# How to Send Photos to Someone in an Ohio State Prison > How to send photos to an inmate in an Ohio state prison: the ODRC Mail Processing Center address, inmate number, 10-photo limit and color copies. Published October 10, 2026 in Mail & Facility Rules To send photos to someone in an Ohio state prison, mail them to the ODRC Mail Processing Center in Youngstown, with your loved one's full name and inmate number on the first line. Send no more than 10 photos with a letter or card, and expect your loved one to receive a color copy of each photo rather than the original print. Ohio changed how family mail works when it opened its central mail center, and a lot of older advice online still points to individual prison addresses. Here's how it works now, what the rules say, and how to make sure your photos get through. ## How Ohio prison mail works The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) routes personal mail from family and friends through one central location: the **ODRC Mail Processing Center (OMPC)** in Youngstown. Staff there open your envelope, and the contents may be copied or scanned before your loved one gets them. ODRC's mail policy, [75-MAL-01, Inmate Mail](https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/raw/upload/drc.ohio.gov/MyOhio/Policies/Screen%20Reader%20Friendly%20Versions/Chapters%2050-81/75-MAL-01_2.html), spells out a few key points: - Photographs, **including professionally printed ones**, are subject to copying or scanning. - Items received in color are copied in color. - Original photos are held for 30 days. After that they are destroyed, unless your loved one arranges to have them sent somewhere else at their own expense. The same address is used for state prisons across Ohio, including [Ohio Reformatory for Women](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/ohio/ohio-reformatory-for-women), [Correctional Reception Center](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/ohio/correctional-reception-center), [Ross Correctional Institution](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/ohio/ross-correctional-institution) and [Southern Ohio Correctional Facility](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/ohio/southern-ohio-correctional-facility). ## Mailing address for photos Because everything goes to Youngstown first, the name and number on the first line are what get your photos to the right person: ``` [Full name] [Inmate Number] ODRC MAIL PROCESSING CENTER 884 COITSVILLE-HUBBARD ROAD YOUNGSTOWN OH 44505 ``` You don't need the prison's name or street address on the envelope. Older guides that list a prison's own address for family letters may be out of date. Always include your full return address. Each prison's page in our [Ohio facility directory](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/ohio) shows the current address format. ## The ID number you need Ohio uses an **inmate number** (ODRC sometimes calls it the institution number). ODRC's own sample addresses show a single letter followed by six digits, such as A123456, R123456 or W012345. The letter is part of the number, so include it. If you don't know the number, the ODRC offender search on the state's website lets you look someone up by name, and it shows their current prison. Your loved one can also share it in a letter or call. Our guide to [finding an inmate ID number](https://inmatepics.com/blog/how-to-find-an-inmate-id-number) has more tips. ## Photo rules Here's what ODRC's published rules and its [mail center notice for families](https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/drc.ohio.gov/images/Poster_-_English.pdf) say about photos: - **Up to 10 photos.** Policy 75-MAL-01 allows ten photos with cards and letters from family and friends. ODRC raised the old limit of five to ten when it moved family mail to the central center. - **Nothing larger than 8.5 x 11 inches.** ODRC's mail center notice tells families to keep items to the size of a standard sheet of paper, so a 4x6 print is well within the limit. - **No nudity or sexual content.** Our Ohio facility pages also flag photos showing gang signs, weapons, drugs or money, which mailrooms commonly reject. ODRC also says pencil and bright-colored paper give the poorest scans, and recommends blue or black ink on white or yellow paper for any letter you include. For photos, pick clear, well-lit shots, since detail can get lost in a copy. For a deeper look at what tends to get rejected, see [what photos are allowed in prison](https://inmatepics.com/blog/what-photos-are-allowed-in-prison). Rules change, so check the prison's page in our directory before you send. ## What your loved one receives In most cases your loved one receives a **color copy** of each photo, not the original print. ODRC's policy says photos, even professional prints, may be copied or scanned, and color items are copied in color. A few things follow from that: - **Image quality matters more than paper quality.** A sharp, bright photo copies well. A dark or grainy one may come out muddy. - **Send copies of precious photos, not originals.** The originals are destroyed after 30 days unless your loved one pays to have them sent elsewhere. - **Faces should fill the frame.** Close-ups and small groups come through better than wide shots. With InmatePics, you see this before you pay. For Ohio state prisons, we show that the person will receive a color copy, so you know exactly what to expect. Our post on [prison mail scanning](https://inmatepics.com/blog/prison-mail-scanning-explained) explains the difference between prints, copies and tablet scans. ## Step by step 1. **Look up your loved one** in the ODRC offender search to confirm their inmate number and that they're in a state prison. 2. **Choose up to 10 photos** per envelope. More than that? Use separate envelopes. 3. **Review the content.** No nudity or sexual content, and avoid weapons, drugs, money or gang signs. 4. **Address the envelope** to the ODRC Mail Processing Center in Youngstown, with their full name and inmate number on the first line. 5. **Add your full return address.** 6. **Mail it** and give the mail center time to process it before it reaches the prison. Or skip the printing and envelopes. With [InmatePics](https://inmatepics.com/send), you upload photos from your phone, choose the prison, and enter your loved one's name and inmate number. We print real 4x6 photos, address them the way ODRC requires, and pack them 10 to an envelope. It's $0.99 per print plus $4.99 per envelope. Ten photos in one envelope cost $14.89, with no subscription. ## Tips to avoid returned or delayed mail - **Use the Youngstown address,** not an old prison address you found online. - **Include the letter in the inmate number.** A123456 and 123456 are not the same. - **Count your photos.** Ten per envelope keeps you within ODRC's limit. - **Skip extras.** No stickers, glitter or anything glued on. - **Keep the name consistent** with the name ODRC has on file, as shown in the offender search. - **Recheck after a move.** Because Ohio uses one central address, a transfer usually doesn't change the address, but confirm the person is still in ODRC custody. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I send photos to the prison or to Youngstown? To Youngstown. Personal mail and photos for Ohio state prisons go to the ODRC Mail Processing Center at 884 Coitsville-Hubbard Road, Youngstown, OH 44505. Your loved one's name and inmate number route it to the right prison. ### How many photos can I send to someone in an Ohio prison? ODRC's policy allows up to 10 photos with a card or letter. If you want to send more, use more than one envelope. InmatePics splits larger orders for you. ### Will they get the actual photo prints? Usually not. ODRC's policy says photos, including professionally produced ones, may be copied or scanned, and color items are copied in color. The originals are held for 30 days and then destroyed unless your loved one arranges to have them sent elsewhere. ### Does this apply to Ohio county jails? No. County jails in Ohio set their own mail rules. Look up the specific jail in our [Ohio directory](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/ohio). Federal prisons in Ohio follow Bureau of Prisons rules, explained in our [federal prison guide](https://inmatepics.com/guides/sending-photos-to-federal-prison). ## Send photos to an Ohio state prison Find your loved one's prison in our [Ohio facility directory](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/ohio) for the current address and rules, or [start your order](https://inmatepics.com/send) now. Delivered, or your money back.