Mail and Packages to Elmira Correctional Facility

Letters and Photos

Every letter is opened and inspected. Mark the envelope with the person’s full name, DIN, and your return address. You can include up to 5 pages of printed or photocopied material, with a newspaper clipping counted as one page. Regular photos are fine, but skip nude images, Polaroids, postage stamps, and pages taped or glued together, since those can delay delivery or get the letter rejected.

If the person needs more than 5 pages for an active legal matter, they can request an exception from the Superintendent, but only once every 4 months.

Food Packages

Each person can get up to 3 food packages a month from an approved vendor, with a combined weight under 40 pounds. The count is based on arrival date, not order date, so packages from third-party sellers that split shipments can push someone over the limit by accident. Food has to arrive in sealed, airtight commercial packaging, with no alcohol, energy mixes, hot peppers, frozen items, or anything packed in glass or cans.

Non-Food Packages

Family and friends can mail up to 2 non-food packages a year directly. Outside of that limit, non-food items like clothing, shoes, or hygiene products can be ordered through an approved vendor with no yearly cap, as long as the item is on the Department’s allowed list. There isn’t one required vendor: any company not on the state’s disapproved vendor list can ship to Elmira, as long as the package shows the person’s name, DIN, and the vendor’s printed return address. Packages can no longer be dropped off during a visit.

Books and Magazines

Books and magazines can be new or used, but they have to come from a publisher, bookstore, or approved distributor, not straight from your house. They may be held up to 6 days for security review if they don’t come from a publisher or approved distributor.

What Gets Rejected

Packages without a printed return address from the vendor are x-rayed and may be destroyed or sent back at your cost. Anything over $30 in value needs the original vendor receipt attached or it can be denied. People in the Special Housing Unit can only receive books, periodicals, and legal mail, no packages.

Send Photos and Letters with Pigeonly

The easiest way to send photos and letters to someone at Elmira Correctional Facility 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.