Mail & Photos to Craven County Detention Center. Rules and Address

Confirm the Personal Mail Address Before You Send

The section of the Craven County Sheriff’s Office website covering inmate correspondence did not load at the time this page was verified. The personal mailing address for inmate mail is not confirmed.

Do not guess the address. If you send mail to the wrong address, your letter may not reach the person or may be returned.

Call the jail at (252) 636-6619 and ask: “What is the correct mailing address for inmate personal correspondence?” Staff can give you the current address and confirm any additional instructions.

Legal Mail Address

Legal mail, including court documents, attorney correspondence, and certified mail, goes to:

[Full Legal Name]
Craven County Detention Center
1100 Clarks Road
New Bern, NC 28562

If you are an attorney or sending legal documents, use this address. Legal mail is typically handled separately from personal correspondence and may receive additional protections under federal regulations.

What You Are Allowed to Send

Once you confirm the personal mail address, keep the following rules in mind. These restrictions are from the Craven County Sheriff’s Office official page.

Letters and cards: Plain letters and cards are generally accepted. Cards must be single-layer and not double-layered or glued. No greeting cards with extra layers, fabric, ribbon, or embedded items.

Photos: Approved photos may be accepted, but Polaroid photos are not. See the photo rules section below for specifics.

What Is Not Allowed

The following are prohibited at Craven County Detention Center:

Item	Status
Polaroid photos	Not allowed
Postcards	Not allowed
Magazines and newspapers	Not allowed without prior approval
Comic strips or puzzle pages	Not allowed
Bubble wrap	Not allowed
Padded envelopes	Not allowed
Stickers on envelopes	Not allowed
Blank paper	Not allowed
Stamps	Not allowed
Return envelopes	Not allowed
Explicit or sexual content	Not allowed
Double-layered or glued greeting cards	Not allowed
Books (general)	Not allowed as of April 10, 2023
Legal documents and legal books	Allowed (exception to book rule)

Do not include any of the above in your mail. Letters with prohibited items will be rejected and may not be returned to you. In some cases, attempting to introduce contraband through mail can have legal consequences.

Photo Rules

Polaroid photos are not accepted. Standard printed photos (4x6 or similar) from a photo lab or home printer may be accepted, but the facility’s official photo page did not load for full confirmation. Call (252) 636-6619 and ask specifically:

• What photo sizes are allowed?
• How many photos can be included per letter?
• Are there content restrictions on photos (backgrounds, groups, etc.)?
• Are black-and-white photos acceptable?

Getting these answers before you send a batch of photos can save you from having them all rejected.

Books and Publications

Effective April 10, 2023, books are no longer accepted at Craven County Detention Center. This is a significant change from previous policy. The only exception is legal documents and books directly related to a legal matter.

Magazines and newspapers are not accepted without prior approval. If you want to arrange a magazine subscription, call (252) 636-6619 first and ask about the approval process.

Envelope and Packaging Rules

Follow these rules for envelopes:

• Use plain envelopes without padded lining or bubble wrap
• Do not put stickers on the outside of the envelope
• Do not include stamps, blank paper, or return envelopes inside
• Do not use padded mailers

All Mail Is Inspected

All incoming mail at Craven County Detention Center is opened and inspected before delivery. This is standard practice at county jails. Do not include anything you would not want jail staff to read.

Rejected Mail

If your mail is rejected, it may be returned to you or destroyed depending on facility policy. Call (252) 636-6619 to ask what happens to rejected mail and whether you can appeal a rejection.

When to Write

Letters are a consistent way to stay in contact, especially if phone or video visit access is limited. Send a letter while you wait for your Securus account to be approved for video visits or phone calls. See the visitation guide and phone calls guide for those options.

Questions to Ask When You Call (252) 636-6619

Before you send your first letter, ask the following:

1. What is the current mailing address for personal inmate correspondence?
2. What photo sizes and formats are accepted?
3. How many photos can be sent per letter?
4. What is the approval process for magazines or newspapers?
5. What happens to mail that is rejected?

Send Photos and Letters with Pigeonly

The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at Craven County Detention Center is through Pigeonly. Upload your photos or write your letter online, and Pigeonly prints and mails everything to the facility for you, following the mail rules listed above.