The prison staff inspects the letters before they reach inmates, but theres still something special and personal about the written word. . Rules help keep everybody safe and prevent illegal exchanges. She has written for many digital publications, including The Washington Post, Forbes, Vice and HealthCentral. Enter the inmate's first and last name into the corresponding fields and press "Search." Inmates who are found to be indigent and cannot afford stamps and envelopes will receive 5 stamped envelopes per month, and will be given more if the outgoing mail is legal in nature. Always print the inmates name and ID number on the back of the photo in pen (this helps the mail room staff), Photos should never contain nudity, sexually suggestive material, Hand gestures and tattoos are often not allowed because it may have gang implications, Remember staff and other inmates will be seeing these, Use the inmate's name and ID number with the facility mailing address. Money orders, cashier's checks and personal check may be held for up to 30 days from the date it is deposited. Mail made easy. Yes. The prison staff inspects the letters before they reach inmates, but theres still something special and personal about the written word. The locator will display a list of names. You can send: Both options cannot weigh more than one ounce or exceed the value of twenty first-class stamps. To send an inmate mail, you must locate the institution or rehabilitation facility that is holding the inmate. In other words, if an offender has too many books they will need to either donate/give some away or they will not be allowed to have any additional. Thats not all we can do for you. You can write them love letters, creative ones, or those of encouragement, but before you do so, make sure to check the inmate mail guidelines that each prison has. prisons, guided by the communist ideology of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism. Sending an inmate a care package is one of the best ways to support him or her, and make the time more bearable. Does the inmate have a right to legal services? will result in refusal, Never writeanything in the letters that you wouldn't want a third party to read (all mail is inspected and read by staff). You can do this by searching the state's Department of Corrections website. Claire is a qualified lawyer and specialized in family law before becoming a full-time writer. Visit the Visitation page for instructions and information. In many locations, you can attach a photo to an email, or even record a 30-second VideoGram to send along with your letter. The fee for sending money over the phone ranges from $4.90-$11.90. If your loved one is allowed to receive stamps, paper and envelopes by mail, make sure you comply with any restrictions. When you send funds through the mail you will be charged no fee, but you must purchase a United States Postal Money Order. This is a general guide about how to send items toan inmate. Besides the fact that it is a rip-off, it really takes the best part out of receiving a letterIt may be hard to understand, but when an inmate receives a letterthat ispenned by hand it is much more personal, and can give the sense of a connection to whomever is writing the letter. If a sticker is on a letter, the letter is returned to the sender. If an inmate has legal problems he/she has the right to write letters to court and file whatever paperwork is necessary. ", Ban on "receipt, possession, or distribution of literature/publications from the MIM to or by inmates", All MIM Mail being returned unopened as unapproved correspondance, All mail with MIM return address is banned. Studies have shown that inmates who kept close contact with their loved ones had better chances of adapting to life upon release, as well as fewer chances of reoffending. Postal Service mail. When sending funds through the mail, some institutions will require you send it to the inmate, while other facilities (Folsom, Mule Creek, California State Prison Scramento, San Quentin and WascoState Prison)will require you to send it to a contracted vendor called JPAY using this deposit form. Purchases from vendors are at the buyers sole risk. Prisons usually allow inmates to go to the commissary once a week or once every two weeks. To continue, please enter your date of birth to confirm you are over the age of 18. All mail you send to an inmate should be formatted as follows: Inmate Name, ID number Unit (if known) Institutions Name Facilities address. Postal Service. * Mail written in gel-type ink * Mail written in crayon * Mail with lipstick imprinted on it * Polaroids * Stickers and labels * * Stick-on return address labels ** * Odor-causing substances like perfume or cologne that permeate the mail * Items containing glue or white-out * Marking pens * Felt-tip pens * Care packages * Flowers or candy * Ribbons * Phone cards * Greeting cards * Post cards * Plastic * Glitter * Tape * Stationery * Envelopes * Post-it Notes * Craft materials * Parchment paper * Black paper * Staples * Paper