When sending mail to an inmate, it's crucial to understand the strict regulations to ensure your correspondence reaches its recipient and doesn't cause any issues for them or for prison security. Generally, anything that poses a security risk, contains contraband, or is deemed inappropriate by correctional facility standards is prohibited.
Prohibited Items and Formats
Correctional facilities have specific rules about the physical items that can be sent or included in mail. These restrictions are in place for safety, security, and to prevent the introduction of contraband.
- Books and Publications: Avoid sending hardback books or ring-bound books, as these can be considered potential weapons or security risks. In many facilities, books must come directly from a publisher or an approved vendor. Always verify the specific rules of the correctional facility.
- Contraband: Never include any form of contraband, which encompasses illegal drugs, weapons, electronic devices (like cell phones or USB drives), cash, or personal checks.
- Items with Embellishments: Steer clear of sending cards or letters with glitter, glue, stickers, staples, paper clips, string, metal parts, or any other embellishments. These can conceal prohibited items or be used in ways that compromise safety.
- Certain Photos and Media: Laminated items, Polaroid photos (due to potential for hidden items), and sexually explicit materials (e.g., nudity, pornography) are typically forbidden.
- Excessive Items: Avoid sending multiple stamps, oversized cards, or anything that goes beyond basic stationery. Some facilities also restrict items that are heavily scented.
For general guidelines on what is permissible, you can often refer to the specific policies of federal or state correctional systems. For example, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) provides detailed information regarding inmate mail.
Restricted Content
The content of your letter is just as important as its physical form. Prison officials may open and read all incoming mail to ensure security and compliance. Therefore, certain topics and language are strictly prohibited:
- Disparaging Remarks: Do not include disparaging remarks about prison officials or staff. Such comments can lead to repercussions for the inmate, including disciplinary action, or may result in your correspondence being rejected.
- Threats and Harassment: Any content that includes threats, harassment, incites violence, or encourages illegal activity is strictly forbidden. This includes messages directed at other inmates, staff, or individuals outside the facility.
- Coded Messages: Avoid using coded language, symbols, or hidden messages. These can be interpreted as attempts to communicate illicitly and may cause your mail to be rejected.
- Sensitive Information: Do not discuss details of ongoing criminal cases or investigations unless you are the inmate's legal counsel. Avoid sharing information that could compromise the security of the facility or endanger individuals.
- Illegal Activities: Never discuss or plan illegal activities within your correspondence, regardless of whether they relate to current or future actions.
- Solicitation: Do not solicit money or goods from other inmates, or engage in any form of fraudulent communication.
Important Considerations for Mail
Understanding and adhering to mail regulations is vital. Each correctional facility, whether federal, state, or county, may have its own specific set of rules in addition to general guidelines.
- Mail Inspection: Be aware that all incoming mail, with the exception of privileged legal mail, is subject to being opened, inspected, and read by prison staff.
- Consistency: Rules can change, so it's always best to check with the specific correctional facility where the inmate is housed before sending mail. Many state departments of corrections, such as the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, provide their mail regulations online.
- Repercussions: Anything you send or write that violates the rules can lead to the mail being returned to sender, destroyed, or, more severely, cause disciplinary action for the inmate, or even legal consequences for the sender.
Quick Guide to Mail Restrictions
| Category | What to AVOID Sending/Writing | Why It's Restricted |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Items | Hardback books, ring-bound books | Considered potential weapons or security risks |
| Glitter, glue, stickers, staples, metal | Can conceal contraband or be used improperly | |
| Cash, personal checks, electronics | Contraband, security threat | |
| Laminated items, Polaroid photos | Potential for hidden items, security risk | |
| Sexually explicit material (e.g., nudity) | Inappropriate, considered contraband | |
| Content | Disparaging remarks about prison officials or staff | Can cause repercussions for the inmate |
| Threats, harassment, incitement to violence | Security threat, illegal communication | |
| Coded messages or hidden meanings | Attempts at illicit communication | |
| Information regarding illegal activities or security breaches | Compromises safety and security, may lead to charges |
