Westchester County Jail Inmate Mail

Type of Mail Allowed for Westchester County Jail

Postcards
The Westchester County Jail allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature.



Envelopes
The Westchester County Jail also allows letters and greeting cards to be mailed in envelopes to inmates as long as the envelope and contents comply with the jail mail policies.

Address the envelope to:



Newspapers
Inmates can receive newspapers by mail. No local papers. (see limits below)



Magazines
Inmates can receive magazines by mail as long as they are mailed directly from the publisher and are address properly. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate. (see limits below)



Books
Books can be sent to inmates but must come directly from the publisher if they are to be mailed.  Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Westchester County Jail standards will be disposed of. Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon. (see limits below)


All newspapers (local not allowed) magazines and books are to be mailed direct from the publisher, and addressed to:

Inmate's Full Name & Inmate's Full Name & JID#
Westchester County Department of Correction
PO Box 10
Valhalla, New York 10595



Care packages
Inmates may receive one package every 30 days. This jail contracts with icare gifts that allows the choosing and purchase of inmate care packages.

  • You must use a debit or credit card to make any purchases.
  • The package is sent directly to the jail and given to the inmate.


Dropping off a Package for your Inmate
In addition, the following items may be left for inmates at the jail lobby Monday through Friday from 9 to 10:45 a.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Closed for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

  • Bring your valid, government-issued photo ID with you.
  • If mailed, packages must be sent with return address and return postage guaranteed, or they will not be accepted. USPS only.
    Inmate's Full Name & Inmate's Full Name & JID#
    Westchester County Department of Correction
    PO Box 10
    Valhalla, New York 10595
  • No UPS, FedEx, or Express mail packages will be signed for by this department.
  • All items received will be subject to physical, electronic and fluoroscope search. 
  • No food items will be accepted.
  • No alcoholic beverages, tobacco products or items the possession of which constitutes an offense under applicable Federal, State or local laws, or any article, which is readily capable to constituting a threat to the safety or security of the facility will be permitted. 

Approved items for male inmates:

Toiletries

  • Contact lenses and solution
  • Eyeglasses (prescription ONLY and plastic frames)

Linen

  • (2) Face cloths, white only, no full-size or hand towels
  • Religious items (1 each)
  • Soft-covered book (Bible, Koran, etc.)
  • Cross, medallion or other regulated religious article, no dimension larger than 1.5 inches
  • Religious head wrap
  • Small prayer rug, approximately 3 feet by 3 feet

Hobby Materials

  • (1) Drawing pad, no spiral bindings or other metal fasteners
  • (12) Colored pencils, non-retractable, golf size only, no crayons or magic markers

Court Clothes

  • An inmate’s existing court clothes must be given to a family member or otherwise disposed of before the department will accept additional clothes.

Clothing

  • (6) T-shirts (white only), no tank tops, no pockets, no long sleeves, brand new in sealed package
  • (2) Pairs pajama sets, no blue or black, no draw strings, no pockets, no fleece, no ‘novelties’ such as cartoon characters or sports logos
  • (2) Pairs thermal underwear sets (white or off white only), no pockets, brand new in sealed package
  • (6) Pairs socks (white only) brand new in sealed package
  • (6) Underwear (white only) brand new in sealed package
  • (1) Pair shower slippers, no Velcro, no gel or air bubbles, no ‘Crocs’
  • (1) Pair sneakers, Adidas© or Reebok© brand only, black or white color only. Only sneakers comparable to those sold in the Department of Correction's commissary will be accepted via packages and must comply with the following restrictions. The department reserves the right to refuse to accept sneakers that do not conform to these restrictions. Inmates may only possess one (1) pair of sneakers and one (1) pair of laces at any given time. Additional pairs/laces will be treated as contraband and confiscated.
  • Only new-in-package Adidas© or Reebok© brand sneakers with a value of sixty dollars ($100.00) MSRP or less
  • Black or white in color only (including laces)
  • No removable inner soles, pockets, air pumps, hollow soles, metal or hard plastic of any kind (arch supports, lace grommets, etc.), gel/air bubbles or after-market inserts (i.e. Dr. Scholl’s © inserts or other orthotics)

Miscellaneous

  • (5) Books, soft cover only
  • (1) Writing pad, no spiral bindings or other metal fasteners
  • (12) Envelopes, blank or printed postage only, no stamps
  • (5) Newspapers, no local paper
  • (5) Magazines/journals, no explicit magazines
  • (12) Personal photos, no Polaroids, no explicit pictures
  • (12) Greeting cards
  • (1) Walkman type AM/FM radio (factory sealed) no metal headphones, no clock, no antenna or external speaker, no oversized headphones
  • (4) Batteries, any brand

