Inmate Mail/Correspondence

  • Inmates may send and receive unlimited amounts of mail on a daily basis.
  • All mail received must have a return address or it will be returned to the post office. All received mail will be opened and inspected for contraband (items not allowed to be received while confined at the Correctional Facility). 
  • Mail containing contraband may be returned to the sender or in case of contraband that may be considered a violation of Maryland law, may be turned over to the Montgomery County Police Department for disposition.  Examples of contraband include:  postage stamps, photographs depicting pornography, cash, clothing, etc.
  • Please make sure the inmate’s name is clearly indicated on the envelope/package.

Policy Change Inmate Mail/Correspondence

As part of our on-going efforts to provide a safe and secure facility, the Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation has implemented the following policy change.

Effective November 29, 2021, all mail that is deemed deliverable to inmates will be photocopied. 

This includes photographs but excludes publications and legal mail.  The photocopy will be delivered to the inmate and the original will be retained for 60 days.  An inmate may arrange to have an outside party retrieve the original mailing within 60 days of the date the photocopy is delivered to the inmate.  The individual must be prepared to present a government-issued ID to show that they are the individual identified to pick up the original mailing.  Mail pick-up may occur on the following dates and times only: Monday through Friday, 7am to 3pm (excluding holidays).  Mail that is not picked up within 60 days will be destroyed.

Effective October 21, 2020, there have been changes in the mail policy.  Please review the new policy (1200-6-1) prior to sending any correspondence.  

  • Effective September 15, 2021, if any photograph within a mailing is deemed to be a violation of Departmental Policy, ALL photos in the mailing will be returned to sender, there will be no partial delivery.  
     
  • Effective September 8, 2021, photographs sent through a third party vendor (ie. Shutterfly, FreePrint,  etc.) will not be accepted.  All photographs must arrive in a plain white envelope with a clearly marked return address from the individual sending the photographs.  All photographs will be inspected.  Photos larger than the standard 4X6 are not acceptable.  Any photographs deemed to be a violation of Departmental Policy will be returned to sender.  
     
  • Effective September 8, 2021, inmates are limited to seven (7) items of reading material (including books and magazines combined).  Any reading materials in excess of seven (7) will be considered contraband and confiscated and placed in the inmate’s property.  Inmates may coordinate for an outside party to pick up confiscated reading material. It is the responsibility of the inmate to ensure that they do not exceed the seven item limit and to coordinate property retrieval by an outside party.  Please check with an inmate prior to sending reading material to ensure they do not exceed their limit.  If an inmate has reached their limit of reading material, any subsequently received reading material will be immediately returned to sender and will not be stored or kept at the facility.  
     
  • Effective January 28, 2018, the Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation will no longer accept incoming inmate mail at the Montgomery County Detention Center (MCDC). All incoming inmate mail should be addressed to the inmate using the following address: Montgomery County Correctional Facility (MCCF), 22880 Whelan Lane, Boyds, Maryland 20841. Once the mail is received and processed at MCCF, it will then be delivered to the Montgomery County Detention Center (MCDC) to be disseminated to the inmate worker population. Any inmate mail received after the above effective date at the Montgomery County Detention Center will be returned to sender.
     
  • Effective November 1, 2017 the Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation will no longer accept incoming mail that is received in colored envelopes. We will only process and deliver mail that is received in a plain white envelope. All inmate mail received after November 1, 2017 in anything but a white envelope will be considered contraband and returned to sender.   

Mail sent to inmates must be mailed to the following address:

  • Montgomery County Correctional Facility
    Attn: [Inmate Name and ID Number]
    P.O. Box 247
    Phoenix Maryland 21131

Services Information

  • Inmates have the opportunity to purchase from the commissary stamped envelopes and other writing materials. When inmates are without funds, they may order a limited number of stamped envelopes and other writing materials from the Kiosk/Canteen.
  • If an inmate is no longer within one of our facilities, all mail will be returned to the sender.
  • Inmates cannot receive e-mail communication. 
  • It is extremely rare that we would pass a message on to one of our inmates.  It is the inmate’s responsibility to keep in contact with family and friends.


Major emergencies, may be called in to the facility at 240-773-9700 (Montgomery County Correctional Facility) or 240-777-9810 (Montgomery County Detention Center)