To send photos to someone at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center in San Antonio, mail them to 200 N. Comal Street, San Antonio, TX 78207, with the person's name and SID number on the envelope. You can send up to 6 photos per envelope, none larger than 5x7, and your loved one views them as scans on the jail's kiosk.
That last part is worth knowing before you send. Bexar County scans all incoming mail, so the person sees your photos on a screen rather than holding the prints. Here's what the Bexar County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) asks for and how to make sure your photos get through.
Mailing address for photos
The BCSO's Inmate Mail page gives this mailing address format:
[Full name] [SID Number]
[Unit location, if known]
BEXAR COUNTY ADULT DETENTION CENTER
200 N. COMAL STREET
SAN ANTONIO TX 78207
The BCSO says the person's name and SID number are required. The unit location is optional, so include it only if you know it. Put your own name and return address on the envelope too.
Our Bexar County Adult Detention Center page uses the same 200 N. Comal Street address. We also have a page for the Bexar County Adult Detention Center Annex nearby on S. Comal Street. If your loved one is at the Annex, check with the BCSO mailroom about which address to use before you send.
The ID number you need
Bexar County uses the SID number to identify people in its jail, and the BCSO says it's required on every piece of mail. It's also the key to getting mail opened at all.
According to the BCSO, mail that isn't opened (because there's no SID number, the name and SID number don't match, or the person is no longer there) won't receive a disposition notice. In other words, you may never hear why it didn't arrive. So it's worth double-checking the number before you send.
The BCSO's inmate and bond information line is 210-335-6201, and you'll need the person's full name and date of birth. The mailroom can be reached at 210-335-6240 or 210-335-6868. Your loved one can also give you their SID number on a call or visit. Our post on finding someone's inmate ID number has more tips.
Photo rules
The BCSO's mail page sets these rules for photos:
- No more than 6 photos in an envelope.
- No photos larger than 5x7 inches.
- No nudity of any kind, including partial nudity or sexually suggestive photos.
- All children must be fully clothed. Be careful with beach, pool and bath-time pictures.
- No hand gang signs or gestures, weapons, drugs or drug paraphernalia. Photos showing these are rejected.
The BCSO also prohibits stickers, greeting cards with ribbon, glitter, string or beads, hard plastic or cardboard items, and cash, money orders or cashier's checks in the mail. Send the photos on their own.
When something is prohibited, the BCSO returns it to the sender with a mail disposition notice explaining why, and sends a copy of the notice to the person in custody.
What your loved one receives
At Bexar County, your loved one views a scanned copy of each photo on the jail kiosk. The BCSO says all incoming mail is opened, inspected and scanned into the kiosk, where the person can view it for up to 6 months. Mail is delivered through the kiosk five days a week, Monday through Friday, except on federal holidays.
The originals don't come back. The BCSO says scanned mail is held for two business days and then destroyed. So don't send one-of-a-kind photos you want to keep. Send prints you're happy to let go, and keep your own copies.
A clear, bright photo still looks great on a screen, and seeing familiar faces matters just as much. Before you pay, we show you what the person will receive at the facility you choose. Our post on prison mail scanning explains how scanned mail works.
Step by step
- Get the SID number from your loved one or the BCSO information line.
- Choose up to 6 photos per envelope. If you have more, plan on more than one envelope.
- Check every photo. No nudity or suggestive poses, fully clothed children, and no gang signs, weapons or drugs anywhere in the frame.
- Print them at 5x7 or smaller. Standard 4x6 prints are a good fit.
- Address the envelope with the person's name, SID number, unit (if known), and the 200 N. Comal Street address, plus your return address.
- Or let us do it. Start an InmatePics order, choose the Bexar County Adult Detention Center, enter the SID number, and we print real 4x6 photos and mail them packed and addressed the way the facility requires.
Tips to avoid returned mail
- Never leave off the SID number. Mail without it may not be opened, and you won't get a notice.
- Make sure the name matches. Use the name the jail has on file, so it matches the SID number.
- Stay at 6 photos or fewer per envelope. Split larger batches into separate envelopes.
- Keep everything plain. No stickers, decorated cards or anything plastic or cardboard.
- Check custody before sending. The BCSO returns mail sent after someone is released or transferred.
You can also read why prison mail gets returned.
Frequently asked questions
What is the mailing address for Bexar County Jail?
Use the person's name and SID number, their unit if you know it, then Bexar County Adult Detention Center, 200 N. Comal Street, San Antonio, TX 78207.
How many photos can I send to an inmate at Bexar County Adult Detention Center?
No more than 6 photos per envelope, and none larger than 5x7 inches.
Will my loved one get the actual photos?
No. The BCSO scans all incoming mail into the jail kiosk, where the person can view it for up to 6 months. Scanned originals are held for two business days and then destroyed.
What is a SID number?
It's the identification number Bexar County uses for each person in its jail. The BCSO requires it, along with the person's name, on all mail.
How much does it cost to send photos with InmatePics?
$0.99 per 4x6 print plus $4.99 per envelope, with no subscription. We split larger orders into envelopes the facility will accept, and you see the number of envelopes and the total before you pay. If the facility returns your photos, you get a full refund or a free reprint.
See our Bexar County Adult Detention Center page and other Texas facilities, or send photos now.
