Quick facts

System

Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC)

Inmate ID

Offender ID Number

General mail goes to

Pigeonly Corrections — Las Vegas, NV (central processing)

Recipient receives

Color digital scan reprinted on paper (originals are not delivered)

Address must include

Full name + Offender ID + facility name and Pigeonly facility code

Enclosure limit

Attachments/enclosures limited to 10 pages or pictures (OP-MTV-01)

Photos in USPS mail

4″ × 6″ only, up to 10 per mailing (via Pigeonly address)

Direct-to-facility mail

Non-legal mail sent to a prison address is returned to sender

Where to send mail

Personal mail from family and friends (including printed PDFs)

Include the person’s full name, Offender ID Number, and facility name with its Pigeonly code (e.g. "Anamosa State Penitentiary - 1106"). Put your full return address in the upper-left corner. Facility codes: ASP 1106, CCF 1107, FDCF 1114, ICIW 1109, IMCC 1108, ISP 1110, MPCF 1113, NCF 1111, NCCF 1112.

[Full Name] [Offender ID Number]
[Facility Name] - [Facility Code]
PO Box 96777
Las Vegas, NV 89193

Send to the facility instead

• Legal / confidential mail → Inmate’s IDOC facility (not Pigeonly)

  Confidential correspondence (attorneys, courts, ombudsman, and other senders listed in IAC 201-20.4) must be marked "confidential" on the envelope and sent directly to the institution. It is opened in the presence of the incarcerated person for contraband inspection — not routed through Pigeonly.

• Books and publications → Facility, from approved vendor

  Books must ship directly from approved vendors (Books N Things, Edward R. Hamilton Books, or Human Rights Defense Center per policy). Deposit funds so the person can order through an approved vendor, or use the vendor channels on IDOC’s Send Books page — do not mail books to Pigeonly.

• Photo prints (actual products) → Pelipost (approved vendor) or Pigeonly for 4×6 USPS photos

  Pelipost is IDOC’s approved photo-print vendor for physical photo products. For photos sent through USPS, use the Pigeonly Las Vegas address (4×6, max 10).

• Care packages → Approved holiday program only

  Food and personal items from home are not accepted by mail. IDOC allows holiday gift packages through Iowa Prison Industries Central Canteen during the annual ordering window.

Format & content rules

• All incoming non-legal mail must go to the Pigeonly central facility. Mail sent directly to an IDOC prison address will be returned to sender.
• Pigeonly opens non-legal mail, scans it into a digital color copy, and ships printed copies to the correct Iowa facility. Originals are temporarily stored then securely destroyed — they are not returned.
• Pigeonly processes letters (including children’s drawings), greeting cards, postcards, 4×6 photographs (limit 10), and unbound newsletters. Printed PDF pages mailed as personal correspondence fit the letter channel.
• OP-MTV-01 limits attachments/enclosures to ten pages or pictures. Keep extra clippings, photos, or inserts within that cap; split longer document sets across multiple mailings if needed.
• Include your printed name and full return address on the envelope (upper-left). Sign your full name at the end of the letter. The incarcerated person’s name, Offender ID, and facility + code must appear on the envelope.
• Photographs must comply with IDOC standards (no nudity; no security-threat-group gestures or symbolism). Multiple copies of the same photo are not allowed except for photos of the incarcerated person themselves.
• Do not enclose cash, stamps, stickers, or other contraband. Foreign-language correspondence may be inspected and translated.
• Content can still be rejected under OP-MTV-01 or IAC 201-20.4 if it threatens security, violates correspondence guidelines, or contains prohibited material.

Document mailing checklist

1. Confirm the person is in IDOC custody and look up their Offender ID Number and current facility.
2. Find the facility’s Pigeonly code on IDOC’s Write an Offender page (required on the address line).
3. Print your PDF on ordinary letter-size paper. Keep enclosures at or under 10 pages/pictures, or split into multiple envelopes.
4. Address to the Pigeonly Las Vegas PO Box with name, Offender ID, facility name + code, and your return address, then mail as personal correspondence.

Look up an Offender ID Number →

Send with PrisonPDF

• Upload a multi-page PDF or DOCX and we print and mail it for you.
• When you select Iowa, we use the Pigeonly central processing address and collect the facility name and code.
• We do not review PDFs — IDOC or Pigeonly may still reject or withhold mail that violates policy.

Official sources

• IDOC — How Do I Write an Offender?
• IDOC — How Do I Send Books?
• IAC 201-20.4 — Mail
• IDOC Offender Search