Mail and Photos at Paul Rein Detention Facility

Why This Page Differs From FDOC State Prison Guides

Florida state prisons route all inmate personal mail through one centralized address in Tampa, where it’s opened, scanned, and delivered digitally. County jails, including Paul Rein Detention Facility, generally handle mail differently, often accepting it directly at the facility instead of through a centralized statewide system. Do not send mail to the FDOC Tampa PO Box for anyone held at this facility. That address is for Florida state prisons only.

Confirm the Correct Address Before Sending Anything

This facility’s exact current mailing address and mail processing time were not confirmed through a live official source during research, so call 954-831-5900 before mailing a letter, card, or photo. Ask for:

• The exact mailing address to use for personal correspondence
• How long mail processing typically takes before delivery to the inmate
• Whether the facility uses any digital mail scanning system, which some Florida county jails have adopted in recent years

What to Include on the Envelope

BSO requires the inmate’s full name and booking number on all mail. At minimum, include:

• The inmate’s full legal name
• Their booking number
• Your name and return address on the front of the envelope

An incorrectly formatted envelope can delay or prevent delivery, so double-check the name and booking number before mailing.

What’s Allowed and What’s Not

BSO only accepts letters and photos by mail. Packages and other items are not allowed. All mail except legal mail is inspected for contraband before it reaches the inmate. Beyond that general rule, this facility’s specific banned-item list (things like stickers, glitter, padded envelopes, or hard card stock) was not confirmed. Use a plain, standard envelope with a personal letter inside, and call 954-831-5900 to confirm any additional restrictions.

Sending Photos

Photos are allowed by mail. Whether there’s a limit on the number of photos per envelope or specific size and format requirements was not confirmed for this facility. Call 954-831-5900 to ask before sending a large batch. In general, avoid photos showing nudity, gang-related content, weapons, or drug use, since these categories are almost universally rejected at correctional facilities.

Books, Magazines, and Publications

BSO’s mail policy allows letters and photos, but whether books, magazines, or other publications are accepted by mail, and whether they must come from an approved vendor instead of being mailed directly by family, was not confirmed for this facility. Call 954-831-5900 to ask before sending any publication.

Sending Money

Money orders for inmate deposits must be made payable to the inmate’s full legal name plus booking number, and sent via USPS with a return address. BSO prohibits cash and personal checks through the mail. The daily deposit limit is $300.00 per inmate account.

Legal and Certified Mail

Legal mail, meaning correspondence from an attorney or the courts, is typically handled with more protection than routine personal mail, often opened in the inmate’s presence instead of being pre-screened. Confirm the correct address and any special marking requirements for legal mail at this facility by calling 954-831-5900. If you’re an attorney or process server with a time-sensitive filing, call ahead to confirm current handling procedures.

What Happens to Rejected Mail

Rejected mail is generally either returned to the sender at the listed return address or destroyed, depending on the reason for rejection and the facility’s policy. This facility’s specific rejected-mail procedure was not confirmed. If you send something and it doesn’t seem to reach the inmate, call 954-831-5900 to ask what happened.

Keeping Letters and Deposits Separate at Paul Rein

A Pigeonly letter carries words and photos, not money. Deposits for someone at Paul Rein travel on their own, as a USPS money order payable to the person’s full legal name plus booking number, since BSO bars cash and personal checks in the mail.

Letters and Photos for Paul Rein, Printed and Posted

BSO takes only letters and photos by mail at Paul Rein, and those are the two things Pigeonly sends: you compose or pick pictures on your phone, and Pigeonly handles printing and postage. Have the person’s booking number ready, since BSO wants it on all mail, and expect the envelope to be inspected like any other.