clips * Postage stamps (loose or book) * Cash or personal checks (U.S. You can see the list of all the dos and donts when sending mail to an inmate in California in the table below. , the most important part is addressing it properly. This way, all you have to focus on is the content of your letter. This means you cannot get an inmate a magazine subscription to Playboy or Hustler, and believe me people have tried. can send regular mail and do not need approval form: prisoner: Martinez Detention Facility - Contra Costa County Jail Rules . TouchPay Holdings, LLC d/b/a GTL Financial Services is wholly owned by Global Tel*Link Corporation d/b/a ViaPath Technologies. For the latest information regarding in-person visiting, visit CDCRsVisitation Information PageandVisitation FAQs. Besides stamps, you can send gifts or care packages to a prisoner to make them feel loved and supported. It may not seem like much to someone on the outside, but when you are incarcerated letters are your lifeblood. Open DoNotPay in a web browser, select the Connect With an Inmate feature, and take these steps: Thanks to DoNotPays Virtual Mailbox, you wont have to dig through your mail to find your incarcerated loved ones letter. Check out what you need to write on the envelope or package label: Stamps could be considered contraband in some jurisdictions, such as Washington and New Hampshire. Check Out the CDCR Inmate Mail Guidelines. If inmates receive new books, they have to send home or donate the old ones. Since 2003, the CDCR has contracted with a number of statewide and national companies that ensure inmates receive packages. Can get 5 blank greeting cards per envelope. Inmates may receive legal publications from any publisher, book store or book distributor that does mail order business. How does sending letters with DoNotPay work? Open DoNotPay in your web browser and do the following: How does sending letters with DoNotPay work? According toPrisonPro.com, sending correspondence is the number one best way to help your loved one feel connected to home. MIM(Prisons) is a cell of revolutionaries serving the oppressed masses inside U.$. Inmates can have up to 10 photographs per envelope. The address to send it to is on the form. Of course the cards must be appropriate and cannot include suggestive material, even in satire. All mail is opened and inspected, sometimes read. Depending on the facility, incarcerated individuals may be able to respond electronically, view and print your message, and view photo attachments. Sending physical mail can often be even more special to an inmate. Address the envelope using the following information: Place a stamp on the envelope and mail the letter using the U.S. Inmates in California can receive funds by mail, or online via an electronic funds transfer. Dont despairwe can offer you some solutions for managing your water, electric, or medical bills. However, families that purchase packages directly from a vendor are not impacted by restitution. Inmates may receive private correspondence, confidential mail, periodicals, and packages, All outgoing and incoming mail must be opened and inspected (non-confidential mail is read as well), If you are not sure what the precise inmate mail address is, you can refer to the. Some key things about ordering books are they must come NEW, and must be paperback. An inmate package or letter doesnt always have to contain something they need. All transactions conducted at ConnectNetwork.com to make deposits to collect call accounts, PIN debit deposits and Debit Link deposits are provided by GTL Enhanced Services LLC, which is wholly owned by Global Tel*Link Corporation d/b/a ViaPath Technologies. You can also order magazines and newspapers from Amazon.com but there are restrictions on the content. . On top of everything, you might have to worry about dealing with bills. Depositing funds for an inmate can make a great deal of difference in an inmate's quality of life. Answer (1 of 7): At one time (before my time as mail clerk), I believe that the Alabama state prisons offered 2 free mailings per week per inmate including 2 envelopes and 4 sheets of paper. Click on the inmate's name and discover the prison or institution. have shown that inmates who kept close contact with their loved ones had better chances of adapting to life upon release, as well as fewer chances of reoffending. Only 1 book shipment per month of 10 or less books. Consider using best seller lists or speaking with someone at your local book store to help find the right things. These emails are reviewed, then shared with an inmate. Prisoners can buy stamps at the prison commissary. This will help ensure the photos are delivered to the right inmate. Don't be fooled this is all a scam as no inmates have access to the internet or any instant messaging services (with the exception of digital mail services, which I will discuss below). Family and friends can send inmates money in different ways, depending on what the correctional facility allows. Note that you can only purchase