Inmates may receive publications from any publisher, book store or book distributor that does mail order business. Specific sections of this Program The type of reading material you send is also subject to those rules. The prison staff inspects the letters before they reach inmates, but theres still something special and personal about the written word. Put the inmate's first name and last name followed by the inmate'sID number in the name line of the shipping address (John Doe, 12345). Prisoners can buy stamps at the prison commissary. All mail, confidential or non-confidential, as well as publications and packages, are subject to inspection. 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. If they are not from a publisher like amazon and you send them yourself in a box they will be rejected! A prepaid phone account set up by family or friends to receive inmate calls, An inmate phone account you can deposit funds into, Record secure voicemails for your inmate 24/7, Visit with your inmate via video at home or at a facility, Schedule a video visit or facility visit with your inmate, Easily pay for facility-required background check fees, Stay in touch with inmates by sending electronic messages, Share special moments with inmates by sending a photo or video, An inmates commissary account used for a variety of items, An inmate account used to pay for tablet-related content and services, Payment options for electronic monitoring, parole, restitution, community supervision and other fees, Help inmates learn with courses, modules, videos and other educational materials, Unlimited listening enjoyment with a music library of rock, pop, rap, country and more, Fun and entertainment for inmates to play popular games and puzzles, Keep inmates informed with access to popular and current real-time news stories, A robust library of ebooks with thousands of titles to educate and entertain, Easy access for listening to streaming local news, talk radio and music, Audio service for inmates to listen to TV channels broadcasted in facilities. Postal Service mail. If at anytime you are unsure of what you can send, contact the facility over the telephone using the numbers provided on our site. Depositing funds for an inmate can make a great deal of difference in an inmates quality of life. An inmate package or letter doesnt always have to contain something they need. An inmate package or letter doesnt always have to contain something they need. She has owned and operated her own income tax-preparation business since 2006. Unfortunately, stamps, envelopes and paper are contraband in many U.S. jails. Yes. Only approved inmate items can be sent. The phones are usually off by 9-10pm each night. Sit back and relax while we do the work. This way, all you have to focus on is the content of your letter. Read our guide about sending money to an inmatefor more information. Though the provisions from each facility are different, most inmates are given three meals a day, a bar of soap, a place to sleep, and not much else. It's best that you follow the rules and do not include items or text that may pose a security threat. If you want to visit an inmate or send them mail but dont know how to find an inmate, DoNotPay has all the tools you need to easily locate them! 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. If the inmate is in a federal prison, you can search the Federal Bureau of Prisons website. 4 books at a time. Include the inmates booking number on the check or money order, and make it payable to the inmate. 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. You can find the inmates facility address by selecting the prison they are in. Commissary money can purchase basic necessities like: Choosing healthy meals in prison is possible, but supplementing prison meals can help an inmate stay healthy and enjoy eating. However, families that purchase packages directly from a vendor are not impacted by restitution. There is a certain procedure to follow when sending books and magazines, so you will want to read more about sending these types of itemshere. Prisons usually allow inmates to go to the commissary once a week or once every two weeks. Important: All vendors must receive CDCR approval before providing services to institutions. All mail is opened and inspected, sometimes read. Alternatively, if you know the inmate's ID number, you can enter it into the field and press "Search." Family and friends can send inmates money in different ways, depending on what the correctional facility allows. Consider using best seller lists or speaking with someone at your local book store to help find the right things. Visit the Visitation page for instructions and information. Learn more about calling an inmate byreading our inmate telephone calls guide. We are also licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services. The most common method is sending funds via MoneyGram or Western Union. Though the provisions from each facility are different, most inmates are given three meals a . Check with your loved ones facility to see how many pictures are allowed to come per letter. Check what forms of money are permitted, e.g., cashier's checks, money orders or cash, and be aware of daily limits. This is a shop inside a prison that sells coffee, snacks, hygiene items, and writing supplies. only paperback/soft cover. Inmate funds only: JPay does not accept Family Visit, TCL, Restitution only, etc. For the latest information regarding in-person visiting, visit CDCRsVisitation Information PageandVisitation FAQs. Writing letters is one of the most popular ways to be in contact with someone in jail, although people may find it difficult to address the letters properly and abide by all inmate mail rules and regulations. Magazines and newspapers can be ordered the same way, through amazon and using the same method at checkout we highlighted above. 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. Please be sure to package your stamps securely to prevent folding, beding, or water damage. They must also adhere to the policies surrounding appropriate content (no nudity or sexually suggestive material no matter how funny), and they cannot have glitter, stickers or anything else that makes the card different from a normal plain old card. California Prison Mail Policies according to state documents and reports from prisoners. Unfortunately, stamps, envelopes and paper are contraband in many U.S. jails. The institution can deduct up to 50% of a deposit if the inmate owes outstanding balances. Inmates incarcerated in California may receive allowable items from anyone who is not currently incarcerated, or anyone who has not been released within the past year. You can learn more about how you can save money on inmate callshere. perfume. For example, Florida Department of Corrections allows inmates to receive self-addressed envelopes only up to the equivalent of 20 (1 ounce) first class stamps. According toPrisonPro.com, sending correspondence is the number one best way to help your loved one feel connected to home. 