To send photos to someone in a Pennsylvania state prison, you mail them to the Department of Corrections' mail processing center in St. Petersburg, Florida, not to the prison itself. Put your loved one's full name, inmate number and prison name on the envelope, keep it to 25 photos or fewer, and they will receive a printed copy of each photo once the mail is processed, which the DOC says takes at least a week.
That's the short version. Below is everything a family needs to know: the exact address format, the ID number, which photos get rejected, and what your loved one actually holds in their hands at the end.
How Pennsylvania prison mail works
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PA DOC) sends all personal letters and photos for its State Correctional Institutions (SCIs) through a third-party processor, Smart Communications. Your envelope goes to a P.O. box in Florida, where it is opened and scanned. The scan is sent to the prison, where the mailroom prints it and hands the printout to your loved one.
According to the PA DOC mail rules, original photos can't be returned. They are kept for 45 days and then securely destroyed. So treat every photo you send as a copy, and never mail an original you can't replace.
This applies to every SCI in the state, from SCI Camp Hill and SCI Muncy to SCI Greene and SCI Rockview.
Mailing address for photos
Every state prison uses the same P.O. box. Only the name, number and prison name change:
SMART COMMUNICATIONS/PA DOC
[Full name]/[Inmate Number]
[Prison name, e.g. SCI CAMP HILL]
PO BOX 33028
ST PETERSBURG FL 33733
A few things the PA DOC is clear about:
- Use the full, correct name and inmate number. Mail without an inmate number can't be processed.
- Include a return address with your complete first and last name.
- Photo books go somewhere else. Soft-cover photo books from a third-party vendor are addressed to the DOC's Security Processing Center in Bellefonte, not the Florida P.O. box. Loose photo prints go to Florida.
Each prison has its own page in our Pennsylvania facility directory, with the address already filled in for that SCI.
The ID number you need
Pennsylvania calls it the inmate number. It's a short mix of letters and numbers, in a format like AB1234.
If you don't have it, the PA DOC has an online inmate locator on pa.gov where you can search by name. Your loved one can also tell you in a letter or phone call. Our guide on finding an inmate ID number walks through the process for any state.
Write the number exactly as it appears. A swapped letter or missing digit can hold your mail up.
Photo rules
The PA DOC's published rules for photos are short:
- Up to 25 photos per mailing. This limit applies whether you mail photos yourself or order them from an online photo printing service.
- No obscenity, explicit sexual material or nudity.
- Photo books must be soft-cover, 25 pages or fewer (not counting the cover), no larger than 8 x 11 inches, and sent from a third-party vendor. A collage counts as one photo.
Beyond the official list, prison mailrooms commonly reject photos showing weapons, drugs, money or gang signs, and our Pennsylvania facility pages flag those too. When in doubt, leave it out.
Standard 4x6 prints are the safest size. Rules change from time to time, so check the prison's page in our directory before you send.
What your loved one receives
Your loved one won't receive the original glossy prints. They receive a printed copy of each photo, made from the scan.
That changes how you should choose photos:
- Pick clear, well-lit photos. Detail in dark or blurry photos can get lost in a scan and reprint.
- Close-ups work well. Faces fill more of the frame and come through better than wide group shots.
- Don't send irreplaceable originals. You won't get them back.
When you order through InmatePics, you see this before you pay. For Pennsylvania state prisons, we show that the person will receive a printed copy, so there are no surprises. Our post on prison mail scanning explains how copies and tablet scans differ from real prints.
Step by step
- Confirm where your loved one is. Use the PA DOC inmate locator to check their current prison and inmate number.
- Choose up to 25 photos per envelope. If you have more, split them across separate envelopes.
- Check the content. No nudity or sexual content, and skip anything showing weapons, drugs, money or gang signs.
- Address the envelope to the Smart Communications P.O. box in St. Petersburg, using the format above.
- Add your full return address with your first and last name.
- Allow time. The PA DOC says to plan on at least a week of processing time.
Or let us handle it. With InmatePics, you upload photos from your phone, pick the prison, and enter your loved one's name and inmate number. We print real 4x6 photos, address the envelope the way the PA DOC requires, and keep each envelope within the 25-photo limit. It costs $0.99 per print plus $4.99 per envelope, with no subscription. Ten photos in one envelope is $14.89.
Tips to avoid returned or delayed mail
- Don't send photos to the prison's street address. Personal mail and photos go to the Florida P.O. box.
- Double-check the inmate number. Mail without one can't be processed.
- Keep it to 25 photos. Count before you seal the envelope.
- Skip extras. Stickers, glitter and anything glued on can cause problems for a mailroom that scans everything.
- Don't bind or staple pages into a booklet. Mail bound in the center, or in a format that can't be scanned, can't be processed.
- Check after a transfer. If your loved one moves to another SCI, update the prison name on the envelope. The P.O. box stays the same.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send photos directly to a Pennsylvania state prison?
No. The PA DOC tells families to address photos and general correspondence to its mail vendor, Smart Communications, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Use the P.O. box address with the prison's name on the envelope.
How many photos can I send to a Pennsylvania inmate?
Up to 25 photos per mailing. If you want to send more, use more than one envelope. InmatePics splits larger orders automatically so each envelope stays within the limit.
Will my loved one get the original photos?
No. Photos are scanned, and the prison delivers a printed copy. The originals are held for 45 days and then destroyed. They can't be returned to you.
How long does it take?
The PA DOC says to plan for at least a week of processing time, and its mail rules estimate 6 to 8 days for general correspondence.
Does this apply to county jails and federal prisons in Pennsylvania?
No. These rules are for state prisons run by the PA DOC. County jails, including the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, set their own mail rules. Federal prisons in Pennsylvania follow Bureau of Prisons rules, covered in our federal prison guide.
Send photos to a Pennsylvania state prison today
Find your loved one's prison in our Pennsylvania directory for the exact address and current rules, or start your order now. Delivered, or your money back.