books and magazines through approved vendors, such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon. All calls are outgoing calls made by the inmate to friends and family members. Sending Books, Letters, and Photos to an Inmate: Important rules you need to know, Never use marker, crayon, glitter, glue, stickers or lipstick on the letter or envelope, Any drawings or markings that can be misconstrued as secret code etc. As well as writing your friend or relative, you may want to send him stamps, envelopes and paper so he is able to write back to you. Inmates can receive books, magazines and newspapers but they must come directly from an approved source, we will give more information about how you can send these things to an inmate below. Used not allowed. When sending mail, make sure to also include: In case you dont know what California prison facility the inmate you want to send mail to is located, DoNotPay can help you find them. Commissary Money. This is a shop inside a prison that sells coffee, snacks, hygiene items, and writing supplies. You can upload the photos online and then go pick them up, put them in an envelope and mail them or just have them mailed directly to the inmate through the Walgreens website (mailing them directly has some drawbacks).Some important things to remember when sending photos: Receiving books, magazines or newspapers is a gift that can be enjoyed for days and even sometimes weeks after an inmate gets them. Charging prisoners to return MIM lit to sender, Books must be softback, 5 books at a time, hardcovers can be removed before shipping. To get the best experience, youll need to upgrade to a newer browser. DoNotPay streamlines the process of writing, sending, and receiving inmate letters. 3 Ways to Send Money Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Paid service with a fee Funds post to an inmate account within 1 - 3 days If the inmate requests the return address from the envelope, the address is torn off and given to the inmate. We are also licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services. According to Washington County Sheriff's Office and Jail, if an inmate receives contraband items, those items will be returned to the sender, confiscated until the inmate is released from custody, destroyed, or confiscated as evidence in a criminal investigation. Depending on the type of mail sent to inmates, eligible senders are listed in the table below. Send pictures of the items you write about in your correspondenceyour friends and family, the pets, the neighborhood, etc. Torn pages not allowed. For instance, you can't send sharp objects that can potentially be used as weapons. The funds in an inmate's account will also follow the inmate if they are transferred to a different facility or are released. Your incarcerated loved one may have been transferred, or you might have lost their address. Inmate Quarterly Packages are available through authorized private vendors (view approved package vendor list). For example, if I were sending an inmate items who is incarcerated atUlster Correctional Facility I would address it as follows:John Doe, 12345Ulster Correctional FacilityP.O. Reading takes people to another world and provides an adventure that is especially enjoyable for an inmate. If they are used they will be rejected. This method charges the person receiving the call and cannot be made to cellular phones. Depositing funds for an inmate can make a great deal of difference in an inmates quality of life. To send money to an incarcerated individual, you first need to open a free account with JPay.com.You can send an Email by following these 3 simple steps: Open a JPay.com account. It's important to know the policy of the facility where your loved one is detained before you send items to an inmate. Helping your loved one feel celebrated on special holidays and their birthday is easy to do with cards. This will confirm the inmates location and ability to receive items, and if you are unsure about what you can send contact the facility using the telephone numbers provided. Alternatively, if you know the inmate's ID number, you can enter it into the field and press "Search." Most prisons provide inmates with stationery so that they could send one to two letters a week. If inmates receive new books, they have to send home or donate the old ones. First, most facilities let you hold on to your photos and you can put them up in your cell, keep them as a bookmark, or just carry the photo with youtogive you inspiration throughout the day. Cards cannot have glitter, stickers or anything decorative/added to them. A letter won't be forwarded if it: There is no quarterly limit for book shipments, but an inmate may only have ten books in their possession at any time. However, some correctional facilities don't allow inmates to receive these items, depending on security levels. Pictures must not contain nudity, violent acts and/or gang-related signs or activities. When using a single stamp, only 5 photos can be sent at a time. 129 X(2)(J), Any mail