Acceptable Items for Female Inmates

Toilet articles (1 of each)

  • Contact lenses and solution
  • Eyeglasses (prescription ONLY and plastic frames)
  • Mascara
  • Eye pencils/shadow, no mirrored compacts
  • Perm and hair relaxer kits, no lye

Linen

  • (2) Face cloths, white only, no full-size or hand towels

Religious items (1 of each)

  • Soft-covered book (Bible, Koran, etc.)
  • Cross, medallion or other regulated religious article, no dimension larger than 1.5 inches
  • Religious head wrap
  • Small prayer rug, approximately 3 feet by 3 feet

Hobby Materials

  • (1) Drawing pad, no spiral bindings or other metal fasteners
  • (12) Colored pencils, non-retractable, golf size only, no crayons or magic markers

Court Clothes

  •  An inmate’s existing court clothes must be given to a family member or otherwise disposed of before the department will accept additional clothes.

General Clothing

  • (6) T-shirts (white only), no tank tops, no pockets, no long sleeves, brand new in sealed package
  • (6) Pairs underwear (white only) brand new in sealed package
  • (6) Pairs socks (white only) brand new in sealed package
  • (2) Pairs pajama sets, no blue or black, no draw strings, no pockets, no fleece, no ‘novelties’ such as cartoon characters or sports logos
  • (2) Night Gowns, no blue or black, no draw strings, no pockets
  • (2) Pairs thermal underwear sets (white or off white only), no pockets, brand new in sealed package
  • (3) Brassieres, no under wire, no padded, color white only
  • (1) Bathrobe no blue or black, no pockets, no sash
  • (1) Pair shower slippers, no Velcro, no gel or air bubbles, no ‘Crocs’
  • (1) Pair sneakers, Adidas© or Reebok© brand only, black or white color only. Only sneakers comparable to those sold in the Department of Correction's commissary will be accepted via packages and must comply with the following restrictions. The department reserves the right to refuse to accept sneakers that do not conform with these restrictions. Inmates may only possess one (1) pair of sneakers and one (1) pair of laces at any given time. Additional pairs/laces will be treated as contraband and confiscated.
  • Only new-in-package Adidas© or Reebok© brand sneakers with a value of sixty dollars ($100.00) MSRP or less
  • Black or white in color only (including laces)
  • No removable inner soles, pockets, air pumps, hollow soles, metal or hard plastic of any kind (arch supports, lace grommets, etc.), gel/air bubbles or after-market inserts (i.e. Dr. Scholl’s © inserts or other orthotics)

Miscellaneous

  • (5) Books, soft cover only
  • (1) Writing pad, no spiral bindings or other metal fasteners
  • (12) Envelopes, blank or printed postage only, no stamps
  • (5) Newspapers, no local paper
  • (5) Magazines/journals, no explicit magazines
  • (12) Personal photos, no Polaroids, no explicit pictures
  • (12) Greeting cards
  • (1) Walkman type AM/FM radio (factory sealed) no metal headphones, no clock, no antenna or external speaker, no oversized headphones
  • (4) Batteries, any brand

 

What is Inmate mail?

By law, every inmate is entitled to receive mail delivered through the United State Postal Service. While for years, this mail was always delivered in the form of a letter or a postcard from friends and loved ones directly to the inmate, the definition of inmate mail has changed a bit.

Inmate mail can be:

•    A letter in an envelope,
•    A postcard,
•    A greeting card, or
•    A digital letter

Because of security and contraband concerns, mainly the paper and envelope that a letter is written on or enclosed in, being soaked in a liquid form of drugs, many jails are increasingly limiting the type of mail inmates can get.

Some still allow regular mail in an envelope with a stamp, but many now have the letter sent to a third-party that opens the letter, scans it and the envelope into a computer, emails the letter to the jail where they print it out, giving the photocopies to the inmate, or they send it to a computer kiosk or tablet digitally that the inmate can access.

Others only allow postcards, specifically the white, pre-stamped postcards that you can purchase from the post office. 

When greeting cards are allowed, they can’t be cards with glitter, music or other do-dads. They can only be plain paper cards.

Some jails, in fact most, require that mail be written or typed with only black or blue ink. Some allow black pencils to be used.

None allow crayons, markers, lipstick prints, etc. 

