The usual photo rules
- Printed photos, usually 4x6 inches or smaller. Many facilities don't allow Polaroids.
- A limit per envelope, often somewhere between 5 and 10 photos.
- No nudity or sexual poses, no weapons, drugs, alcohol, money or gang signs, and sometimes no hand signs at all.
- No writing, stickers or glitter on the photo. Write names and dates on the back only if the facility allows it.
- Photos of other people inside, or of the facility itself, are often banned.
Mailing photos yourself
- Check the facility's photo limit and size rules.
- Print at a pharmacy or photo kiosk on standard photo paper.
- Put them in a plain white envelope with a short letter, the person's full name and inmate number, and your return address.
- If the facility scans mail, expect the person to see the photos on a tablet rather than in hand.
Using a photo app
Several apps print photos from your phone and mail them for you in a format facilities accept, usually for about a dollar or two per photo. They handle sizing and addressing, which cuts down on returned mail. Search your app store for "photos to prison" and check that the app ships to your person's facility.