Orleans Temporary Detention Center Inmate Mail

Orleans Temporary Detention Center Inmate Mail

When mailing a letter or postcard to an inmate, please address your mail as follows:

Inmate's First and Last Name
Inmate's folder number and location if known
3000 Perdido Street
New Orleans, LA 70119

All mail sent to an inmate at the Orleans Temporary Detention Center must include the sender's name and mailing address in the top left corner of the envelope or postcard.

Failure to include your return address will most likely result in your mail NOT being delivered and your letter destroyed.

Main Phone: 504-202-9339

The information below provides complete instructions regarding:

• Orleans Temporary Detention Center Inmate Mail Policies,
• Mail Instructions,
• What type of mail is NOT allowed,
• Rules for Mailing Letters and Photos and Postcards
• Policies for Sending Magazines, Newspapers, Books and Packages to Orleans Temporary Detention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Follow these instructions exactly to help ensure that your inmate receives his/her mail and not have it thrown away.

The Orleans Temporary Detention Center has a zero-tolerance policy regarding mail violations.

TextBehind Digital & Letter Writing Service

Here’s how it works:
1.    All offender mail (paper and electronic) is addressed and delivered to TextBehind. Electronic mail is sent through the apps (iphone, Google Play). Paper mail is sent to the address below:
Inmate Name and Inmate Number
Orleans Temporary Detention Center Louisiana (note: please do not abbreviate the name)
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
2.    If it was sent via TextBehind's app (iphone, Google Play), TextBehind can process it within one business day.
3.    An additional step is involved in processing mail that is sent using the U.S. Postal Service. TextBehind will  use a scanner to make digital files of the contents of the mailing—including cards, photos or artwork.
4.    All digital files are then forwarded to the offender’s assigned prison.
5.    The jail or prison's mailroom staff print approved pages and then delivers them to the inmate.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• TextBehind does not deliver any mail to the inmate directly, nor do they guarantee delivery of your letters to the inmates by the courier, jail or prison staff. Once they process your mail and ship them out on your behalf, they are out of the loop entirely. However, at times they may offer to resend your letters under certain strict conditions as a courtesy. 
• Inmates do not receive any invites when you add them, and neither do they need to accept the use of TextBehind service. Once you add the inmate, you can create letters for them. 
• There is NO guarantee that Orleans Temporary Detention Center will cooperate and process TextBehind 'mail', and then deliver it to your inmate. Only when jails enroll directly with TextBehind, is your inmate most likely to get your TextBhind communications.

Here’s what happens when TextBehind receives a letter from an inmate:

• Upon receiving, TextBehind staff open their letters, scan, and upload high-quality images to your TextBehind account as a complimentary service. You are not required to have any money or credits balance in your TextBehind account to receive inmate letters.
• Next, you will receive a text and email alert to notify you of any new incoming reply letters. At that time, you can log into the TextBehind website or mobile app and view letters in your CONTACTS >> Click on Conversation Icon. 

YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS...

• Inmates do require a stamp to send out their letters to TextBehind using Postal Service.
• The cash or credit balance from your TextBehind account will not be shared with inmates as a substitute for the stamps. 
• All letters printed and shipped by TextBehind nationwide to virtually any jail or prison facility are delivered to the jails/prisons by couriers such as the USPS or FedEx as their standard process.
• After the shipments, TextBehind has no control over the process.
• The delivery of your letters depends on couriers and prison staff taking the necessary action, and on time.

IMPORTANT TextBehind LINKS:
Register / Log in with TextBehind
Contact TextBehind with Questions
Add an Inmate to your list of Contacts
TextBehind Volume Discount packages
** Address to Mail letters using TextBehind **
Inmate Name and Inmate Number
Orleans Temporary Detention Center Louisiana (note: please do not abbreviate the name)
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131

RATES (subject to change):

TextBehind is a digital texting and letter writing service used by jail and prison inmates and inmate’s friends and families all across America. Due to the problem of letters and postcards containing, or soaked in contraband (drugs), TextBehind electronic and physical letters replaced the former policy of allowing mail to be sent directly from inmate’s friends and family members, and vice versa.

Type of Mail Allowed for Orleans Temporary Detention Center

Inmate Mail Instructions

When sending mail to an inmate you must include the:

INMATE'S NAME, FOLDER NUMBER, and LOCATION (if known)
3000 Perdido Street - New Orleans, Louisiana 70119 

When sending money to an inmate:
Must be a MONEY ORDER
Money Order must include INMATE'S NAME and FOLDER NUMBER
Money Order must be SIGNED 

Other mail guidelines:

• PICTURES must not be larger than 5" X 7"
• Children pictured must be fully clothed
• No correspondence is allowed from other inmates from any other facilities, including OPSO
• No blank envelopes, stamps, stamped envelopes, blank paper, cards or pens are accepted. All can be purchased in the commissary.
• No clothing items, including items of hygiene
• No contraband of any kind
• No food items or cigarettes
• Inmates may receive soft-cover publications only from the publisher, a distributor, a book club, or a bookstore. Certain exceptions apply for publications which are no longer available from those sources or which are not available in soft-cover format. Publications which are determined detrimental to the security, good order, discipline, or which may facilitate criminal activity will be rejected by the Chief Deputy.

How to address your Inmate's Postcard or Envelope

Inmate's First and Last Name
Inmate's folder number and location if known
3000 Perdido Street
New Orleans, LA 70119

All mail sent to an inmate at the Orleans Temporary Detention Center must include the senders name and mailing address in the top left corner of the envelope or postcard.
Failure to include your return address will most likely result in your mail NOT being delivered and discarded.
To confirm the mailing address and/or any new policies regarding inmate mail call 504-202-9339 or check the most recent updates on the jail's website by going here.

Mailed Items NOT Allowed

If your inmate is mailed anything other than a letter or postcard (or sometimes) greeting cards it won't get through.
However as stated above, because of the increased smuggling of drugs, more and more jails are only allowing pre-stamped or metered, solid color or white postcards to be received by inmates, or even using a third-party service that scans the letters and delivers paper or digital copies.
Examples of prohibited items include:

• Stamps and stickers.
• Musical greeting cards.
• Altered mail such as perfumed or lipstick covered.
• Paper with any type of stains such as grease.
• News clippings.
• Crayon, felt tip or hand painted drawings.

Call 504-202-9339 or click here for a complete list of prohibited items.

Important Mail Tips

Mail is always scanned and inspected for contraband, obscenity and other rule infractions.
Assume that everything you write will be read by jail staff and can and will be used against you or your inmate in court.  
Never write anything about the inmate's court case you wouldn't want read aloud in court.
Mail is considered by the jail to be a privilege. Any violations of the mail policies can result in the inmate's mail privileges being suspended.
The introduction of contraband by you into the jail through the mail could result in criminal charges being filed against both you and the inmate.
Click here to view contact information for the Orleans Temporary Detention Center.