How to Send Photos to Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth

To send photos to someone in Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth, mail them to Smart Communications / Tarrant Co Jail, P.O. Box 9195, Seminole, FL 33775-9137, with the person's full name and CID number. You can include up to 10 unframed photos no larger than 4 by 6 inches, and your loved one will view your mail on their tablet once it's scanned and approved.

Personal mail sent to the jail's street address is stamped "Return to Sender," so the address is the first thing to get right. Here's the exact format, the ID number you need, the sheriff's photo rules and how to avoid returned mail.

Mailing address for photos

The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office inmate correspondence page shows this format for letters to people in the jail:

Smart Communications / Tarrant Co Jail
[Full name] [CID Number]
P.O. Box 9195
Seminole, FL 33775-9137

Put your name and return address in the top left corner.

The sheriff's office says general mail is sent to an outside service where it's scanned into an electronic system. It also says that any personal mail, such as postcards, letters and greeting cards, that arrives at the jail itself will be stamped Return to Sender with instructions to resend it to the new address.

The jail's street address, 100 North Lamar Street, Fort Worth, TX 76196, is still used for legal mail, books, magazines and postal or Western Union money orders, but not for photos and letters from family.

That one P.O. box covers the Tarrant County jail system. Our facility pages show the latest details we have for each building:

For other jails and prisons in the state, see our Texas page.

The ID number you need

Tarrant County's address example asks for the person's full name and CID number. CID is the identification number the sheriff's office uses for a person in its custody.

To find it:

Use the sheriff's office online inmate search with your loved one's full legal name.
Ask your loved one for their CID on a call or video visit.
Write the name and number exactly as the jail lists them.

Our guide on how to find an inmate ID number explains official jail and prison searches in more detail.

Photo rules

The sheriff's office spells out its photo rule clearly: the only item that may be enclosed with correspondence is 10 or fewer unframed photographs no larger than 4 inches by 6 inches. That means:

Up to 10 photos per envelope. If you have more, split them into separate envelopes.
4x6 or smaller. Standard 4x6 prints fit exactly.
Unframed. No frames, mats, backing boards or anything attached.
Nothing else inside but your letter. No cards, stickers, bookmarks or keepsakes.

The sheriff's office also lists content it won't allow through the mail, including images showing physical violence, gruesome subject matter or obscene material, and anything depicting the manufacture or likeness of explosives, weapons or drugs. To be safe, also leave out photos with money, gang signs or revealing clothing.

Letters themselves can be no larger than 12 by 16 inches. Everyday pictures work best: family dinners, kids' school photos, pets, holidays and the people who are waiting at home.

What your loved one receives

Tarrant County scans general mail. The sheriff's office says the scanned mail is approved or denied by mailroom staff, and once approved, it's available on the person's tablet. The page also says all regular postal mail is scanned and viewed on mobile electronic devices.

So your loved one sees your photos as scanned images on a tablet, not as the paper prints you mailed. Before you pay, our checkout shows what the person will receive at this facility.

Tracking your mail

The sheriff's office encourages families to sign up for a free MailGuard Tracker account at mailguardtracker.com. You can see delivery status, get a notice if your mail is rejected and download copies of mail that's been processed.

Our post on prison mail scanning explains more about how scanned mail works.

Step by step

Find the CID number with the online inmate search and confirm your loved one is still in custody.
Choose up to 10 photos per envelope.
Make them 4x6 or smaller, unframed, with nothing attached.
Check the content. No violence, weapons, drugs or anything sexual.
Address the envelope to Smart Communications / Tarrant Co Jail, then the person's full name and CID number, then P.O. Box 9195, Seminole, FL 33775-9137.
Add your return address and mail it.

Or let us handle the details. With InmatePics, you upload photos from your phone, choose your loved one's Tarrant County facility and enter their ID number. Our printing and mailing partners print real 4x6 photos, and every order is addressed and packed the way the facility requires and split into envelopes it accepts, so no envelope goes over the 10-photo limit. It's $0.99 per print plus $4.99 per envelope, with no subscription: 10 photos in one envelope cost $14.89. We remove location data from your photos and delete them after your order is done.

Tips to avoid returned mail

Don't send personal mail to 100 N. Lamar. The jail returns it.
Never put more than 10 photos in one envelope.
Don't send anything bigger than 4x6. 5x7 and 8x10 prints don't meet the rule.
No greeting cards, frames or extras. Photos are the only enclosure allowed.
Include the CID number so the processing center can match your mail to the right person.
Keep money separate. Money orders go to the jail's street address, never to the P.O. box.

The sheriff's office says contraband received in the mail is returned to the sender. For more common mistakes, see why prison mail gets returned.

Frequently asked questions

How many pictures can you send to Tarrant County Jail?

Up to 10 per envelope. The sheriff's office says the only item that may be enclosed with a letter is 10 or fewer unframed photos no larger than 4 by 6 inches.

What is the address to mail photos to Tarrant County Jail?

Smart Communications / Tarrant Co Jail, the person's full name and CID number, P.O. Box 9195, Seminole, FL 33775-9137. The 100 N. Lamar Street address is for legal mail, books, magazines and money orders.

Will they get the actual photos?

According to the sheriff's office, general mail is scanned, reviewed by mailroom staff and then made available on the person's tablet. They see the images, not the paper prints.

What happens if my photos are rejected?

If you sign up for MailGuard Tracker, you get a notice when mail is rejected. If you send with InmatePics and the facility returns your order, you get a full refund or a free reprint, your choice.

Ready to send? Check the latest details on our Tarrant County Corrections Center page, then send your photos with InmatePics.