Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Offender Mail and Packages

What am I allowed to mail an inmate in prison?

The policies and procedures on inmate mail are posted below for your information.

Inmate Mail	75-MAL-01.pdf
Printed Material (Includes printed material that may be mailed to inmates)	75-MAL-02.pdf
Offender Personal Property (Includes inmate package regulations)	61-PRP-01.pdf

General Mail

You may correspond with an inmate via the U.S. Mail or through email using the J Pay service explained below. For correspondence sent through the postal service, please include his or her inmate number on the front of the envelope. The inmate number can be obtained by calling Central Inmate Records at 614-752-1076 or you can use our on-line offender search.

Prison addresses can be found by locating the institution on our facilities page.

JPay EMail Option

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has began using an innovative electronic mail system to allow family and friends to use modern day email applications to correspond with their incarcerated loved one.   To be clear, this program does NOT provide inmates with direct email access.  Rather, it allows those who wish to correspond with an inmate to enter into a subscription through a third-party website, at a cost substantially less than the postal service, and that company will serve as the vehicle to manage emails between inmates and their loved ones.    

Please note that the JPay service should not be used by attorneys to communicate with inmates, as the mail will not be treated as confidential.

Offender Packages

Inmate Food and Sundry Package - Limits revised effective January 5, 2012

Inmates may order and receive food and sundry packages from vendors approved by the Director or designee.  Keefe Group/Access Securepak and Union Supply Direct are approved vendors authorized to provide food and sundry packages to inmates housed in Ohio prisons. 

Food and Sundry packages for inmates are required to be ordered through Keefe Group/Access Securepak and/or Union Supply Direct.  Inmates have access to catalogs, flyers, and order forms for the programs at the institutions.

Family members, friends and others (regardless of their inclusion on the inmate’s approved visitation list) may order food and/or sundry packages, subject to the limitations of AR 5120-9-33, from the approved vendor or vendors, for the benefit of a designated inmate.

Food and sundry packages are permitted to be sent to Level 1, 2, 3, 4A, and Death Row inmates.  However, there are limitations to the number of packages that may be sent.

Level 4B and 5 inmates, non-cadre inmates assigned to a reception center, short-time offenders serving less than 90 days assigned to the Correctional Reception Center (CRC), Lorain Correctional Institution (LorCI) or the Ohio Reformatory for Women (ORW) may not receive packages.   Similarly, inmates temporarily assigned to a medical center, sent to outside hospitals, assigned to disciplinary control or local control, or assigned to intensive prison programs are not eligible to receive packages. 
Inmates (patients) assigned long term at the Franklin Medical Center (FMC) and Pickaway Correctional Institution’s (PCI) Frazier Health Center may receive packages with the approval of the Managing Officer. 

Institutions provide inmates with a list of items they may receive.  The list may vary from prison to prison.  It is the responsibility of the inmate to provide family members, friends, and others with the list and the proper mailing guidelines.

Inmate Release Clothing (Dress Out Program)

As of July 1, 2011, Union Supply Direct is an approved vendor for inmate release clothing packages (Dress Out Clothing Program).  Offenders, family and friends may order release clothing for an offender by visiting its website at www.ohinmatepackage.com or by calling the toll free number 1-855-247-6092. Offenders have access to catalogs/flyers/order forms for the program at the institution.

The Dress Out clothing program is specifically designed for inmates who are being released so they can leave the institution feeling good in the most up-to-date styles. With this program, inmates are allowed to order their Dress Out package with funds from their inmate accounts.  Union Supply will also accept orders from family and friends via the internet, mail, toll free phone and fax. The boxes will arrive within 30 days of the inmate's release date.   

Mail and Visiting Restrictions

Please download the latest document outlining limits for offenders that have been placed on mail or visiting restrictions.