Mail & Packages in Michigan (MDOC)
How to address mail with the prisoner's MDOC number, why Michigan photocopies mail and shreds the originals, the new 2026 QR-code system for legal mail, and the publisher-only book rule with its hardcover ban.
How to address it
Use the prisoner’s name and MDOC number, then the facility name and address (look up the number on OTIS and the address in MDOC’s facility directory). For example:
John Smith #123456 [Facility name] [Facility street address]
What happens to your letter
Incoming personal mail is opened, inspected, and photocopied in black and white at the facility; the prisoner receives the photocopy plus the front of the envelope, and the original is shredded (held about 14 days first). Michigan does not route personal mail to an outside scanning company — the copying is done in-house. If you want the prisoner to have a color copy, send it as a JPay electronic message instead of on paper. Limits: one photo per page (no collages), no nude photos, generally no more than 12 pages, and postage stamps are not allowed in the mail.
Legal and confidential mail (new in 2026)
As of January 2026, legal mail (from an attorney) and “confidential” mail (from courts and certain agencies) are also photocopied — opened in the prisoner’s presence, copied, the original shredded in front of them, and not read. Senders must register with TextBehind and put a single-use QR code on the envelope; legal mail without a valid QR code is returned to the sender unopened. Because even legal originals are not delivered, keep your own copies of important documents.
Books, publications, and packages
Books and magazines must be new and shipped directly from a publisher or an MDOC-approved vendor (such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Walmart) — used items and items mailed by family are not accepted, and prisoners cannot order publications themselves. Hardcover books are no longer accepted as of February 2026; softcover books from approved vendors still are. Family care packages go through the SecurePak program at michiganpackages.com — one order per calendar quarter, with a spending limit (currently $125).
Verify Before Acting
Sources
This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.