To send photos to someone in a Texas state prison, mail real photo prints to the TDCJ's central Digital Mail Processing Center at PO Box 660400 in Dallas, not to the prison itself, with the person's full name and TDCJ number. The photos are scanned in color and delivered to your loved one's tablet, or printed out if they don't have one.
That one central address applies to every Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) unit, from the big prisons around Huntsville to state jails and transfer facilities. It's simple once you know it, but easy to get wrong, because mail sent straight to the unit is returned. Here's how it all works.
Mailing address for photos
Since September 6, 2023, all TDCJ units use the digital mail system. Personal letters and photos go here:
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
[Full name] [TDCJ Number]
PO BOX 660400
DALLAS TX 75266-0400
Notice there's no unit name in the address. The processing center uses the person's name and TDCJ number to route the scan to the right tablet, wherever they're housed.
Under TDCJ's correspondence policy, general correspondence addressed to a unit is returned to the sender as refused. Units still accept a few things directly, like legal mail, special and media mail, and publications sent straight from an approved source, but photos and letters from family are not among them. You can read TDCJ's own explanation on its digital mail page.
Our facility pages for Texas units all show this same address, for example:
- Coffield Unit (Tennessee Colony)
- Estelle Prison (Huntsville)
- Crain Unit (Gatesville)
The full list of Texas prisons, jails and detention centers we mail to is on our Texas facilities page.
The ID number you need
Every person in TDCJ custody has a TDCJ number, and it has to be on the envelope next to their name. TDCJ's policy says mail must use the person's commitment name, meaning the name they were committed under, so use the name exactly as TDCJ lists it rather than a nickname.
You can find both the commitment name and the TDCJ number with the TDCJ inmate search by searching the person's name. It also shows which unit they're assigned to, which is useful to know even though it doesn't go on the envelope.
Photo rules
TDCJ's correspondence rules, Board Policy 03.91, say photos will be rejected if they contain:
- A sexually explicit image. TDCJ's definition is broad: it includes frontal nudity, exposed breasts, and exposed or partially covered buttocks, not just sexual activity. Some swimsuit and beach photos can fall under it, so choose carefully.
- An altered photo, meaning an image with banned content that's been edited to hide or change it.
- A photo where a person's face is hidden in a way that prevents identifying them. Pick photos where everyone's face is clear and uncovered.
- Anything showing or planning criminal activity, threats, escape or contraband.
The rules we follow for Texas units on top of that:
- Size: 4x6 prints
- Limit: up to 10 photos per envelope
- Not allowed: nudity, sexual content, gang signs, weapons, drugs or money
TDCJ's processing center accepts only general correspondence, greeting cards, drawings and photos for scanning. Keep everything else out of the envelope. Our post on what photos are allowed in prison has more examples of what passes and what doesn't.
What your loved one receives
Your loved one doesn't receive the physical prints. At the processing center, mail is sorted, scanned and uploaded to their secure tablet. TDCJ says photos are scanned in color and can be saved on the tablet so they stay available. People without a tablet get black and white printed copies delivered by the unit mailroom.
What happens to the originals? TDCJ's policy says scanned mail is held at the processing center for 90 days and then disposed of. If you want your original prints back, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your mail.
To make the scan look its best, send sharp, well-lit prints with faces clearly visible. Our post on prison mail scanning explains the trade-offs.
TDCJ's page lists Securus customer service at (800) 844-6591 for questions about the digital mail system.
Step by step
- Look them up in the TDCJ inmate search and write down their commitment name and TDCJ number.
- Choose your photos, checking each one against the rules above, especially nudity, partial nudity and hidden faces.
- Print them as real photo prints. We print 4x6.
- Keep each envelope to 10 photos or fewer.
- Address it to the Dallas processing center, not the unit, using the format above.
- Add your full return address. If you want the originals back after scanning, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
- Mail it by USPS and watch for the photos to show up on their tablet.
Or let us handle it: on InmatePics, pick your loved one's unit, enter their TDCJ number and upload your photos. We print real 4x6 photo prints, address them to the processing center the way TDCJ requires and split them into envelopes. Before you pay, you see that they'll receive tablet scans rather than prints. It's $0.99 per print plus $4.99 per envelope, with no subscription.
Tips to avoid returned mail
- Never mail photos to the unit's street address. It comes back as refused.
- Use the commitment name and TDCJ number, together, on every envelope.
- Watch for partial nudity. TDCJ's definition is stricter than many families expect.
- Keep faces visible and unedited. Skip photos where a face is covered or digitally changed.
- Don't add extras. Only letters, cards, drawings and photos are accepted for scanning.
- County jail isn't TDCJ. If your loved one is still in a county jail awaiting transfer, the jail's own rules and address apply. For example, see our post on Harris County Jail.
Frequently asked questions
What is the address to send photos to a Texas inmate?
For any TDCJ prison or state jail: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, [Full name] [TDCJ Number], PO Box 660400, Dallas, TX 75266-0400. Don't add the unit name or address.
Do Texas inmates get the actual photos?
No. TDCJ scans photos in color and uploads them to the person's tablet. Without a tablet, they get black and white printed copies. Originals are held for 90 days and then disposed of unless you send a self-addressed, stamped envelope for their return.
Can I send photos directly to a TDCJ unit?
No. Personal mail sent to a unit is returned as refused. Only legal, special and media mail, business correspondence and approved publications go directly to units.
What photos does TDCJ reject?
Sexually explicit images (including partial nudity), altered photos, photos that hide a person's face, and anything involving criminal activity, threats or contraband.
What if my photos are rejected?
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 Texas facility pages current. Read our step-by-step guide to sending photos to an inmate, or send your photos to a Texas prison now.
