If the inmate requests the return address from the envelope, the address is torn off and given to the inmate. Include the inmates booking number on the check or money order, and make it payable to the inmate. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Any issues or disputes regarding the vendors products are the sole responsibility of the buyer and/or vendor, and CDCR is not obligated to mediate or resolve any such disputes (Department Operations Manual Section 54030.9.1(a)(7)). You can mail the check/order to one of the following addresses: For mail inmates: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department P.O. Not Allowed: * Mail containing more than 10 individual photos per letter regardless of how the photos are printed. We understand how difficult it is to have a loved one in jail and provide for them. , the most important part is addressing it properly. If the inmate is in a federal prison, you can search the Federal Bureau of Prisons website. Some important things to remember when sending books, magazines or newspapers to an inmate: You can send holiday and birthday cards to an inmate but they must not have any electronics or popup/out content. Postal Service mail. Wheeland holds an Associate of Arts in accounting and criminal justice. 4 books at a time. The most common method is sending funds via. Torn pages not allowed. 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. 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. It goes without saying that sending photos to your loved one in prison is a valuable way to help them feel connected between visits. Those rules are different depending on the state, type of prison (e.g., federal or state), and correctional facility. Whether you send stamps to an inmate in an envelope or an. CDCR vendor approval is limited to minimum security requirements and general business intent. Please note the CDCRNumber is the California Department of Corrections Number. 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). (NMLS #967396). On top of everything, you might have to worry about dealing with bills. Before we let you in on our AI-powered system, you may need to. An inmate package or letter doesnt always have to contain something they need. For more info on eligible senders, check the CDCR Operations Manual. Your incarcerated loved one may have been transferred, or you might have lost their address. 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. 3190(i)(2) "Legal Material, including legal reference material, books, and legal pads not available in the institution canteen, pursuant to section 3161. 3190(i)(7) "All publications, including books and subscriptions to periodicals, subject to section 3006. If they are used they will be rejected. is to send letters. Photos are great to receive when your incarcerated for many reasons. Inmates have a commissary account that acts like a bank account, and they use funds from it to purchase items. Postal Service. If they are not from a publisher like amazon and you send them yourself in a box they will be rejected! 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. TouchPay Holdings, LLC d/b/a GTL Financial Services is wholly owned by Global Tel*Link Corporation d/b/a ViaPath Technologies. 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. To send an inmate mail, you must locate the institution or rehabilitation facility that is holding the inmate. Note that you can only purchase books and magazines through approved vendors, such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Consider using best seller lists or speaking with someone at your local book store to help find the right things. This way, all you have to focus on is the content of your letter. This way, all you have to focus on is the content of your letter. It is important for inmates to maintain ties to the community while serving their sentence. . Inmate Quarterly Packages are available through authorized private vendors (view approved package vendor list). If your loved one is allowed to receive stamps, paper and envelopes by mail, make sure you comply with any restrictions. Open DoNotPay in a, Compose your letter and add a picture if you wish, Receive Letters From Inmates via DoNotPay, We digitize it and upload it to your Virtual Mailbox, You get a notification and can access the letter immediately. May 1, 2012 - 10:19pm. 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. 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. 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 California inmates are also allowed to receive new soft cover books directly from a publisher such as Amazon.com. Thats not all we can do for you. If the text poses a security threat, your recipient will never get it. Sending the inmate illegal material may result in revocation of mail rights for the inmate. Inmates may receive up to 10 pages at a time, the pages can be drawings, a child's school work, articles cut from a newspaper or magazine, but may not contain glue, stickers, glitter or any other embellishments such as lipstick perfume etc. Well shed some light on how inmates can get a hold of stamps and how their friends and family can help them. There shall be no "Approved Vendor Lists" for any publications. Some states allow inmates to receive magazines and cards, while others only allow paper letters. 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. How does sending letters with DoNotPay work? Depositing funds for an inmate can make a great deal of difference in an inmate's quality of life. The second method of receiving inmate calls is through a prepaid service called Global Tel*link. Sign up for a free account today, and start sending emails immediately. CDCR assumes no liability for such purchases. You can do this by searching the state's Department of Corrections website. In many locations, you can attach a photo to an email, or even record a 30-second VideoGram to send along with your letter. Purchase stamps. When you send funds through the mail you will be charged no fee, but you must purchase a United States Postal Money Order. For your security and protection, JPay sessions automatically expire. 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. Prisoners can buy stamps at the prison commissary. Find the mailing address of the prison or institution that is holding the inmate with whom you wish to correspond. Money orders, cashier's checks and personal check may be held for up to 30 days from the date it is deposited. Address the mail to the facility where your intended recipient is. 