Sending Mail and Books

Writing letters can be an important and inexpensive way to maintain a close relationship with someone who is incarcerated. Incarcerated Persons may purchase pre-stamped envelopes and may send and receive as many letters as they desire. Those without sufficient funds are provided a limited supply of pre-stamped envelopes. All mail entering and leaving a jail facility is searched for contraband and the writing will be scanned for security issues. In the case of “legal mail” between an incarcerated person and the inmate’s attorney, the Facility Commander, the Board of Corrections, or other public officials, the correspondence is checked for contraband but not read or scanned.

When addressing correspondence to someone in jail, please address the envelope in the following manner:

Write your address (the "return" or "sender" address) in the top left corner.
Write the delivery address (the "recipient" address) in the bottom center.

The delivery address is: 
Sheriff's Detention Center 
200 E. Hackett Rd
Modesto, CA. 95358

If you do not know the Booking Number of an incarcerated person, see our "Who's in Custody" page and locate the incarcerated person by name which will contain his/her booking number. A booking number must be included on mailings.

Proper language shall be used in writing letters.

All mail will be inspected for contraband.

All letter writing material will be supplied by the Jail.

Mail is received at the Jail six days a week.

There is no limit to the amount of out going mail incarcerated persons may send, provided they have the sufficient postage. Postage stamps may be purchased through commissary. Indigent incarcerated persons (those incarcerated persons who have $2.00 or less on their cash account) may receive two (2) free postage paid letters for personal correspondence each week, and an unlimited amount for legal mail.

Effective November 1, 2011, Money for incarcerated person accounts will only be accepted through TouchPay Payment Systems.

All incoming mail will be accepted, excluding those which contain polaroid pictures, any kind of nude or partially nude pictures or drawings, raised decorative stickers, letters in envelopes which could conceal contraband, personal checks, cards, items which may be obtained on commissary, mail containing substances such as powder, liquids, etc., or any material deemed unacceptable by the Facility Commander. Letters containing any one of these items will be returned to sender.

Magazines & Books: 

With prior written approval of the Operations Sergeant, magazines, periodicals, and books may be processed through the mail directly from the publisher.