Inbound mail to Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) inmates must be addressed to the inmate's full committed name, CDOC identification number, housing unit, and the facility's official mailing address — in that order on four lines. The CDOC ID number is the single most important field: a letter without it will be returned to sender even if everything else is correct. Colorado processing for inbound mail uses standard postal mail; tablet messaging via JPay, which determines how quickly the letter reaches your loved one and whether the original ever leaves the mail room.
Photographs, greeting cards, and printed materials all carry restrictions inside the CDOC system. Photos are limited to roughly 4×6 inches with no more than five to ten per envelope, depending on the institution. Polaroids are universally rejected because the chemical layer can hide contraband. Greeting cards larger than 5×7 inches, any card with musical components, foil, glitter, stickers, lipstick, perfume, or watermarked stationery will cause the entire envelope to be rejected at intake — and the rejection is reported to the inmate's classification file. Use plain white paper and a standard #10 envelope when in doubt.
Related: trusted reentry directory.
Books and magazines must arrive directly from the publisher or an approved retailer such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Books-A-Million. Used books from third-party sellers are almost always returned. Hardcovers are generally banned; softcovers must be new and shrink-wrapped. CDOC also limits how many personal books an inmate may keep at one time. Subscriptions are allowed if mailed by the publisher and addressed exactly the way the inmate's commitment record reads. If a publication is denied, the inmate has a written appeal right and can request a copy of the rejection notice for review.
Related: family support resources.
Legal mail is handled separately. Envelopes from your attorney must be marked “Legal Mail” and clearly display the attorney's bar information on the return address; the inmate then opens the envelope in front of a corrections officer who may inspect for contraband but not read the contents. Mail from courts, congressional offices, and consulates also receives legal-mail handling. Keep proof of mailing — return receipts and tracking — for any time-sensitive document; CDOC mail rooms occasionally lose or hold envelopes during lockdowns.
Related: prison consulting services.
Related on InmateGuide: For facility-specific rules, see ADX Florence, Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility, Bent County Correctional Facility, or browse all Colorado facilities. Compare with Colorado Visiting Rules and Hours, Colorado Phone Calls and Messaging, Colorado Sending Money to an Inmate. For an interstate overview, read our general mail and photos guide.