Inmate Communication

Inmates always appreciate a letter. Most assuredly it will be read several times. The rule is that you must be the one to initiate correspondence. Birthday cards and Christmas cards are especially encouraged. Never use your home address when writing to an inmate. You must use the office’s post office box in Snohomish. You may write directly to the inmate, just use the post office box for the return address. Have your friend write back to you at the post office box, they can address it to you at that P.O. Box. When a letter arrives for you, we will drop it unopened in another envelope and mail it to you. We do randomly screen letters from inmates to volunteers and will open any letter that causes suspicion or is otherwise questionable. We will note on the envelope when this has been done. You can then make a small donation periodically to cover the cost of the postage to forward it to you.

Your Return Address

Your Name
P.O. Box 293
Snohomish, WA 98291-0293

The Inmate's Address

Inmate Name & DOC Number
Institution name and Unit (optional)
P.O. Box or Street Address
City, WA Zip

Institutional Addresses:

MCC-WSRU (Closed Custody)
PO Box 777
Monroe, WA 98272

MCC-TRU (Med/Min Custody)
PO Box 888
Monroe, WA 98272

MCC-MSU (Camp Minimum)
PO Box 7001
Monroe, WA 98272

Washington Corrections Center (Med/Min Custody)
PO Box 900
Shelton, WA 98584

Olympic Corrections Center (Camp Mininum)
11235 Hoh Mainline
Forks, WA 98331

Washington Corrections Center for Women
9601 Bujacich Rd. NW
Gig Harbor, WA 98332-8300

Mail Restrictions

The following is partial lists of what types of incoming mail are not allowed and will be rejected. To see a full list, see the DOC website here.

Writing in gel or glitter pens
Stamps, writing paper or envelopes
Money, in any form
Stickers or scotch tape on the envelope (address labels okay)
Multi-layered homemade cards
Greeting cards that are padded, laminated, musical and/or bigger than 8"x10"
More than a single magazine article
Book clippings of any size
More than 10 newspaper clippings
Publications not mailed directly from the publisher or retailer
Sweepstakes, contests, lottery tickets, games of chance
Threats of physical harm
Blackmail or extortion threats
Contraband
Weapons, ammunition, bomb or incendiary device construction plans
Escape plans or operational details of existing security devices
Plans for criminal activity
Mail that is in code
Mail in a foreign language, when efforts to interpret have been unsuccessful
Obscene or sexually explicit material
Prejudicial, bigoted, and discriminatory material

Money & Gifts

One rule is not to send money or gifts to an inmate. Also, do not receive money from an inmate to purchase goods or to be used for any other purpose. If an inmate asks for money or a Package you can say, “It is against the rules, I can’t.” Basic living supplies, including stamps, are available to inmates through an inmate welfare/betterment fund.

See the official DOC Communications Policy: www.doc.wa.gov/family/mail.asp

Books, Tapes, and Anything Else

M2 policy forbids gifts of any kind. You may not give them anything except your time and friendship. DOC ensures that all inmates have access to basic needs items. Indigent inmates are supplied with work and living unit clothing and shoes, basic toiletries, some writing paper and pre-franked envelopes, and a Bible, Koran or Torah (in various translations). Inmates will complain that they need something, but really what they are saying is that they don’t like what they have been supplied and they want something better (cooler). It may break your heart but you can not give them anything, not even a magazine subscription.