

Send with PrisonPDF

• Upload a multi-page PDF or DOCX and we print and mail it for you.
• For Federal, we default to short single-sided B&W bundles (3 sheets) as a conservative, photocopy-friendly starting point. You can unlock more sheets and double-sided if your facility handbook allows it.
• You still provide the correct facility address; we do not review content, and the institution may reject mail that violates policy.

Official sources

• BOP — Nov 2024 mail / photocopy directive (Director message)
• BOP — Community Ties (mail overview)
• BOP Program Statement 5265.14 — Correspondence
• BOP Inmate Locator