Mail & Photos to Haywood County Detention. Address & Rules

The Correct Mailing Address

Send all personal mail to the facility directly:

[Full Legal Name]
Haywood County Detention Center
1620 Brown Avenue
Waynesville, NC 28786

Write the person’s full legal name exactly as it appears on their booking record. If the name doesn’t match, the letter may not reach them.

Always write your return address on the envelope in case the letter can’t be delivered.

Why No Third-Party Processor

Some county jails in North Carolina route mail through a processing service like TextBehind or Smart Communications. Haywood County Detention Center does not have a confirmed third-party processor as of the time this guide was verified. Mail goes to the physical facility address. If this changes, the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office will update the information at haywoodncsheriff.com. Always check that page or call (828) 452-6768 to confirm current mail routing before sending.

What to Include in a Letter

Write your letter on plain paper. Keep the content appropriate. Do not include anything attached to the paper such as glitter, stickers, or perfume. These items commonly trigger rejections at county facilities.

Keep the message clear and legible. Staff may inspect mail before it reaches the person inside.

Photos and Greeting Cards

The full rules for photos and greeting cards at Haywood County Detention Center are not published on the official website. Before sending photos, call (828) 452-6768 to confirm:

• Whether photos are allowed
• Maximum size or quantity per envelope
• What photo content is permitted (no explicit, gang-related, or threatening imagery)
• Whether Polaroids or printed photos are treated differently

The same applies to greeting cards. Plain cards without attached items are most likely to go through, but call to confirm before sending to avoid disappointment.

What Is Not Allowed

Based on standard county jail mail policies, the following are typically not accepted:

• Cash or checks (use InmateCanteen at team3.inmatecanteen.com for all money)
• Envelopes with glitter, stickers, or applied decorations
• Letters written in anything other than standard ink
• Mail with threatening, explicit, or gang-related content
• Packages or padded envelopes with items inside
• Food, clothing, or personal items

Because the facility’s full prohibited-item list is not published online, call (828) 452-6768 before sending anything beyond a plain letter to confirm it will be accepted.

Inmate Mailing Address Format

Every letter should follow this format exactly:

[Full Legal Name]
Haywood County Detention Center
1620 Brown Avenue
Waynesville, NC 28786

Each piece of information goes on its own line. Do not combine lines or use abbreviations for the facility name.

Sending Money vs. Sending Mail

Money and mail are handled completely separately. Do not put cash or a check inside a letter. To put money in someone’s account, go to InmateCanteen at team3.inmatecanteen.com or use the lobby kiosk at the Law Enforcement Center. See the send money guide for full instructions.

Legal Mail

If you are an attorney sending legal correspondence to a client at Haywood County Detention Center, do not mix it with personal mail. Legal mail is typically handled separately and delivered directly. Mark the envelope clearly as legal mail and call (828) 452-6666 or (828) 452-6768 to confirm the correct procedure for attorney-client correspondence.

Processing Time

County jail mail is inspected before delivery. Allow several days for a letter to reach the person after mailing, depending on postal transit time plus the facility’s inspection process. Around holidays and weekends, processing may take longer.

If Your Mail Is Rejected

If a letter doesn’t reach the person, call (828) 452-6768 to find out why. Common reasons mail gets rejected or returned include:

• Name on the envelope doesn’t match the booking record
• Content that violates facility rules (photos, items, prohibited language)
• Incorrect address or missing return address
• Envelope had stickers, glitter, or other decorations

If the rejection was for something fixable, resend the letter with corrections. If you’re unsure what went wrong, staff at (828) 452-6768 can usually tell you.

Staying Connected in Other Ways

Mail is one way to keep in touch. You can also:

• Set up phone calls through CPC at cpcjail.com (see the phone calls guide)
• Schedule a visit on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday (see the visitation guide)
• Use CPC’s email and messaging services

Send Photos and Letters with Pigeonly

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