Sending Mail to FCI Oakdale I

Mailing Address

Send all inmate mail to:

[Inmate Full Committed Name]
[Inmate 8-Digit Register Number]
P.O. Box 5000
Oakdale, LA 71463

Always include the inmate’s full committed name — the name exactly as recorded at sentencing — and their 8-digit BOP register number. Mail that can’t be matched to a current inmate will be returned.

Letters and Cards

Standard mail correspondence is accepted. There are no specific restrictions on the type of paper, envelope, or cards — write in any language. All incoming general mail is opened and inspected for contraband and content before being given to the inmate.

Include your return address on every envelope so undeliverable mail can be returned to you.

Books and Magazines

Federal BOP policy is strict about publications: they must come directly from the publisher or an approved retailer — not from your home.

• Books: Order through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or another reputable retailer and ship directly to the inmate’s address above.
• Magazines: Subscribe through the publisher or purchase a gift subscription. The publisher ships directly to the facility.
• Newspapers: Same rule — publisher direct only.

Books or magazines sent from a home address or a personal package will be rejected. The inmate may not receive them.

Packages From Home

Packages from home are generally not permitted at BOP facilities. The exceptions are narrow:

• Release clothing (sent with prior approval from the unit team as the inmate nears release)
• Authorized medical devices (requires prior written approval from the unit team)

Do not attempt to ship clothing, food, or personal items to FCI Oakdale I. They will be rejected or destroyed.

Special Mail (Legal)

Mail from attorneys, courts, members of Congress, and certain other officials is classified as Special Mail under BOP policy. Special mail may only be opened in the presence of the inmate, not inspected in advance. Mark the envelope clearly: “Special Mail — Open Only in the Presence of the Inmate.”

Sending Photos

Standard photo prints can be included in regular mail at FCI Oakdale I. Follow these guidelines:

• Standard prints only — 4”x6” or similar sizes
• No Polaroid or instant photos (security concern — harder to inspect)
• No nudity, no explicit content, no depictions of illegal activities
• Photos with gang-related hand gestures or visible tattoos may be rejected
• Place photos loose in the envelope — not in a package

For a convenient alternative, Pigeonly prints and mails photos directly from your phone, formatted to BOP standards. For digital messaging, use CorrLinks (corrlinks.com) — text only, no attachments.

What Gets Rejected

Mail may be rejected or withheld if it:

• Contains contraband or instructions for illegal activities
• Threatens facility security
• Contains sexually explicit content
• Contains coded messages or is in a language BOP cannot translate (in some cases)
• Is sent in a package or parcel from home (other than the narrow exceptions above)

The inmate is notified when mail is rejected and can appeal through the BOP administrative remedy process.