Sending Mail and Photos to Angola

Mailing Address

[Inmate Full Legal Name]
[Inmate DOC ID Number]
Louisiana State Penitentiary
17544 Tunica Trace
Angola, LA 70712

Always use the inmate’s full legal name as registered with Louisiana DOC, and include their DOC ID number. Mail without a proper ID number may be delayed or returned.

Letters and Cards

Standard letters are accepted. Use regular printer paper or notebook paper. Include your return address on the envelope.

Envelope rules:

• No stickers, glitter, ribbons, or decorations on or inside the envelope
• No drawings in crayon or marker on the envelope
• No perfumed or scented paper
• No items tucked inside the letter beyond the letter itself (no stamps, no cash, no newspaper clippings)

Standard greeting cards are accepted. Musical or electronic cards are not.

Photos

Standard print photos are welcome in regular mail at Angola.

Accepted:

• Standard 4”x6” prints
• Regular photo prints from a photo printer or print service

Not accepted:

• Polaroid or instant photos (hard to inspect, security risk)
• Photos with nudity or sexually explicit content
• Photos showing illegal activity
• Photos depicting gang-related signs or content that could compromise security

You can mail photos loose in the envelope alongside a letter. Pigeonly prints photos from your phone and mails them directly in the correct format for Louisiana DOC facilities.

Electronic Messaging Through JPay

JPay also offers electronic messaging. You write a message online or through the JPay app, and it’s delivered to the facility’s secure email system. Angola inmates can read and reply through facility kiosks or tablets if available. This is faster than physical mail and still gives you a written record of communication.

Books and Magazines

Louisiana DOC rules require publications to come from approved sources:

• Books: Paperback only. Ship directly from Amazon.com or another approved retailer to the inmate’s mailing address. No hardcovers.
• Magazines and newspapers: Subscribe through the publisher and have it delivered directly. No forwarding from home.
• Limit: Up to 3 paperback books at a time per shipment.

Publications containing nudity, weapons instructions, hate content, or material that could compromise security are not permitted.

No Packages From Home

Packages from family members are not permitted at Angola or other Louisiana DOC facilities. Everything beyond basic mail must go through the commissary account. There are no exceptions for holidays or special occasions.

What Happens to Rejected Mail

Mail that violates Angola’s rules will be returned to the sender or destroyed. The inmate is notified when their mail is rejected. Common rejection reasons include: contraband in the envelope, prohibited content, no return address, embellished envelope, or a package submitted instead of a letter.