Pennsylvania inmate mail
Send mail to an inmate in Pennsylvania
General letters for Pennsylvania state prisons go to Smart Communications in Florida, not directly to the SCI. Find the inmate number and current SCI, write online, and PieterPost prints and mails your letter.
Write and mail my Pennsylvania letterPennsylvania state-prison addresses
Smart Communications PA DOC mailing address
Send ordinary letters, greeting cards, drawings, and photos for people in PA DOC state prisons to the statewide Smart Communications address in St. Petersburg, Florida. Include the inmate's full name, inmate number, and current State Correctional Institution (SCI).
This address is only for general correspondence and photos. Books and photo books go to PA DOC's Security Processing Center in Bellefonte. Privileged legal mail, official documents, and originals that need a signature use the current institution's approved address.
Search official PA DOC records
Find the inmate and start your letter
Search by name or DOC number. Choose the correct person and we will carry their name, DOC number, and current SCI into PieterPost. See the official PA DOC locator.
Results come directly from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Verify the person and current institution before sending.
Don't know their DOC number? Start with their name.
Many family members do not have an inmate's DOC number or current prison address. That is okay. Enter the last name you know and add a first name if you have it. The search will help you find the missing details before you write.
- 1
Search with what you know
A last name is enough to begin. A first name helps narrow common names.
- 2
Check the match
Compare the full name, DOC number, and current SCI to choose the right person.
- 3
Continue without retyping
We carry those details into PieterPost so you can focus on writing your letter.
This search covers people in Pennsylvania state custody. Someone in a county jail, federal prison, or another state will not appear here.
Smart Communications/PA DOC
Smart Communications/PA DOCInmate full name / inmate numberCurrent State Correctional InstitutionP.O. Box 33028St. Petersburg, FL 33733Three simple steps
How to send a letter to an inmate in Pennsylvania
Add the inmate's name and inmate number. We already know the official statewide personal-mail address.
- 1Enter their name and inmate number
- 2Write and review your message
- 3We print, stamp, and mail it
Current Pennsylvania guidance
Helpful inmate-mail rules
- General mail address
- Smart Communications/PA DOC, inmate full name/inmate number, current SCI, PO Box 33028, St. Petersburg, FL 33733
- Required details
- Include the correct inmate name and number, current SCI, and a return address with the sender's full first and last name
- Paper and photos
- Use unbound 8.5 by 11-inch pages; PA DOC permits no more than 25 photos in a single mailing
- Processing and delivery
- PA DOC estimates 6–8 days; the recipient receives a printed scan, not the original letter or photos
Your PieterPost letter is ready for the PA DOC mail route
Write your message online and PieterPost prepares it as ordinary personal correspondence for Smart Communications. You do not need a printer, envelope, stamp, or trip to the post office.
- Printed as clear, standard 8.5 by 11-inch letter pages
- Addressed to Smart Communications/PA DOC with the inmate details you provide
- Sent as an ordinary personal letter without unsupported objects or enclosures
- Printing, envelope, postage, and mailing handled for you
PieterPost takes care of the rest
You only need to write your message
No printer, paper, envelope, stamp, or trip to the post office. We prepare and mail the physical letter for you.
- Write your letter online from any device
- Check the finished letter before paying
- We format and print it for the facility
- We address, stamp, and mail the envelope
Pennsylvania local jail directory
Looking for a county or city jail?
This guide covers people in Pennsylvania Department of Corrections custody. County and city jails use their own addresses, which you can find on the map.
Is the person in federal prison?
Search the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator and continue with the federal letter flow.
Common questions
How do I send mail to an inmate in Pennsylvania?
Use the PA DOC inmate locator to confirm the inmate number and current State Correctional Institution (SCI). Address general correspondence to Smart Communications/PA DOC in St. Petersburg, Florida. You can write online with PieterPost; we print, address, stamp, and mail the physical letter.
What is the PA DOC mailing address?
For general letters and photos, use: Smart Communications/PA DOC; inmate full name/inmate number; current SCI; PO Box 33028; St. Petersburg, FL 33733. Include your full return address with your first and last name. Do not use this address for books, legal mail, or original official documents.
What does Smart Communications/PA DOC do with inmate mail?
Smart Communications is PA DOC's third-party processor for general incoming correspondence. It opens and scans the mail, sends the electronic copy to the prison, and the facility mailroom prints approved correspondence for the inmate. The original and electronic copy are normally retained for 45 days and then securely destroyed.
How do I use the PA DOC inmate locator before mailing?
Search the official Pennsylvania Inmate and Parolee Locator by last name or inmate number. PA DOC says it updates the locator daily. It covers state-sentenced inmates and parolees, not people in county jails or another state's custody. Recheck the SCI after a transfer.
How long does PA DOC mail take, and can I email an inmate instead?
PA DOC says general correspondence through Smart Communications can take 6–8 days, excluding weekends, holidays, and extra review time. Mail must be on unbound 8.5 by 11-inch paper and may include up to 25 photos per mailing. For email, PA DOC uses ViaPath's ConnectNetwork and says messages are subject to content review.