# How to Send Photos to Someone in a New York State Prison (DOCCS) > How to send photos to a New York State prison (DOCCS): the facility address, DIN number, the no-Polaroid and no-nude rules, and tips to avoid returned mail. Published October 10, 2026 in Mail & Facility Rules To send photos to someone in a New York State prison, mail real photo prints to their correctional facility's address with their full name and DIN (Department Identification Number) on the envelope and your return address in the top left corner. New York State's Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) allows personal letters and photographs in the mail, as long as they aren't nude photos or Polaroids. Unlike some states, New York doesn't send personal mail to a central scanning center. Each DOCCS prison receives its own mail, which makes the facility address and the DIN the two details that matter most. Here's the full picture. ## Mailing address for photos Address photos to the specific DOCCS correctional facility where your loved one is held: ``` [Full name] [DIN] [Facility name] [Facility mailing address] [City] NY [ZIP] ``` Get the address from the facility's page on the [DOCCS facilities list](https://doccs.ny.gov/facilities). Many pages show a single address, but some list a separate box for incarcerated people's mail. For example, DOCCS lists Clinton Correctional Facility's general address as P.O. Box 2000 but gives **P.O. Box 2001, ZIP 12929** for incarcerated individual mail. When a facility lists a separate mail box like that, use it. Here are some of our DOCCS facility pages: - [Sing Sing Correctional Facility](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/new-york/sing-sing-correctional-facility) (Ossining) - [Attica Correctional Facility](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/new-york/attica-correctional-facility) (Attica) - [Bedford Hills Correctional Facility](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/new-york/bedford-hills-correctional-facility) (Bedford Hills) - [Clinton Correctional Facility - Main](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/new-york/clinton-correctional-facility-main) (Dannemora) Our pages say clearly when we haven't yet confirmed a facility's mailing address. If DOCCS's page shows something different, go with DOCCS. You'll find every New York facility we serve, including county jails and federal prisons, on our [New York facilities page](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/new-york). ## The ID number you need Everyone in DOCCS custody has a **DIN**, short for Department Identification Number. It's written with hyphens, like 98-A-0004. DOCCS says all mail must be **clearly marked with the person's name and DIN**. To find it, use the **Incarcerated Look-Up** on the [DOCCS website](https://doccs.ny.gov/facilities). Searching by name shows the person's DIN and current facility. ## Photo rules DOCCS's [mail and packages page](https://doccs.ny.gov/mail-packages) says envelopes may include personal letters and photographs. It specifically says **do not send**: - **Nude photographs** - **Polaroid photos** - Postage stamps - Letters from other people, except children You can include your own letter with the photos; DOCCS allows personal letters and photographs in the same envelope. The rule about letters from other people means you can't bundle in letters written by other adults. Letters from children are the exception, so a note from the kids can go in alongside their pictures. DOCCS also limits **printed or photocopied material** to five pages per piece of regular mail, and that kind of material may be held for media review, which can delay the whole envelope. That's another reason to send **real photo prints** rather than pictures printed on regular paper. The rules we follow for DOCCS facilities: - **Size:** 4x6 prints - **Limit:** up to 10 photos per envelope - **Not allowed:** nudity, sexual content, gang signs, weapons, drugs or money Not sure about a particular photo? See [what photos are allowed in prison](https://inmatepics.com/blog/what-photos-are-allowed-in-prison) and [why Polaroids are banned in prison](https://inmatepics.com/blog/why-polaroids-are-banned-in-prison). ## What your loved one receives DOCCS opens and inspects incoming mail at the facility for cash, checks, money orders, printed or photocopied material and contraband, then delivers it. Its correspondence directive says letters generally shouldn't be held more than 48 hours, not counting weekends, holidays and emergencies. Because photographs are allowed in the envelope, your loved one generally receives the **actual photo prints**. We haven't yet confirmed this at every DOCCS facility, and our facility pages say so where it applies. If something in the envelope isn't allowed, DOCCS says unauthorized items are either returned to you at the incarcerated person's expense or disposed of, at their choice. Dangerous contraband isn't returned. ## Step by step 1. **Find them** with DOCCS's Incarcerated Look-Up and note their DIN and facility. 2. **Get the facility's mailing address** from its DOCCS page, using the incarcerated individual mail box if one is listed. 3. **Choose your photos.** No nudity, nothing that breaks the rules above. 4. **Print them as real 4x6 photo prints.** No Polaroids, no plain-paper printouts. 5. **Keep each envelope to 10 photos or fewer.** 6. **Write the name and DIN clearly** on the envelope. 7. **Put your return address in the top left corner.** DOCCS won't deliver a letter without one. 8. **Mail it by USPS.** Or let us do it: on [InmatePics](https://inmatepics.com/send), choose the facility, enter your loved one's DIN and upload your photos. We print real 4x6 photo prints, address them the way the facility requires and split them into envelopes it accepts. You see what they'll receive before you pay. It's $0.99 per print plus $4.99 per envelope, with no subscription. ## Tips to avoid returned mail - **Always include a return address.** DOCCS's directive says a letter without one won't be delivered. - **Write the DIN next to the name**, on every envelope. - **No Polaroids and no nude photos**, both named on DOCCS's do-not-send list. - **Don't tuck in stamps or other people's letters.** Postage stamps and letters from other adults aren't allowed. - **Keep printed pages to a minimum** to avoid media review delays. - **Check the Look-Up after a transfer.** DOCCS forwards mail when someone moves, but sending to the right facility from the start is faster. - **State prison isn't city jail.** Rikers Island and other NYC jails are run by the city, with different rules. See [sending photos to Rikers Island](https://inmatepics.com/blog/send-photos-to-rikers-island). Federal prisons like MDC Brooklyn follow BOP rules. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can you send pictures to someone in a New York State prison? Yes. DOCCS says envelopes may include personal letters and photographs. Nude photos and Polaroids aren't allowed. ### What address do I use for a DOCCS prison? The mailing address of the specific facility, from its page on the DOCCS website. Some facilities list a separate P.O. box for incarcerated individual mail, so use that when it's shown. ### Do New York State inmates get the actual photos? Generally, yes. DOCCS inspects incoming mail at the facility and delivers it, rather than scanning it at a central center. ### What is a DIN? The Department Identification Number DOCCS assigns to each person in its custody, written like 98-A-0004. It must be on every envelope along with the person's name. ### 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 [New York facility pages](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/new-york) current. Read our [guide to sending photos to an inmate](https://inmatepics.com/guides/how-to-send-photos-to-an-inmate), or [send your photos to a New York State prison now](https://inmatepics.com/send).