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. Simply put, it means you canorder them from Amazon.com (must not be used or from third party sellers). It may not seem like much to someone on the outside, but when you are incarcerated letters are your lifeblood. Inmates, paroles, probationersonly if a California inmate meets the criteria and has written permission to correspond with these parties, Personal correspondents only when it comes to parole clothes and health care appliances. Your current session is about to expire. Inmates may receive publications from any publisher, book store or book distributor that does mail order business. Writing letters to inmates is what keeps them in the loop about the life outside, prepares them for it, and lifts their spirits. If a prisoner wants to send letters more often, they need to bear the cost of stamps and other essential items. Click on the inmate's name and discover the prison or institution. 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. 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. However, some correctional facilities don't allow inmates to receive these items, depending on security levels. This is a general guide about how to send items toan inmate. She has contributed to several websites and serves as the lead content editor for a construction-related website. Be sure to add tracking to your shipment or else we will not be able to confirm that we've received your stamps. Unfortunately, photos are another area that some online companies exploit. Place a stamp on the envelope and mail the letter using the U.S. Wow, so I went to buy stamps again for my account and I got 60 single page stamps for $10. . 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. , but before you do so, make sure to check the inmate mail guidelines that each prison has. You can also send funds to an inmate online through Access Secure Depositsor JPAY. Are you wondering about what things to send inmates in the next care package? You can see the list of all the dos and donts when sending mail to an inmate in California in the table below. Address the mail to the facility where your intended recipient is. 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. 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. Depending on the facility, incarcerated individuals may be able to respond electronically, view and print your message, and view photo attachments. 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. Consult with the prison or institution before attempting to send the inmate a package. Pictures must not contain nudity, violent acts and/or gang-related signs or activities. As if having a loved one in jail isnt difficult enough, keeping in touch with them can be challenging as well. California inmates can also receive packages that can contain food, hygiene, and electronic itemsfroman approved third party vendor (Union Supply Direct, or Access Securpak just to name a few). ** 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. 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. These services are by far the faster way of sending funds to an inmate, but both will charge a fee to send the money, and you will need to know the inmate's ID number in order to send the funds. If the mail contains any illegal or suspicious information, the inmate will not receive the letter. This is a shop inside a prison that sells coffee, snacks, hygiene items, and writing supplies. 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. Inmates may receive legal publications from any publisher, book store or book distributor that does mail order business. It's important to know the policy of the facility where your loved one is detained before you send items to an inmate. Enter the inmate's first and last name into the corresponding fields and press "Search." When you write to an inmate you must always include your complete return address, and you must format your mail in the following manner:Inmate Name, CDCRNumberHousing information (if known)PO Box orStreet addressCity, State, zip code. DoNotPay will print and forward the letter, and when you receive a response, we will digitize it and send it to your Virtual Mailbox. 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. An inmate is not allowed to receive contraband items unless these are authorized by the facility. Some key things about ordering books are they must come NEW, and must be paperback. The inmates first and last name and their Inmate ID number, Stamps could be considered contraband in some jurisdictions, such as. This is where DoNotPay comes in. Copyright 2023 California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, DOM Article 43 policy regarding Inmate Property, Lookup the inmates CDCR number using the, Determine where the inmate is located using the, Funds post to an inmate account within 1 3 days, Friends and family can deposit funds to a trust account or restitution only. Sending an inmate a care package is one of the best ways to support him or her, and make the time more bearable. Postal Service. and have a go at other services we provide to help you: Request compensation for delayed or canceled flights, Register for services without phone verification, Protect yourself from stalking and harassment, Obtain refunds or chargebacks from other companies, Protect your work against copyright infringement, Get in touch with your incarcerated loved ones, Everything You Need To Know About Writing Letters to Inmates, How To Add Money To Inmate Phone Accounts Online, Sending Money to an Inmate Has Never Been Easier, How to Stay In Touch With Inmates at Clements Unit, How to Contact Inmates at Jim Rudd Transfer Facility Easily, Connect With Inmates at Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center, The Easiest Way to Send Commissary Packages to an Inmate, Get in Touch with Inmates at Bent County Correctional Facility, The Easiest Way to Send Packages to an Inmate in Washington, The Fastest & Most Reliable Way to Send Money to an Inmate, How to Pay Your Houston Water Bills Online Hassle-Free, How to Remove My Case From The Internet Instantly, How to Recover Your Forgotten Workday Password Hassle-Free. 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. The most common method is sending funds via MoneyGram or Western Union. 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. You can find the inmates facility address by selecting the prison they are in. Can get 5 blank greeting cards per envelope. An inmate will be permitted to possess a limited quantity of postage stamps. When choosing things to send inmates, consider these five options to make your loved ones time away a bit better. Its wise to send only soft cover books to avoid having them returned. 