All require white envelopes, white paper or lined paper such as from a pad. Very few allow paper that is card stock. It must be plain white, 20-lb. printer paper.

To see the inmate mail policies for Westchester County Jail check out the inmate mail details above or call the jail at 914-231-1000 for specific information.

What is my inmate’s mailing address?

There are five different types of addresses for every jail:

1.    The physical address of the jail
2.    The mailing address for an inmate’s personal mail
3.    The mailing address for the inmate’s legal mail
4.    The mailing address for the jail’s administrative staff
5.    The mailing address for sending money to the inmate’s trust or commissary fund
       Visit the Inmate Money page for this information

In general, the only three addresses that friends and family of inmates need to be concerned about are:

•    The inmate address for personal mail.
•    The address for sending money orders to the inmate’s commissary account.
      Visit the Inmate Money page for this information.
•    The physical address of the jail.

Because this section is about mailing an inmate, the address for mailing an inmate is:

Inmate's Full Name & Inmate's Full Name & JID#
Westchester County Department of Correction
PO Box 10
Valhalla, New York 10595

or 
Inmate's Full Name
Inmate ID#
Westchester County Jail
10 Woods Road
Valhalla, NY 10595

If the red address is visible, then use that address, as that is the new address the jail is using for an inmate's personal mail to combat contraband entering the facility.

How do I mail a letter to an inmate in jail?

To mail a letter to an inmate in the Westchester County Jail, first completely read all the mail policies and guidelines that are on this page. Also read any updated mail guidelines that are on the official page for facility. If you still have questions, then call the jail at 914-231-1000 and ask specifics.

It is important to understand that if even one thing is done incorrectly when sending a letter to the jail, even if everything else is done correctly, then your letter will not be delivered to the inmate.  In fact, even though the jail claims they will mail your letter back to you so that you will know it was not delivered, there is always the chance it will be disposed of. 

So here you are at home, wondering why your inmate is not responding to your letter, when in fact, they may not have even received it.

How do I address an inmate?

All mail to the inmate must be addressed as follows:

A full return address, which includes your full name and full address.  Without this the mail will not be delivered to the inmate.

A complete address to the inmate, including:

Full Name (name that they were booked under)
Inmate ID# (booking #, SO #, etc.)
Inmate’s Housing location (if you know it)
Westchester County Jail
Mailing Address
City, State, Zip code

Inmate's Full Name & Inmate's Full Name & JID#
Westchester County Department of Correction
PO Box 10
Valhalla, New York 10595



A letter that is not addressed completely may not get delivered. Keep in mind that often there is more than one inmate in a jail with the same name. You certainly don’t want the wrong inmate getting your private mail, do you?

If a letter is not delivered to an inmate, will they be notified?

Sometimes. There are some jails that will deliver you a notification that a letter which was intended for you was returned because it was either improperly addressed, did not have return address, contained contraband of some sort, had things written in it that were against mail and jail policies, or were sent by someone you were not allowed contact with such as co-defendant or someone the court had forbidden contact with such as a spouse in a domestic violence case.

Most of the time though, the letter is either returned or destroyed, and if there are illegal substances in the letter, it will be turned over to the Westchester County Sheriff or District Attorney for possible criminal investigation and/or indictment.

What can I send to an inmate by mail?

Generally nothing but a letter, printouts from a computer printer or photographs can be sent to an inmate in the mail. If there is anything else enclosed, the entire letter and the contents will be returned to you or destroyed.

There are a few exceptions to this, such as several county jails in New York, including the infamous Riker’s Island. Riker’s allows all kinds of things to be mailed to an inmate, including a box of items every month.

Can I send pictures to an inmate?

Every jail has their own policy regarding allowing inmates to receive photographs in the mail, if at all. For Westchester County Jail’s policy, review the information on this page.

In general, most jails allow an inmate to have anywhere from four to six photographs in their possession at any one time. These cannot be polaroids, and the photos cannot be construed as even mildly sexual (such as a woman or child in a bathing suit), gang related, drug related or violent.

Some jails allow only photocopied photos.

Some jails only allow photos that are sent digitally and must remain digital.

There are only a few jails that do not allow any photos of any kind.

If you are still uncertain as the policy regarding photographs at this facility, call them at 914-231-1000.

Can I send newspapers, magazines and books to an inmate in the Westchester County Jail?

Most jails allow newspapers, magazines and books to be sent to an inmate, if they come directly from the publisher, such as directly from the newspaper or magazine themselves, or from the specific book publisher or trusted mail order source such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

There is often a limit of the quantity of books and magazines an inmate can either receive at one time, receive each month, or have in their possession at any one time. 