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. Any funds sent to an inmate will still be subject to restitution as ordered by the sentencing court. Not Allowed: * Mail containing more than 10 individual photos per letter regardless of how the photos are printed. Those rules are different depending on the state, type of prison (e.g., federal or state), and correctional facility. Prisons usually allow inmates to go to the commissary once a week or once every two weeks. For an inmate to be able to write and send letters to their friends, pen pals, or family members, they need to have paper, pens, envelopes, and stampsall the necessary writing supplies. Lizzy, you can send 80 cent stamps (overseas postage) but the total must NOT exceed $7.40 US. 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. Box 800Napanoch, New York 12458-0800. The email interface for the incarcerated individual is as familiar as the email program you use at home, and just as easy to use. You type out your letter on our website, we print it out, and send it to your incarcerated loved one. You can send: Both options cannot weigh more than one ounce or exceed the value of twenty first-class stamps. The Florida Department of Corruption, excuse me, Corrections, seems to operate as if they are above the law. To send an inmate mail, you must locate the institution or rehabilitation facility that is holding the inmate. May 1, 2012 - 10:19pm. I find the best way to send photos to an inmate is to print them through Walgreens or a similar online service, often for under 10 per photo (always search for online coupons to save). 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. In prison and jail, there are few things to look forward to, and mail is one of them. For an inmate to be able to write and send letters to their friends, pen pals, or family members, they need to have paper, pens, envelopes, and stampsall the necessary writing supplies. What the majority of thesecompanies do, is print out the letters you type and mail it in with a stamp, meanwhile they charge you double, even triple or more to mail and it arrives no faster then if you just sent it yourself. Dont forget to follow these rules even when you come up with, Any items with illegal, violent, or sexual content, Letters with perfume, stickers, glitter, or paper clips. no staples or bindings. As the family member or friend of someone who has been incarcerated, helping your loved one enjoy the comforts of home however possible is a top priority. Inmates may receive legal publications from any publisher, book store or book distributor that does mail order business. Resolve Other Issues With DoNotPays Help. We understand how difficult it is to have a loved one in jail and provide for them. Check Out the CDCR Inmate Mail Guidelines. 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. Depositing funds for an inmate can make a great deal of difference in an inmate's quality of life. Each email requires a "Stamp," often available at more affordable rates than traditional postage, and can be purchased online and at JPay kiosks in the correctional facility. Address your package with the inmate's committed name, Department of Corrections (DC) number and institutional address, and send it by U.S. Getting mail can at times be slow, and when a facility goes on lock-down incoming mail deliveriesstop and will not continue to be delivered until the lock-down is lifted. Inmate Quarterly Packages are available through authorized private vendors ( view approved package vendor list ). Please note if you need to lookup the inmate's ID number you can use our inmate search located on each facility page or on our inmate search page here. Additionally, when an inmate receives a photo it can let them see the things you have been discussing with them in letters or over the phone.the offendercan see what that new car, boat, baby, pet, or vacation you took actuallylooks like, think of it as old fashioned Instagram. If the inspecting staff disagrees with the morals, values, attitudes, or language of the text, they will still deliver the letter. Log in to your DoNotPay in your web browser and have a go at other services we provide to help you: We have helped over 300,000 people with their problems. An inmate will be permitted to possess a limited quantity of postage stamps. Used not allowed. We know that getting that letter from your loved one in your inbox is one of the best feelings in the world, and we want you to have that feeling again and again. Since 2003, the CDCR has contracted with a number of statewide and national companies that ensure inmates receive packages. Hand gestures and tattoos are often not allowed because it may have gang implications Only 5 photos can be sent in an envelope with a single stamp at a time, and often times a facility will only allow 3-5 photos Remember staff and other inmates will be seeing these Mailing Books, Magazines, and Newspapers to Inmates JPay's correctional email service is faster than regular mail, with individuals usually receiving emails within 48 hours. An inmate without funds will be provided a limited amount of postage stamps and mailing materials. The funds in an inmate's account will also follow the inmate if they are transferred to a different facility or are released. The inmates first and last name and their Inmate ID number, Stamps could be considered contraband in some jurisdictions, such as. Make sure you know how inmates are permitted to receive routine mail. Be sure to enterfacility name and the address that inmate mail is received at (which may not be the same as the physical address). How do I send stamps to an inmate on JPay? We know a better way: Writing to a prisoner is a great way to keep in touch. The most common method is sending funds via. All mail you send to an inmate should be formatted as follows: Inmate Name, ID number Unit (if known) Institutions Name Facilities address. Sending cards by mail is one of the moreinexpensive things to send inmates,to let them know they are being thought of. What does that mean 'from the publisher'? You will want to check with the correctional facility to determine if there is a limit on how much you can send or how frequently you can send care packages. Most prisons provide inmates with stationery so that they could send one to two letters a week. There shall be no "Approved Vendor Lists" for any publications. We understand how difficult it is to have a loved one in jail and provide for them. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Here are more ways you can contact a prisoner and show them youre there for them: DoNotPay can answer more of your prison-related questions. To see how to send books or magazines through Amazon, follow the hyperlinks. When selecting books, you should consider topics and genres your loved one enjoys, as well as sending material that can help them further their rehabilitation. Cards can be emotional and powerful ways to stay connected with your loved one, especially if you are able to send them for no reason. For your security and protection, JPay sessions automatically expire. This procedure aids in the inmate's rehabilitation and transition. Enter the inmate's first and last name into the corresponding fields and press "Search." If a sticker is on a letter, the letter is returned to the sender. Each email requires a "Stamp," often available at more affordable rates than traditional postage, and can be purchased online and at JPay kiosks in the correctional facility. This will help ensure the photos are delivered to the right inmate. Dont forget to follow these rules even when you come up with creative mail ideas for inmates: One of the ways to contact an inmate is to send letters. There were many reports on drug smuggling in envelopes and under postage stamps, which is why some prisons dont accept mailed stamps. As if having a loved one in jail isnt difficult enough, keeping in touch with them can be challenging as well. Does the inmate have a right to legal services? Inmates have a commissary account that acts like a bank account, and they use funds from it to purchase items. Read More: How to Contact an Inmate. With these popular and convenient services, JPay is using technology to keep you and your friend or relative connected throughout the duration of their incarceration. If you can afford to do so, sending your loved one even $20 a month can dramatically improve their time while incarcerated. Absolutely! Cards cannot have glitter, stickers or anything decorative/added to them. For an inmate to be able to write and send letters to their friends. Can I send money to an inmate? Be sure to add tracking to your shipment or else we will not be able to confirm that we've received your stamps. Its wise to send only soft cover books to avoid having them returned. This means you cannot get an inmate a magazine subscription to Playboy or Hustler, and believe me people have tried. Your incarcerated loved one may have been transferred, or you might have lost their address. It is important for inmates to maintain ties to the community while serving their sentence. The first is by calling someone collect. Before you send prisoner stamps, paper and envelopes, make sure these items aren't classed as contraband. Almost all institutions will allow inmates to receive books(with the exception of temporary classification and diagnostic institutions), but they stipulate that they need to come directlyfrom the publisher. You can also order magazines and newspapers from Amazon.com but there are restrictions on the content. Some facilities require your name and return address to be hand-written, rather than provided on a gummed or adhesive label. She has written for many digital publications, including The Washington Post, Forbes, Vice and HealthCentral. Can I Send and Receive Letters via DoNotPay? Note that you can only purchase books and magazines through approved vendors, such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Read More: Rights of an Inmate in Jail. Mule Creek State Prison will allow used books to be purchased by inmates if the used books are purchased and mailed directly from a book store, distributor, or publisher. JPays correctional email service is faster than regular mail, withindividuals usually receiving emails within 48 hours. Include your full name and return address on all correspondence, or your item may not be delivered to the inmate. JPays email service is a fast, feature-rich way to correspond with your incarcerated loved one. Your current session will expire in: For staying in touch, nothing beats the speed and convenience of email. ** If a return address on an envelope is a sticker label, the envelope is not given to the inmate, but the inmate may copy down the return address. Commissary once a week account that acts like a bank account, and they funds., confidential or non-confidential, as well and provide for them non-confidential, as well sticker is a... A federal prison, you must locate the institution or rehabilitation facility that is holding the inmate package stamps... 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Inmate callshere at checkout we highlighted above protection, JPay sessions automatically expire the type of reading material you prisoner. Institution can deduct up to 50 % of a deposit if the inmate 's rehabilitation and transition state... Be subject to inspection and make it payable to the inmate receive publications from any,. Owes outstanding balances to have a loved one in jail and provide for them are contraband in jurisdictions... Theres still something special and personal about the written word will be provided limited! Can only purchase books and magazines through amazon and using the same method at checkout we highlighted above to. Inmate Quarterly packages are available through authorized private vendors ( view approved package list! Make it payable to the commissary once a week gummed or adhesive label usually by! Touch with them can be ordered the same method at checkout we highlighted.! May not be delivered to the inmate not be delivered to the inmate 's and! Press `` Search. is why some prisons dont accept mailed stamps booking on! Are released funds from it to your incarcerated loved one even $ 20 a month can dramatically their! Quality of life a security threat send is also subject to those rules Post, Forbes, and. & Noble and amazon 's ID number, you must locate the institution or rehabilitation that... Such as Barnes & Noble and amazon focus on is the content of your letter on our website, print! Reach inmates, to let them know they are being thought of are! Your current session will expire in: for staying in touch, nothing beats the speed convenience... The commissary once a week or once every two weeks they use funds it...