Incarcerated Person Mail

Acceptable items are limited to:

• Letters and postcards.
• Greeting cards.  These cannot be excessively large, thick, embossed (having a raised surface), having a transparent overlay, or contain sound-making devices.  Two-ply cards will be separated, and are therefore discouraged.
• Newspaper clippings and/or articles in reasonable amounts.
• Photographs.  Only small photographs which do not have a backing capable of concealing contraband.  Photographs cannot exceed 4"x6" in size.  It is recommended that the inmate’s Booking and JID numbers be written on the back of all photographs.  Polaroids will not be accepted unless the backing has been removed. Personal photographs may not contain nudity, partial nudity or be overtly sexual or sexually suggestive. (If further clarification is needed, refer below under ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED.) 
• Magazines, newspapers and paperback books if mailed directly from a publisher, book club or bookstore. (See below.)

Any mail (including magazines, books and articles) that has the following characteristics will be considered contraband and the entire envelope and its contents will be returned to the sender:

• Anything mailed in a padded envelope or box.
• Contains any type of currency or negotiable items (e.g., cash, checks, money orders). 
• Contains postage stamps, stickers, stationery or envelopes.   
• Contains pieces/sheets of plastic or anything laminated.
• Contains tissue, blotter, or construction paper. 
• Contains food items. 
• Anything written or colored with crayon, markers, wax, water colors, or white-out.  
• Has had a foreign substance applied to the envelope or letter (e.g., lipstick, perfume, cologne, powder, stickers, etc.).  
• Sound-making devices.
• Contains loose pages torn from novels, word-find and puzzle books. 
• Sexually explicit photos, publications, drawings or writings, and mail containing information concerning where, how, or from whom such matter may be obtained. Sex-based publications that depict frontal nudity or penetration are prohibited (e.g., Penthouse, Hustler, etc.).   
• Personal photographs that contain nudity, partial nudity, are overtly sexual or sexually suggestive.  Persons must be clothed in a manner that would be generally accepted in the community as a whole.  Any intent to show nudity, including, but not limited to the following, will be returned as unacceptable:
  • Any photo that displays an exposed female breast.  This includes photos that have been altered to obscure or conceal the areola (e.g., strategically placed stickers, digitally altered, etc.). Undergarments must be worn beneath clothing that is sheer/translucent, lace, mesh, etc.  
  • Any photo that displays the genitalia of either gender (including those wearing clothing that by design or by the manner in which it is worn, allows the anatomical detail of genitalia to be clearly viewed).
  • Nude photographs of anyone under 18 years old (including infants).
• Any gang-related pictures, writings, or drawings.
• Any matter of a character tending to incite murder, arson, riot, violent racism, or any other form of violence.
• Any matter concerning gambling or a lottery.
• Threatens blackmail and/or extortion.
• Concerns the sending of contraband in or out of any facility.
• Depicts, encourages or describes methods of escape from correctional facilities.
• Information which would present a clear and present danger of violence and/or physical harm to persons in or outside of the facility.
• Concerns plots or plans to disrupt the order of the facility and/or to breach the security of the facility.
• Any material advocating criminal activity, violation of any criminal law, or violation of facility rules or regulations.
• Contains coded messages which are not reasonably understood by the reader.
• Depicts or describes procedures for the construction or use of weapons, ammunition, bombs, or incendiary devices.
• Depicts or describes procedures for the brewing of alcoholic beverages, or the manufacture of drugs.

Magazines, newspapers and paperback books are accepted if mailed directly from a publisher, book club or bookstore. Packages containing anything other than books are prohibited (e.g., maps, calendars, etc.). Be sure to provide the incarcerated person’s Booking and JID numbers to the publisher/bookstore. Hardbound books will NOT be accepted, unless the book is unavailable in softbound edition. If the incarcerated person wishes to receive the book, the hardbound cover will be removed; if not, the book will be returned. If a publication contains an article considered to be objectionable and/or a threat to facility security, the publication will not be delivered and will either be returned to the publisher or placed into the incarcerated person’s property.