Hardcover books, or books with wire spiral binders are never allowed.

Any publications that portray or discuss violence, sex, gang activity, drugs, jail escapes or anything else against jail policies are not allowed and will be returned.

The policy of the Westchester County Jail should be detailed on this page. However, if it is not, then call the jail at 914-231-1000 and ask.

Keep in mind that the address the publications should be mailed to is not always the mailing address of where the inmate gets their regular mail, the mail that is scanned and forwarded digitally to them.

The mailing address for publications is:

Inmate's Full Name & Inmate's Full Name & JID#
Westchester County Department of Correction
PO Box 10
Valhalla, New York 10595

or 
Inmate's Full Name
Inmate ID#
Westchester County Jail
10 Woods Road
Valhalla, NY 10595

Use the address in red if it is visible to you.

NOTE: There are a few New York jails that allow publications to be sent directly to them as opposed to having it sent through the publisher. One of the most notable exceptions is Riker’s Island in New York City.

How often can I send letters or cards to an inmate?

There is no limit to how often you can send letters or cards to an inmate. You are only limited to the types of letters and cards that you can send, considering Westchester County Jail’s policies, which are outlined on this page.

How often can the inmate mail letters?

An inmate can mail letters as often as they like.  There is no limit to the number of letters that an inmate can write and send.  They are only limited by the number of stamps they can afford to purchase through commissary, and the amount of commissary spend that the Westchester County Jail allows.

What is considered contraband in the mail?

Contraband is defined as anything that the jail does not allow to be mailed to an inmate, which is just about everything. The list would fill ten sets of encyclopedias. 

It easier to say what is allowed to be sent through the mail:

•    When allowed, a certain number of photographs.
•    When allowed, newspapers, magazines and books, if they are sent from a publisher.
•    When allowed, a care package of snacks, hygiene products or clothing from a commissary company that has contracted with the jail.

Can I send printouts from my computer to an inmate?

Some jails allow printouts of photographs and information to be sent to an inmate through the mail. Refer to the mail policy on this page or by calling the jail directly at 914-231-1000.

Can I send an inmate a package?

Many jails contract with companies that send food, hygiene products and/or clothing to inmates. These can be purchased and sent by friends and family on a weekly or monthly basis.

You can only send items from the one that your jail has a contract with. 

Check this page, the Money Page or the Commissary Page for further information, or call the jail at 914-231-1000 to see which one that the Westchester County Jail works with.

Here are the commissary package companies, in alphabetical order, that provide this service to jails in the United States:

Access Securepak
Care A Cell
Commissary order
Correct Pay
Express Account
icare
Inmate Canteen
Jail ATM
Jail Pack Store (McDaniel Supply)
My Care Pack
Oasis (jailcanteen)
Prodigy Solutions
Tiger
Union Supply Direct

Can I send an inmate a gift?

The only gifts you can send an inmate must come from one of the stores above, and Westchester County Jail must contract with them.

If I send something to an inmate that is not allowed, can the inmate or I get in trouble?

If the item that you send an inmate is illegal, then you and/or your inmate can get in trouble, otherwise if it is not illegal, it will just be destroyed or in some cases, returned to you.

Note that if you continue to send items that are considered contraband, some of your communication privileges with your inmate, such as visitation or phone calls, may be suspended.

Can I send an inmate postage stamps?

No, you cannot send postage stamps. Stamps must be purchased by the inmate through commissary. You can send them the money for stamps, but not the stamps.

How can an inmate get stamps while in jail or prison?

Stamps can be purchased in the jail commissary be the inmate.

If an inmate has no money, will the Westchester County Jail give them stamps?

Yes. If an inmate is indigent, the jail will provide them 2-3 stamps, and an equal amount of envelopes and stationery each week. 

What happens if I send the inmate drugs or something that can be a weapon, will I get in trouble?

Yes. If you send the inmate drugs, a weapon or anything illegal, it will be turned over to the Westchester County Sheriff or District Attorney and it is most likely that you will be prosecuted. 

Emailing an Inmate

A growing number of jails now offer email services to inmates and their families. This can save you time by letting you view your email from your Smart Phone, computer or tablet whenever you wish.

In addition, you don't have to deal with envelopes, stamps or the post office.

Inmates like it because the emails typically eliminate delayed mail runs so they can get your correspondence much more quickly and send responses immediately.

