Legal Mail

The BOP has very specific requirements that attorneys must follow in addressing mail to their clients so that such correspondence can be properly identified as legal mail and only be opened by, or in the presence of, the client. The front of the envelope should appear as follows:

Attorney Jane Doe
Office Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code

 SPECIAL MAIL — OPEN ONLY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE INMATE —
PERSON ENTITLED TO INVOKE PROTECTION OF SPECIAL MAIL, 28 C.F.R. §540.18

Client's Name, Client's BOP Reg. No.
U.S. Penitentiary SCU-FCC
P.O. Box 33
Terre Haute, IN 47808

  

It is important that the envelope includes the name of the corresponding attorney with the title "attorney." The name of a law firm or the use of "Esq." is not sufficient to prevent the opening of the envelope. In addition, the following language should appear on the front of the envelope:

SPECIAL MAIL - OPEN ONLY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE INMATE - PERSON ENTITLED TO INVOKE PROTECTION OF SPECIAL MAIL, 28 C.F.R. §540.18

Please note: FedEx and UPS do not deliver to P.O. Boxes, so legal mail should be sent via the U.S. Postal Service.