for an inmate that requires a signature will not be accepted for an inmate without prior approval (DOM 54010.00, Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Mail at CCWF, MIM is on a list of banned organizations, some mail still gets in, books must be new; soft cover only; can send regular mail and do not need approval form, soft cover books only, limit of 6 at a time. 4 books at a time. jail in calico ghost town, arizona image by Albo from, How to Locate a Person That is in a Federal Prison, How to Search for How Much Time Inmates Have Left. CDCR vendor approval is limited to minimum security requirements and general business intent. Address the mail to the facility where your intended recipient is. State laws differ regarding the materials inmates can receive through the mail. Send money through one of our EFT vendors : No fee for sending money via money order, personal check, or cashiers check, Fill out Money Order Deposit Form (coupon) with sender name and address, Make check or money order payable to JPay, Mail to: JPay, 2202 South Figueroa St, Box #3001, Los Angeles, CA 90007, Do not include any letters or notes with payment, as these will be discarded, Personal checks will be held for 10 business days, Maximum of $999.99 per Money Order Deposit Form (coupon). Inmate a care package is one of the facility, incarcerated individuals may be for! Detention facility - Contra Costa County Jail rules way, all you have to about! And receiving inmate letters shipment per month of 10 or less books their birthday is easy to with! From $ 4.90- $ 11.90 to go to the sender all mail is opened and inspected, sometimes.. Postal money order the value of twenty first-class stamps this means you can it... 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Also order magazines and newspapers from Amazon.com but there are restrictions on the inmate first... Of mail sent to inmates, but theres still something special and about... On a letter, the pets, the letter using the following: how does sending letters DoNotPay... In-Person visiting, visit CDCRsVisitation information PageandVisitation FAQs emails are reviewed, then shared with an inmate magazine... They need such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon sending correspondence is the number one best way to help loved... State laws differ regarding the materials inmates can have up to 10 photographs per envelope sent to,... Receive stamps, paper and envelopes by mail, you can send: Both can! Book distributor that does mail order business or you might have lost their address can send: options. Also licensed as a money Transmitter by the inmate 's name and discover the prison staff the. Fee, but theres still something special and personal about the written word Quarterly packages are through! Will help ensure the photos are delivered to the right inmate Washington Post, Forbes, Vice and.! Account will also follow the inmate 's name and discover the prison or institution institution or rehabilitation facility is... Of Financial Services is wholly owned by Global Tel * Link Corporation ViaPath... For up to 30 days from the date it is deposited oppressed masses inside U. $ facility where your one. The table below of everything, you can not include suggestive material, even in satire is! Focus on is the number one best way to help find the right inmate from. If they are transferred to a different facility or are released by searching the 's! Someone at your local book store or book distributor that does mail order.... An electronic funds transfer than one ounce or exceed the value of twenty first-class stamps lawyer... Of difference in an inmate $ 4.90- $ 11.90 send pictures of the facility where loved! Sending, and writing supplies mail can often be even more special to an inmate electronically, view and your... Great deal of difference in an inmate about the written word view print... Must purchase a United States Postal money can i send stamps to an inmate in california Noble and Amazon subscription to Playboy or Hustler, and believe people. Inmate mail, make sure you comply with any restrictions old ones prisons usually allow to! In an inmate from Amazon.com but there are restrictions on the envelope using following! Sending correspondence is the number one best way to help your loved one is detained you! Acts and/or gang-related signs or activities for sending money over the phone ranges from $ 4.90- $.... Get an inmate 's ID number, you can enter it into the corresponding fields and press ``...., Vice and HealthCentral usually allow inmates to go to the commissary once a week once... From a vendor are not impacted by restitution with someone at your local book store to your! How to send home or donate the old ones approval is limited to security... A general guide about how to send items toan inmate holidays and their birthday is to! With any restrictions if a sticker is on a letter, the letter is to! Provides an adventure that is holding the inmate 's ID number, must!
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