Jail staff likes it as it eliminates concerns about contraband entering the facility in envelopes and on paper. It also allows the jail to have an electronic record that can be called upon at any time.

Anything you or your inmate writes in an email service is put through a filter program that looks for certain words related to criminal and/or gang activities.

There have been multiple cases in which emails between inmates and their friends or loved ones has been used as evidence in criminal court cases to convict them or to file new charges.

Call 914-231-1000 or click here to see if email services are being offered at this jail and if so, how to sign up you and your inmate.

How to address your Inmate's Postcard or Envelope

Inmate's Full Name & Inmate's Full Name & JID#
Westchester County Jail
10 Woods Road
Valhalla, NY 10595

  • All mail sent to an inmate at the Westchester County Jail 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.

Mailed Items NOT Allowed

All mail is opened and inspected. If you mail prohibited items, they will not reach the inmate. If you continue to attempt to mail these items, you could lose your privilege to mail things to inmates. In addition, the inmate could be punished.

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 914-231-1000 or click here for a complete list of prohibited items.

POLICIES REGARDING MAILING PHOTOS TO Westchester County Jail

  • Photos should not exceed 4 inches high x 6 inches wide.
  • Send no more than five photos at one time.
  • Polaroid Photos are prohibited.
  • Photos of weapons are prohibited.
  • Photos of drugs, the consuming of drugs or alcohol is prohibited.
  • Photos of lewd behavior or people exhibiting too much skin is prohibited.

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.

How to Schedule and Visit an Inmate in Westchester County Jail

To schedule and set up a visit, either at-the-jail or remotely from your home, follow these instructions:

  • Register and/or log in.
  • Select Westchester County Jail, then your inmate.
  • Review the days, available hours and the cost of remote and on-site visits in Westchester County.
  • Schedule your visit.

To get more complete instructions, and understand visit lengths, times, locations, fees and all the other rules including children, dress codes and more, check out or Visit Inmate Page.
NOTE: All visits are recorded and whatever you say and do will be monitored. It is best to never discuss sensitive information regarding your inmate's pending case.


 

How Do You Communicate with an Inmate in the Westchester County Jail by Phone

Follow these instructions on how to open an account with GTL Connect Network (aka Viapath Technologies)

  • Advance Pay - This phone account allows you to prepay so that your inmate can call you (and only you) whenever he/she wants and the cost of each call is deducted from your balance. You can even be notified by text when your balance gets low. You still have the option of accepting or rejecting each call.
  • Pin Debit  -  This option allows you to fund an inmate's commissary account and lets him pay for phone calls to you and others with the money. You will have no control over who your inmate calls.
  • Voicemail  -  You can leave a secure voicemail without having to contact the facility. When you call the local phone number for a facility offering Inmate Voicemail (call Customer Service at 877-650-4249 to get the local voicemail number for Westchester County Jail, you will be informed of the cost for leaving a message. To leave your message, simply select the inmate by ID number. Then, record your voicemail.

For full instructions on the Westchester County Jail Inmate Phone System, what the costs are, how it works, and tips and guidelines on rules, regulations and saving money on calls, check out our Inmate Phones Page.


 

How to Deposit Money into an Inmate's Account in Westchester County Jail

To deposit money into the account of an inmate in Westchester County, follow these instructions:

  • Create an account with Touchpay Services, a GTL company.
  • Select New York.
  • Select Westchester County Jail
  • Enter the Inmate ID of your inmate.  This can be found by calling 914-231-1000 or by looking up the inmate's name in the Inmate Search link.
  • Enter your billing information and send money.
  • You can also deposit cash using the kiosk at the Westchester County Jail.  To do this you need the Inmate's ID Number and the Facility Locator Number for Westchester County.

For all the information you need regarding making an inmate deposit, what it costs, how much you can send, how long it takes for your inmate to receive funds and more, and to get the Facility Locator Number, check out our Send Money Page.


 

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Westchester County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Westchester County Jail follow these steps:

  • Register here to create an account with icaregifts for Westchester County.
  • Choose New York, then Westchester County Jail, and then the products you want shipped to them, and input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much product you can send your inmate in Westchester County at any one time.
  • There are a total of fourteen (14) pre-determined icaregift packs available to choose from. 
  • The gift packs for inmates in Westchester County range in price from $10.49 for ten pre-stamped envelopes, 2 pens and a pad of writing paper, to $104.99 for a box of 85 snack and food items.

For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Westchester County Jail, as well as sending money to the inmate so that they can purchase their own items, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Westchester County.


 

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