# How to Send Photos to Someone in a Michigan State Prison

> How to send photos to an inmate in a Michigan state prison: address format, MDOC number, banned photos and why prisoners get black-and-white copies.

Published October 10, 2026 in Mail & Facility Rules

To send photos to someone in a Michigan state prison, mail them to the prison where your loved one is housed, with their full name and MDOC prisoner number on the envelope. Every piece of personal mail is photocopied in black and white, so your loved one receives a black-and-white copy of each photo rather than the original print.

Michigan works differently from states that route mail through an out-of-state scanning center. Mail still goes straight to the prison, but the original photos don't reach your loved one. Here's what that means for you, and how to get photos through without delays.

## How Michigan prison mail works

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) opens all incoming personal mail at each prison's mailroom and checks it for contraband. Mail that's allowed is then photocopied, and your loved one gets the copies in a department envelope.

The MDOC's [Write a Prisoner page](https://www.michigan.gov/corrections/for-families/mail-sending-mail-to-a-prisoner) says all incoming personal mail, including envelopes, is photocopied in black and white, and that the prisoner does not receive the original. If you want your loved one to see photos in color, the MDOC points families to JPay, its electronic messaging service.

What happens to the originals? Under [MDOC Policy Directive 05.03.118, Prisoner Mail](https://www.michigan.gov/corrections/-/media/Project/Websites/corrections/Files/Policy-Directives/PDs-05-Institutional-Placement-and-Programs/PD-0503-Programs-and-Leisure-Time-Activities/05-03-118-Prisoner-Mail-effective-03-01-18.pdf), original mail is kept for 14 calendar days and then shredded. There's one exception for photos: your loved one can ask the mailroom, within 14 days, to return the original photos to you, at their own expense.

This applies at every MDOC prison, including [Charles Egeler Reception & Guidance Center](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/michigan/charles-egeler-reception-guidance-center) in Jackson, [Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/michigan/womens-huron-valley-correctional-facility), [Macomb Correctional Facility](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/michigan/macomb-correctional-facility) and [Marquette Branch Prison](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/michigan/marquette-branch-prison).

## Mailing address for photos

The MDOC asks for your loved one's name and number, plus the address of the prison where they're housed:

```
[Full name] [MDOC Number]
[Prison name]
[Prison mailing address]
[City] MI [ZIP]
```

The MDOC's own example puts a # before the number, like "John A. Smith, #123456." The address is different for each prison, so look it up before you write the envelope. The MDOC lists facility addresses on its website, and each prison's page in our [Michigan facility directory](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/michigan) shows the address we use. Where we haven't yet confirmed a prison's mailing address from MDOC's own rules, our page says so, and we check it before we mail your order.

Always include a return address. The MDOC photocopies the front of the envelope so your loved one can see who wrote and how to write back.

## The ID number you need

Michigan uses the **MDOC number**, sometimes called the prisoner number. The MDOC's example shows six digits.

MDOC policy says incoming mail must clearly show the recipient's name and prisoner number. Mail that doesn't may be delayed, or returned to you if staff can't tell who it's for.

You can look up a prisoner number and current location in the MDOC's **Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS)**, linked from the department's website. Our guide to [finding an inmate ID number](https://inmatepics.com/blog/how-to-find-an-inmate-id-number) has more on using state search tools.

## Photo rules

MDOC Policy Directive 05.03.118 rejects mail that includes:

- **Nude photos.** The policy's definition is broad: any photo exposing the buttocks (including a thong with the buttocks visible), the pubic area or genitalia, or the female breast below the top of the areola, except for a baby or infant. "See-through" clothing counts too.
- **Photos showing actual or simulated sexual acts.**
- **Content that threatens security,** such as anything promoting violence, group disruption or escape.

Our Michigan facility pages also flag photos showing gang signs, weapons, drugs or money, which mailrooms commonly reject. Beach and pool photos deserve a second look under the nudity rule.

On the JPay side, the MDOC says only one photo per page can be sent and photo collages are prohibited. If you're printing collages for mail, it's safest to send single photos instead.

Standard 4x6 prints are the easiest size for a mailroom to handle and copy. InmatePics packs up to 10 photos per envelope for Michigan prisons. For more on what tends to get rejected, see [what photos are allowed in prison](https://inmatepics.com/blog/what-photos-are-allowed-in-prison).

## What your loved one receives

Your loved one receives a **black-and-white photocopy** of each photo. That's worth knowing before you pick photos:

- **Contrast matters.** Photos with strong light and clear faces copy well in black and white. Dim indoor shots, or photos where everyone wears dark clothes against a dark background, can turn muddy.
- **Close-ups beat crowds.** A face that fills the frame is easier to see on a photocopy.
- **Originals are at risk.** Unless your loved one asks the mailroom to return them within 14 days and pays the postage, the original photos are shredded. Never send one you can't replace.

When you order through InmatePics, we show you what the person will receive before you pay. For Michigan prisons, that's a black-and-white copy. Our post on [prison mail scanning and copying](https://inmatepics.com/blog/prison-mail-scanning-explained) explains how this compares with other states.

## Step by step

1. **Find your loved one in OTIS** to confirm their MDOC number and current prison.
2. **Look up that prison's mailing address** on the MDOC website or in our directory.
3. **Choose your photos.** Pick bright, clear shots that will hold up in black and white.
4. **Check the content** against the nudity and sexual-content rules above.
5. **Address the envelope** with their full name, MDOC number, the prison name and the prison's address.
6. **Add your return address** and mail it.

Or let us do the printing and addressing. With [InmatePics](https://inmatepics.com/send), you upload photos from your phone, choose the prison and enter your loved one's name and MDOC number. We print real 4x6 photos and mail them addressed the way the prison requires, split into envelopes of up to 10. It's $0.99 per print plus $4.99 per envelope, so ten photos in one envelope cost $14.89. No subscription.

## Tips to avoid returned or delayed mail

- **Write the MDOC number clearly** next to the name. Mail that doesn't clearly identify the recipient can be delayed or returned.
- **Use the right prison.** Michigan has many prisons, several in the same towns. Jackson and Ionia each have more than one. Double-check the facility name.
- **Watch for transfers.** People can be moved after intake at the reception center. Check OTIS before every mailing.
- **Skip extras.** Stickers, glitter and anything glued on can cause problems in a mailroom that photocopies everything.
- **Avoid borderline photos.** Under Michigan's broad nudity definition, a swimsuit photo can be rejected.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do Michigan prisons give inmates the actual photos?

No. The MDOC photocopies all incoming personal mail, including photos, in black and white. Your loved one gets the copy. The original is shredded after 14 days unless they ask to have it returned to you at their expense.

### Can my loved one get color photos?

The MDOC says color copies are available by sending through JPay, its electronic messaging service. Photos sent by postal mail are copied in black and white.

### How many photos can I send?

The MDOC's family mail page doesn't set a specific photo count. InmatePics packs up to 10 photos per envelope for Michigan prisons and splits larger orders across envelopes. Check the prison's page in our directory for the current details.

### Does this apply to county jails in Michigan?

No. These rules are for MDOC state prisons. County jails set their own mail rules. Federal prisons in Michigan follow Bureau of Prisons rules, which we explain in our [federal prison guide](https://inmatepics.com/guides/sending-photos-to-federal-prison).

## Send photos to a Michigan state prison

Look up your loved one's prison in our [Michigan facility directory](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/michigan) for the address and current rules, or [start your order](https://inmatepics.com/send). Delivered, or your money back.