What Happens to My Mail at the Scanning Center?

The U.S. prison system is rapidly shifting toward "Digital Mail" to prevent contraband. If you are sending mail to states like Pennsylvania, Florida, or Ohio, here is exactly what happens at the processing center:

• The Digital Journey: When your mail arrives at a central hub (like Smart Communications or TextBehind), high-speed machines open and scan every page, photo, and card into a high-resolution file. This file is sent instantly to the inmate’s facility to be viewed on a tablet or kiosk.

• Destruction of Physical Mail: In most cases, the original paper, envelopes, and physical photos are securely shredded after a short period (usually 30 to 90 days). Your loved one will view a digital copy or a printed photocopy rather than holding the actual paper you touched.

• The Importance of Quality: Because inmates view a scanned version, the quality of the original document is vital. Light handwriting, messy text, or low-quality home photo prints can easily become blurry, dark, or completely unreadable on low-resolution prison screens.

• The Sendinmatemail Solution: We utilize high-contrast laser printing to ensure text and photos match the exact format that prison scanners prefer. We also track and route mail directly to the correct state processing hubs, preventing letters from being lost or delayed..