To send photos to someone in a Florida state prison, mail real photo prints to the Florida Department of Corrections' central processing center at PO Box 23608, Tampa, FL 33623, addressed with the person's last name, first name and DC number. The photos are scanned and delivered electronically to their tablet or kiosk, or printed out for people who can't use one.
The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) has moved routine mail to this electronic system, so photos don't go to the prison anymore. That makes addressing easy, but Florida's rules on photos and packaging are very specific. Here's what you need to know.
Mailing address for photos
FDC says all routine mail to people in its prisons must go to the central processing facility:
[Last name, First name], [DC Number]
PO BOX 23608
TAMPA FL 33623
Note the order: last name first, then first name, then the DC number. There's no prison name or street address in it. FDC's rule also says the person's dorm and bunk aren't needed.
You can see this on FDC's contact an inmate page and on our Florida prison pages, for example:
- Florida State Prison (Raiford)
- Wakulla Correctional Institution (Crawfordville)
- Lowell Correctional Institution (Ocala)
Legal and privileged mail does not go to Tampa; it still goes to the prison. Family photos are routine mail, so they always go to the Tampa address.
Some smaller FDC locations, such as community release centers, may be handled differently. Check our page for the specific facility, which says whether its address is confirmed. All our Florida facilities are listed on the Florida facilities page.
The ID number you need
Everyone in FDC custody has a DC number (for example 012456). FDC asks you to always use the person's committed name and DC number, meaning the name they were committed under, as FDC lists it.
You can find both with the FDC inmate search. It also shows the person's current facility.
FDC's routine mail rule says mail is rejected if the recipient or the sender can't be verified, so a correct name, DC number and your real return address all matter.
Photo rules
Florida's routine mail rule, 33-210.101 of the Florida Administrative Code, allows photographs with these limits:
- No larger than 8x10
- No nude photos or photos that reveal genitalia, buttocks or the female breast
- No Polaroids
- No "commercial photographs": the rule describes these as computer or printer copies produced in bulk for sale, not actual photographs
Photocopies and printer copies of photos are rejected too, so send real photo prints, not pictures printed on regular paper.
The rules we follow for Florida prisons:
- Sizes: 4x6, 5x7 or 8x10 are accepted (we print 4x6)
- Limit: up to 10 photos per envelope
- Not allowed: nudity, partial nudity, sexual content, gang signs, weapons, drugs or money
If you're not sure about a beach or pool photo, leave it out.
Packaging rules that catch people out
FDC is strict about the envelope itself:
- USPS only. Mail sent by other couriers or delivery services is refused.
- Standard envelopes only. Envelopes with metal parts, boxes, padded envelopes, plastic bags, cardboard Priority or Express envelopes, multi-layer packaging, bubble wrap and packing peanuts are returned unopened.
- Nothing attached. No stickers (other than postage and address labels on the outside), and nothing glued, taped or stapled to a page.
- Language. Letters should be in English, Spanish or Creole unless the person has the warden's approval for another language.
What your loved one receives
Your loved one doesn't get the physical prints. FDC opens and inspects each piece of routine mail, scans it, and makes it available through tablet and kiosk services. People whose housing or status doesn't allow tablet or kiosk access get their scanned mail printed and delivered at no cost.
FDC says properly addressed mail that follows its rules won't be held for processing for more than 72 hours after it arrives, not counting weekends and holidays.
What happens to the originals? Under FDC's rule, the contractor keeps original routine mail for 90 days and then shreds it. If you want your prints back, send a written request with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the processing center before the 90 days are up.
For a fuller picture of how scanning works, see prison mail scanning explained.
Step by step
- Look them up in the FDC inmate search and note their committed name and DC number.
- Choose your photos, leaving out anything with nudity or partial nudity.
- Print them as real photo prints, 8x10 or smaller (4x6 is the easy choice). No Polaroids or printer-paper copies.
- Keep each envelope to 10 photos or fewer.
- Use a plain standard envelope. No padding, cardboard mailers or metal clasps.
- Address it to Tampa: last name, first name, DC number, then PO Box 23608, Tampa, FL 33623.
- Add your full return address in the top left corner.
- Mail it by USPS.
Or let us take care of it: on InmatePics, choose your loved one's facility, enter their DC number and upload your photos. We print real 4x6 photo prints, address them to the Tampa center in FDC's format, pack them in envelopes FDC accepts and split larger orders. Before you pay, you see that they'll receive scans rather than prints. It's $0.99 per print plus $4.99 per envelope, with no subscription.
Tips to avoid returned mail
- Don't mail photos to the prison. Routine mail goes to Tampa.
- Put the last name first and include the DC number.
- Real photo prints only. Photocopies and printer copies of photos are rejected.
- No padded or cardboard envelopes. They come back unopened.
- USPS only. No private couriers.
- County jail isn't FDC. If your loved one is still in a county jail, its own rules apply. For example, see our post on Miami-Dade County jails. Federal prisons in Florida, like FCC Coleman, follow BOP rules instead.
Frequently asked questions
What is the address to send photos to a Florida inmate?
For FDC prisons: [Last name, First name], [DC Number], PO Box 23608, Tampa, FL 33623. Legal mail is the exception and still goes to the prison.
Do Florida inmates get the actual photos?
No. FDC scans routine mail and delivers it through tablets and kiosks, or as printouts for people without access. Originals are kept for 90 days and then shredded unless you request them back with a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
What size photos can I send to a Florida prison?
Up to 8x10. Standard 4x6 prints, which is what we send, are well within the limit.
Can I send printed or copied photos to a Florida prison?
No. Photocopies and printer copies of photos are rejected, and FDC's rule also bans "commercial photographs." Send real photo prints.
What if my photos are returned?
With InmatePics, if your order is returned for any reason other than banned content, you get a full refund or a free reprint, your choice.
Rules change, and we keep our Florida facility pages up to date. Read our guide to sending photos to an inmate, or send your photos to a Florida prison now.
