Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility Inmate Mail

Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility Inmate Mail Service & Policy

Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility uses a secure messaging service call Smart Communications so that inmates can communicate electronically with friends and family members on the outside.


SmartMail allows inmates to communicate safely and quickly with family and friends outside of the jail, prison or detention center. Inmates send and receive electronic letters using a safe and secure computer kiosk or tablet stationed in their institution. THE COST IS JUST $0.50 CENTS; cheaper than a postage stamp and envelope.

  • The message can be sent with postage paid and will be free to open and read for the recipient.
  • Or, the message can be sent collect / "COD" for free and will be paid for by the recipient.
  • To send or receive a message you MUST open a SmartJailMail.com account.
  • Once you open an account, you may search for inmates, prisoners, or detainees to connect with.
  • When you locate the inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them a connection request.
  • They will then need to approve the request before you can send messages.
  • Sending messages with SmartMail is just like sending an e-mail, except it is contained within the SmartJailMail web site. Messages can be delivered instantly or may be held for review depending on the destination facility.
  • Electronic messages are delivered much more quickly than traditional paper mail to the correctional facility so you can stay connected.

More information on how to send and receive messages and photos with an inmate.

How to Send Personal Mail to an Inmate in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility

Any letter, postcard or greeting card sent to an inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility must be sent to the following address:

Smart Communications - Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield
Inmate Name & Inmate ID Number
PO BOX 9113
Seminole, FL 33775-9113

  • The letter, card or postcard you send MUST have the Inmate's Full Name AND the Inmate's ID# clearly written on the envelope. 
  • If the ID# is missing, it will not be delivered and will be returned to sender.
  • The mail you you send will be scanned into the system and your inmate will then be able to view it on their tablet or jail kiosk.
  • ALL ORIGINAL LETTERS & DOCUMENTS WILL THEN BE DESTROYED, so don't send anything like birth certificates, social security cards or original photos, as they will be destroyed.

Address for Mailing Money Orders, Newspapers, Books and Legal Mail to Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility

  • The jail only accepts Money Orders. 
  • Money Orders must arrive at least one business day prior to commissary to be available to the inmate.
  • The Senders Name, Return Address and the Inmate’s Inmate ID Number must be on the money order.
  • The Senders Name and Return Address must be on the envelope.
  • The Money Order must be made payable to the Inmate.
  • Newspapers, Books and Magazines must come direct from the publisher.
  • Legal Mail must be clearly marked as coming from a Lawyer, a court, Department of Corrections or Parole Board.

Duffield Facility
Inmate Name and Inmate ID
PO Box 367
Duffield, VA 24244

Type of Mail Allowed for Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility

Postcards
The Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility 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 Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility may also allow regular postcards and envelopes to be mailed to inmates as well, however more and more jails are no longer allowing envelopes or paper letters due to concern about paper being dipped into liquefied drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine and then mailed into secure facilities.
Newspapers
Local or national newspapers may also be mailed to the inmate as long as they are mailed directly from the newspaper publisher.
Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. 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.
Books
Most jails allow books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as AmazonBarnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address above.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility 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.
To confirm that the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility continues to allow books to be mailed by a third party publisher or bookseller, call 276-690-9550.
Care packages
Care packages are pre-chosen items packaged together and sent to the inmate from a third-party vendor. They can include clothing, snacks and seasonal items.
When a jail allows the inmate to receive Care Packages they must come directly from an approved company that specializes in serving the inmates of jails.
Call 276-690-9550 or click here or here to see if the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility participates in a Care Package program and if so, how to purchase one.

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 Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility check out the inmate mail details above or call the jail at 276-690-9550 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:

Smart Communications - Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield
Inmate Name & Inmate ID Number
PO BOX 9113
Seminole, FL 33775-9113

or 
Inmate's Full Name
Inmate ID#
Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility
1037 Boone Trail Road
Duffield, VA 24244

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 Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility, 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 276-690-9550 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)
Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility
Mailing Address
City, State, Zip code

Smart Communications - Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield
Inmate Name & Inmate ID Number
PO BOX 9113
Seminole, FL 33775-9113



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 Scott 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 Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility’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 276-690-9550.

Can I send newspapers, magazines and books to an inmate in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility?

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 Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility should be detailed on this page. However, if it is not, then call the jail at 276-690-9550 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:

Duffield Facility
Inmate Name and Inmate ID
PO Box 367
Duffield, VA 24244


or 
Inmate's Full Name
Inmate ID#
Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility
1037 Boone Trail Road
Duffield, VA 24244

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 Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility’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 Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility 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 276-690-9550.

