Mail & Photos to Guilford County Detention Center. Address & Rules

Two Mailing Addresses

Guilford County Detention Center uses different addresses depending on the type of mail you are sending. Using the wrong address can cause delays or returned mail.

Regular Personal Mail

Use this address for letters, cards, and photos:

[Inmate Full Name], [Inmate ID Number], Facility ID 5083
Guilford County Detention - Greensboro
PO Box 18247
Greensboro, NC 27419

Include all three pieces of identifying information on the address: the person’s full name, their inmate ID number, and Facility ID 5083. Missing any of these can result in the mail being delayed or returned.

Legal and Privileged Mail

Use this address for attorney correspondence, court documents, and other legal mail:

[Inmate Full Name], [Inmate ID Number]
Guilford County Detention - Greensboro
201 S. Edgeworth St.
Greensboro, NC 27401

Legal mail is handled differently from personal mail. It is opened in front of the detainee, not before delivery, to protect attorney-client privilege. Mark the envelope clearly with the attorney’s name and bar number.

Return Address Requirement

Your return address must include your full first and last name. Do not use initials only, a nickname, or a business name. Mail without a proper return address may be rejected.

Page Limits and Paper Rules

Item	Limit
Pages per envelope	10 maximum
Paper size	8.5” x 11” only

Do not write on anything other than standard paper. Cards are allowed if they fit within the page limit and do not contain prohibited items (glitter, stickers, 3D elements, etc.).

Photos

You may send up to 5 photos per mailing. Photos must be:

• Maximum size: 5” x 7”
• Standard print format (no Polaroids)
• Free of explicit, violent, or sexually suggestive content
• Free of drug or alcohol-related imagery
• Free of gang signs, symbols, or insignia

Not allowed: Polaroid photos, photos that show nudity, photos with gang-related content, photos featuring weapons or drugs.

Books

Books must meet all of the following conditions:

• Paperback only. Hardcover books are not accepted.
• Up to 5 books per mailing.
• Must come directly from a publisher or online retailer (such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or the publisher’s own website). Books sent by individuals are not accepted.
• No books with explicit sexual content, content that promotes violence, or content related to criminal activities

To send books, order them from the publisher or retailer and ship them directly to the PO Box address with the inmate’s full name, ID number, and Facility ID 5083.

Magazines and Newspapers

Magazines and newspapers must come by subscription directly from the publisher. They are sent to the physical address (201 S. Edgeworth St., Greensboro, NC 27401), not the PO Box.

Single-issue magazines sent by individuals are not accepted. Newspaper or magazine clippings included in personal mail are also not allowed.

What Is Not Allowed in Mail

The following items will cause mail to be rejected:

• Glitter, glue, tape, or adhesive of any kind
• 3D elements, puffy stickers, or raised designs
• Electronic components of any kind
• Newspaper clippings or magazine pages inside a personal letter
• Book pages torn from books
• Stickers on the outside of the envelope (address labels are fine)
• Originals of important documents (birth certificates, IDs, court documents). These will not be returned.
• Explicit, violent, or sexually suggestive content
• Drug or alcohol-related imagery
• Gang symbols or references
• Cash, checks, or money orders (use InmateCanteen for deposits)

What Happens to Your Mail

All personal mail is opened and inspected for contraband before it reaches the person. This is standard policy at Guilford County Detention Center. Processing typically takes a few days. Legal mail is opened in front of the detainee.

Mail that fails inspection is rejected and either returned to the sender or held for review. You will generally receive a notice if your mail is rejected, but do not count on receiving rejected items back if they contain prohibited materials.

Sending Important Documents

Do not mail original documents such as birth certificates, Social Security cards, or court documents. If these are sent, the facility is not responsible for returning them. Use certified mail with a return receipt if you must send copies of documents, and keep the originals.

What to Do If Mail Does Not Arrive

If the person has not received mail you sent:

1. Check that you used the correct address (PO Box for personal mail, physical address for legal mail)
2. Check that you included the inmate ID number and Facility ID 5083 on the envelope
3. Check that the return address included your full first and last name
4. Wait at least 7-10 days from the mailing date before following up
5. Call (336) 641-2700 to ask whether mail was received or rejected

Send Photos and Letters with Pigeonly

The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at Guilford 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.