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. One of the big scams out there that I have been noticing is various "Inmate Service" companies that claim you can contact your inmate online, or send them a message through their website. Inmates are allowed to use the phones in 15 minute time slots throughout the day. The check/money order must be payable to the inmate's name and booking number. Those rules are different depending on the state, type of prison (e.g., federal or state), and correctional facility. 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. 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. 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 Please note the CDCRNumber is the California Department of Corrections Number. Send pictures of the items you write about in your correspondenceyour friends and family, the pets, the neighborhood, etc. Can I send stamps to an inmate in California?California Inmate Phones/Sending Money & Mail | PrisonProAug 2, 2019Sending Mail to a California Inmate Anyone w. What Are the Eligible Inmate Package Vendors? Read our guide about sending money to an inmatefor more information. All MIM material banned per state-wide CDC ban, 1 pound weight limit per O.P. Learn more about calling an inmate byreading our inmate telephone calls guide. To send an inmate mail, you must locate the institution or rehabilitation facility that is holding the inmate. is to send letters. 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. Commissary Money. Unfortunately, photos are another area that some online companies exploit. 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. You can find the inmates facility address by selecting the prison they are in. With a few simple steps, well help you find them. CDCR assumes no liability for such purchases. Box 86164 Terminal Annex Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164 You can see the list of all the dos and donts when sending mail to an inmate in California in the table below. The prices of Jpay stamps varies depending on which state you buy them from. Now, so indigen. , the most important part is addressing it properly. Prisoners can buy stamps at the prison commissary. When using a single stamp, only 5 photos can be sent at a time. Inmate Quarterly Packages are available through authorized private vendors (view approved package vendor list). We are also licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Prisons usually allow inmates to go to the commissary once a week or once every two weeks. These two combine in a way that you and your correspondent have a unique experienceyou will be sending and receiving emails, whereas they will be handling printed and written letters. You can do this by searching the state's Department of Corrections website. Not Allowed: * Mail containing more than 10 individual photos per letter regardless of how the photos are printed. 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. For the latest information regarding in-person visiting, visit CDCRsVisitation Information PageandVisitation FAQs. Charging prisoners to return MIM lit to sender, Books must be softback, 5 books at a time, hardcovers can be removed before shipping. They keep you going from day to day and bring the voices or those you love right into your head. Mailing and Emailing Inmates at Adult Pre-Trial Facility When mailing a letter or postcard to an inmate, please address your mail as follows: Inmate's First & Last Name, Inmate Jacket ID# Tulare County Detentions 36714 Road 112 Visalia, CA 93291 All mail sent to an inmate at the Adult Pre-Trial Facility must include the sender's name and mailing address in the top left corner of your mail. 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. California Prison Mail Policies according to state documents and reports from prisoners. At no time may you send any other items to an inmate directly from you. The funds in an inmate's account will also follow the inmate if they are transferred to a different facility or are released. If inmates receive new books, they have to send home or donate the old ones. Some of the CDCR approved inmate package vendors are: If you want to learn more about California inmate package rules, DoNotPay can give you all the info you need. This way, all you have to focus on is the content of your letter. Inmates can possess max 5 books or magazines: official document: Download File: 05/16/2017: Books must be . Writing letters to inmates is what keeps them in the loop about the life outside, prepares them for it, and lifts their spirits. Some facilities require your name and return address to be hand-written, rather than provided on a gummed or adhesive label. Many correctional facilities require that they come directly from the publishermeaning they must come from a site likeAmazon. Address your package with the inmate's committed name, Department of Corrections (DC) number and institutional address, and send it by U.S. The rules stipulate that: To ensure that the mail you want to send to a California inmate is promptly delivered to the intended party, you should follow these guidelines for addressing: If you are not sure what the precise inmate mail address is, you can refer to the facility locator page. If a sticker is on an envelope, the inmate is given the letter inside, but not the envelope. Some things you should never do when sending a letter, as it will result in the letter being rejected: If there is one thing an inmate loves morethan getting a letter in the mail, it's getting photos. 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). Inmate funds only: JPay does not accept Family Visit, TCL, Restitution only, etc. Well shed some light on how inmates can get a hold of stamps and how their friends and family can help them. On top of everything, you might have to worry about dealing with bills. JPay's correctional email service is faster than regular mail, with individuals usually receiving emails within 48 hours. Our apps Connect With an Inmate product comes with extraordinary featuresone of them being Locate Someone. It's important to know the policy of the facility where your loved one is detained before you send items to an inmate. Using DoNotPay to send letters to prison comes with more benefits, such as: DoNotPay is convenient to use with only a few simple steps to follow before we mail your letter. Your current session will expire in: For staying in touch, nothing beats the speed and convenience of email. We know a better way: Writing to a prisoner is a great way to keep in touch. If you can afford to do so, sending your loved one even $20 a month can dramatically improve their time while incarcerated. 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. Cards cannot have glitter, stickers or anything decorative/added to them. Check what forms of money are permitted, e.g., cashier's checks, money orders or cash, and be aware of daily limits. 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. Note that you can only purchase books and magazines through approved vendors, such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon. You can click the Request Mail Check to see if you have new mail. Using the state's Department of Corrections or Federal Bureau of Prisons website, you can find the address of the institution and the inmate's ID or DOC number. 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. 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. #1. mountanddo. Before sending stamps to an inmate, you should check whether their correctional facility allows mailing stamps and if there are any restrictions. Read More: Rights of an Inmate in Jail. The prison staff inspects the letters before they reach inmates, but theres still something special and personal about the written word. 4 x 6 is the largest photo you should send. She has contributed to several websites and serves as the lead content editor for a construction-related website. The Ins and Outs of the CDCR Inmate Mail Guidelines. If the mail contains any illegal or suspicious information, the inmate will not receive the letter. If you are sending 37 cent stamps for your pal to send within the US, the total still must not exceed $7.40 (20 stamps). prisons, guided by the communist ideology of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism. 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. If a prisoner wants to send letters more often, they need to bear the cost of stamps and other essential items. If they are hardcover they will be rejected. Visit DoNotPay in your web browser, and well also help you: We have helped over 300,000 people with their problems. Most prisons provide inmates with stationery so that they could send one to two letters a week. If your loved one cannot receive stamps, paper and envelopes by mail, an alternative is to send her money to buy these items from the prison commissary. Purchases from vendors are at the buyers sole risk. Mail made easy. This would include letters that talk about escape, planning a criminal act, coded messages, hand drawn or printed maps, gang communications, or photos of a nude/sexual nature. The email interface for the incarcerated individual is as familiar as the email program you use at home, and just as easy to use. Claire is a qualified lawyer and specialized in family law before becoming a full-time writer. For example, Florida Department of Corrections does not permit inmates to receive routine mail in certain types of packages, including boxes, plastic bags, padded envelopes, envelopes that include metal parts or any package with packing peanuts or bubble wrap. Terms of Use governing use of ConnectNetwork services state that all services are intended to be used by persons over the age of 18. Also, because the rate for local calls is much less then long distance calls you may be able to save tons of money on your prison phonecalls. May 1, 2012 - 10:19pm. 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. 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. 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