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 276-690-9550 to see which one that the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility 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 Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility 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 Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility 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 Scott County Sheriff or District Attorney and it is most likely that you will be prosecuted. 

Emailing an Inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility

Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility uses a secure messaging service call Smart Communications so that inmates can communicate electronically with friends and family members on the outside.

SmartMail allows inmates to communicate safely and quickly with family and friends outside of the jail, prison or detention center. Inmates send and receive electronic letters using a safe and secure computer kiosk or tablet stationed in their institution. THE COST IS JUST $0.50 CENTS; cheaper than a postage stamp and envelope.

  • The message can be sent with postage paid and will be free to open and read for the recipient.
  • Or, the message can be sent collect / "COD" for free and will be paid for by the recipient.
  • To send or receive a message you MUST open a SmartJailMail.com account.
  • Once you open an account, you may search for inmates, prisoners, or detainees to connect with.
  • When you locate the inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them a connection request.
  • They will then need to approve the request before you can send messages.
  • Sending messages with SmartMail is just like sending an e-mail, except it is contained within the SmartJailMail web site. Messages can be delivered instantly or may be held for review depending on the destination facility.
  • Electronic messages are delivered much more quickly than traditional paper mail to the correctional facility so you can stay connected.

More information on how to send and receive messages and photos with an inmate.

How to address your Inmate's Postcard or Envelope

Inmate's First and Last Name
Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility
Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility
Inmate Name & Inmate ID Number
PO BOX 9113
Seminole, FL 33775-9113

  • All mail sent to an inmate at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility 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

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.

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 Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Scott County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility follow these steps:

  • Select Virginia, then select Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility, and then select the 'Send a Package Order' option.
  • Register and create an account with My Care Pack, also known as Access Securepak, for Scott County.
  • Choose the inmate and 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 Scott County at any one time.

For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Scott County.

Customer Service Contact
Call 800-956-2747 Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST. 
Email: [email protected].


 

How to Schedule & Visit with an Inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility

To schedule a visit and meet with an inmate in Scott County, either at-the-jail or remotely by video, follow these instructions:

  • To schedule and visit with an inmate you MUST first open a SmartJailMail.com account.
  • Once you open an account, you may search for Scott County inmate to visit with.
  • When you locate the Scott County inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them a connection request.
  • Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility will then need to approve the request before you can send messages.

For all the information you need to schedule and visit with a Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility inmate, including how it works, how much it costs, visitation using a rented tablet, how often and when you can visit and more, check out our Visit Inmate Page.
NOTE: Your visits will be monitored, recorded and stored. You may want to refrain from discussing your inmate's court case as anything discussed can be used against them in court.


 

How to Set up a Phone Account and Receive Calls from an Inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility

To communicate by telephone with a Scott County inmate, follow these instructions:

  • To receive phone calls from a Scott County inmate you MUST first open a SmartJailMail.com account.
  • Once you open an account, you may search for Scott County inmates or detainees to connect with.
  • When you locate the Scott County inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them a connection request.
  • Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility will then need to approve the request before you can receive phone calls.

For all the information you need to receive phone calls from a Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility inmate, including how it works, how much it costs, how often you can receive calls and when you can receive them and more, check out our Inmate Phone Page.
NOTE: Your phone calls will be monitored and stored. You may want to refrain from discussing your inmate's court case. Anything discussed on the calls may be used in your inmate's court case.


 

How to Deposit Money Online for an Inmate in Scott County

To deposit money online for an inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility follow these steps:

  • Register to open an account, or Sign In to JailATM, a service that acts as a bank for inmates in Scott County.
  • After registering and signing in, select 'Send Money Now'.
  • Choose Virginia, then choose Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility
  • Type in your inmate's last name or their Inmate ID.
  • Select your inmate.
  • Input an amount to deposit to your inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility, and then input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much money you can send your inmate in Scott County at any one time.
  • If you need to phone customer support, call 877-810-0914.

For all information, tips and procedures for sending money to an inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility, or depositing money at the jail, over the phone or by mail, check out our Send Money Page for Scott County.


 

How to Send and Receive Secure Text and Email Messages with an Inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility

To communicate by text or email with an Scott County inmate, follow these instructions:

  • To send or receive a message you MUST first open a SmartJailMail.com account.
  • Once you open an account, you may search for Scott County inmates or detainees to connect with.
  • When you locate the Scott County inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them a connection request.
  • Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility will then need to approve the request before you can send messages.

For all the information you need to send and receive secure messages in the form of text or email with a Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Duffield Facility inmate, including how it works, how much it costs, renting your inmate a tablet, how often you can communicate and more, check out our Text/Email an Inmate Page.
NOTE: Your messages will be monitored and stored. You may want to refrain from discussing your inmate's court case.


 

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