# How to Send Photos to Travis County Jail in Austin > How to send photos to Travis County Jail in Austin: mailing addresses for both facilities, the ID and date of birth you need, and the sheriff's photo rules. Published October 10, 2026 in Mail & Facility Rules To send photos to someone in Travis County Jail, mail them directly to the facility where your loved one is housed: the downtown Travis County Jail in Austin or the Travis County Correctional Complex in Del Valle. The Travis County Sheriff's Office requires the person's full name, date of birth and jail ID or booking number on the mail, plus your return address. Here's how to address it, which ID to use, the sheriff's photo rules and the mistakes that get mail sent back. Rules change, so we keep our Travis County facility pages current too. ## Mailing address for photos Travis County has two housing locations, and the [Travis County Sheriff's Office](https://tcsheriff.org/inmate-jail-info/inmate-info/contact-an-inmate) says all letters, cards and other correspondence **must be sent directly to the facility where the person is housed**. For the downtown jail: ``` [Full name] [Booking Number] DOB: [Date of birth] TRAVIS COUNTY JAIL 500 W 10TH ST AUSTIN TX 78701 ``` For the correctional complex in Del Valle: ``` [Full name] [Booking Number] DOB: [Date of birth] TRAVIS COUNTY CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX 3614 BILL PRICE RD DEL VALLE TX 78617 ``` The sheriff's office says mail must include the person's **full name, date of birth, and jail ID number or booking number**, and **every mailed item must have a return address** from the sender. Our facility pages for the [Travis County Jail / Central Booking Facility](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/texas/travis-county-jail-central-booking-facility) and the [Travis County Correctional Complex](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/texas/travis-county-correctional-complex) show the current details. For other facilities in the state, see our [Texas page](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/texas). ## The ID number you need Travis County accepts either the **jail ID number or the booking number**, along with the person's full name and date of birth. To find this information: - Use the sheriff's [Inmate Search](https://tcsheriff.org/inmate-jail-info/inmate-info/find-an-inmate). The sheriff's office says you can find the full name, date of birth and ID numbers there. - The search will also help you confirm whether your loved one is at the downtown jail or the correctional complex in Del Valle, which decides where you send. - Ask your loved one if you're not sure. They'll know their number. Our post on [how to find someone's inmate ID number](https://inmatepics.com/blog/how-to-find-an-inmate-id-number) has more tips. ## Photo rules The sheriff's office keeps a [contraband list](https://tcsheriff.org/inmate-jail-info/inmate-info/contraband-items) of items it rejects and returns to sender. It's strict: if an envelope has something on the list, the **entire contents** of the letter or package come back. For photographs and drawings, the list includes: - **Photographs larger than 8x10 inches** - **Polaroid photos, framed photos or photo albums** - **Slides or negatives,** and anything laminated - **Gang-related signs,** including any hand signs, gang symbols or tattoos - **Altered or blacked-out photos** - **Partial or full nudity,** including baby photos - **Excessive violence, abuse or unlawful activity** - **Obscene gestures, sexual content, guns or racial material** The same list rejects stickers, tape, sticky notes, return address labels and adhesives, along with blank paper, blank envelopes, stamps and greeting cards larger than 8x10 inches or with music or attachments. A standard 4x6 print is well within the size limit. Read our guide on [what photos are allowed in prison and jail](https://inmatepics.com/blog/what-photos-are-allowed-in-prison) for more on content rules. ## What your loved one receives The Travis County Sheriff's Office asks families to mail letters and cards directly to the jail, and its public pages don't describe a mail scanning system. We haven't yet confirmed for these facilities whether people receive the original prints, so our facility pages say so until we do. When you order through InmatePics, we show you before you pay whether the person will receive prints, a photocopy or a tablet scan. ## Step by step 1. **Look your loved one up** in the sheriff's Inmate Search. Note their full name, date of birth, booking or jail ID number and which facility they're in. 2. **Pick your photos.** Avoid hand signs, revealing clothing, weapons and anything that looks like illegal activity. Check the background too. 3. **Start your order** at [inmatepics.com/send](https://inmatepics.com/send). Upload your photos and crop each one to a 4x6 print. 4. **Choose the right facility** (downtown jail or correctional complex) and enter their details. 5. **Review and pay.** It's $0.99 per print plus $4.99 per envelope, with no subscription. Ten photos in one envelope cost $14.89. 6. **We print and mail it.** Our printing and mailing partners print real 4x6 photos and mail them, addressed the way the facility requires. We strip location data from every photo and delete your photos after your order is done. ## Tips to avoid returned mail - **Send to the right building.** Travis County says mail goes to the facility where the person is housed, so check the Inmate Search first. - **Include the date of birth.** It's required along with the name and ID number. - **Always add a return address.** The sheriff's office requires one on every mailed item. - **Don't add anything to the photos.** No stickers, tape, lamination or writing that blacks out part of the image. - **Keep everything 8x10 or smaller.** Larger photos and posters are on the contraband list. - **Don't include extras** like stamps, blank paper or blank envelopes. One banned item can send the whole envelope back. - **Send books separately.** Paperbacks, magazines and newspapers have to come directly from a publisher, supplier or bookstore, not from an individual, and a person may have only two books and two magazines at a time. Our post on [why prison mail gets returned](https://inmatepics.com/blog/why-prison-mail-gets-returned) covers more common mistakes. If the jail returns your InmatePics order, you get a full refund or a free reprint, your choice. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the mailing address for Travis County Jail? Mail goes to the facility where the person is housed: Travis County Jail, 500 W. 10th St., Austin, TX 78701, or the Travis County Correctional Complex, 3614 Bill Price Rd., Del Valle, TX 78617. Include their full name, date of birth and booking or jail ID number. ### Can you send pictures to an inmate in Travis County? Yes, as long as they follow the sheriff's contraband rules. Photos can't be larger than 8x10 inches, and Polaroids, framed photos, albums and photos showing nudity, hand signs, guns or illegal activity are rejected. ### Why does Travis County need a date of birth on inmate mail? The sheriff's office lists the full name, date of birth and jail ID or booking number as required on all mail. Leaving any of them off risks your mail not reaching the person, so include all three. ### What happens if one photo breaks the rules? According to the sheriff's contraband list, prohibited items are returned to sender along with the entire contents of the letter or package. One problem photo can send the whole envelope back. ### Can I send Polaroids to Travis County Jail? No. Polaroid photos are on the sheriff's contraband list. Send standard photo prints instead. Ready to send? Check the latest rules on our [Travis County Correctional Complex page](https://inmatepics.com/facilities/texas/travis-county-correctional-complex), read [how to send photos to an inmate](https://inmatepics.com/guides/how-to-send-photos-to-an-inmate) for the basics, then [send your photos](https://inmatepics.com/send).