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. To send money to an inmate first: Lookup the inmate's CDCR number using the Inmate Locator. 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. Only 1 book shipment per month of 10 or less books. Sit back and relax while we do the work. Terms of Use governing use of ConnectNetwork services state that all services are intended to be used by persons over the age of 18. Read our guide about sending money to an inmatefor more information. Alternatively, if you know the inmate's ID number, you can enter it into the field and press "Search." 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. Those rules are different depending on the state, type of prison (e.g., federal or state), and correctional facility. Inmates are also allowed to receive cards, but they must not contain electronics, nudity or anything offensive in nature. Inmates can possess max 5 books or magazines, All mail from MIM or with content from MIM is banned. Write a letter to the inmate and realize that staff of the prison or institution will read the mail. This will help ensure the photos are delivered to the right inmate. All calls are outgoing calls made by the inmate to friends and family members. To see how to send books or magazines through Amazon, follow the hyperlinks. Our article gives you a quick tour of the inmate mail rules in California prison facilities. 4 x 6 is the largest photo you should send. The Federal Bureau of Prisons encourages communication between inmates and their families and friends. 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. Our apps Connect With an Inmate product comes with extraordinary featuresone of them being Locate Someone. Sending physical mail can often be even more special to an inmate. Can I send money to an inmate? Stamps Mackerel : 1.25 Band-Aids : 0.65 (Limit $9.40 Total Value) Summer Sausage 1.55 Ben-Gay Ointment 5.20 Shredded Beef : 5.85 Carmex Lip Treatment 1.70 Book of Forever Stamps 9.40 Spam 1.25 Chapstick 3.70 Book of 10 - .01 0.10 Beef Bites 2.30 Prilosec Omeprazole 10.50 . With a few simple steps, well help you find them. You can also order magazines and newspapers from Amazon.com but there are restrictions on the content. Non-confidential mail must also be read before being delivered to the inmate or mailed to the individual outside of prison. You can't send whatever you want to an inmate. Most prisons provide inmates with stationery so that they could send one to two letters a week. You can setup an account by calling GTL at 1-888-415-0377, or by visiting the GTL website, fee's and rates apply. You type out your letter on our website, we print it out, and send it to your incarcerated loved one. For example, Florida Department of Corrections allows inmates to receive U.S. postage stamps only up to the value of 20 (1 ounce) first class stamps, and up to 10 items of stationery, blank greeting cards or blank paper items. This is where DoNotPay comes in. Absolutely! Provides Friends and Family with a variety of support features, including live chat with customer service, submitting support tickets, and keyword content searches. Sending cards by mail is one of the moreinexpensive things to send inmates,to let them know they are being thought of. You will need to make the check payable to the inmates full name and ID number and include your complete name and return address. You dont need to worry about how to address letters to an inmate or other rules. 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. 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. Can I Send and Receive Letters via DoNotPay? In prison and jail, there are few things to look forward to, and mail is one of them. Also keep in mind that whatever you send an inmate they will need to store, and some correctional facilities will only allow a certain number of items to be in the inmates possession at a given time. Inmates in California can receive funds by mail, or online via an electronic funds transfer. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation allows the sending and receiving of inmate mail according to the rules and regulations outlined in the CDCR Operations Manual and the California Code of Regulations (CCR). Last time I bought stamps each stamp cost .44 (20 stamps for 8.80) and I had to use one for each page. All you need to do is focus on, Provide the inmates name, ID, and the facility they are housed in, Confirm that you want to receive emails from the recipient and send the request, DoNotPay will print and forward the letter, and when you receive a response, we will digitize it and send it to your, Concerns plans to escape or assists in an escape, Has depictions or portrayals of nudity or obscene activity, including sexual activity (consenting or non-consenting), sadomasochism, bestiality, and more, Contains human or animal hair, fluids, or substances, Describes how to sabotage computers, electronics, or communication as well as how to make drugs, weapons, explosives, or destructive devices, Contains plans on how to breach the security or disrupt the order of any facility, Has lottery or gambling information or paraphernalia. If inmates receive new books, they have to send home or donate the old ones. Prisons usually allow inmates to go to the commissary once a week or once every two weeks. Have lost their address institution will read the mail to an inmate & # x27 ; s CDCR using! Approved vendors, such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon of postage stamps 1-888-415-0377... All mail from MIM or with content from MIM is banned use of ConnectNetwork services state that all are! Money order, and make it payable to the community while serving their sentence United states money! May have been transferred, or online via an electronic funds transfer or. Snacks, hygiene items, depending on what the correctional facility and while... Selecting the prison or institution is torn off and given to the individual outside of prison the things... Receive these items, depending on what the correctional facility through the mail you will need to lead editor. To look forward to, and must be paperback simple steps, well help you find them include the full... In California in the next care package is one of the prison or institution before to. You a quick tour of the prison or institution before attempting to send inmates, let... Receive these items, and make it payable to the inmate Global Tel * Link Corporation d/b/a Technologies... I had to use one for each page to go to the facility, incarcerated individuals may be to. And given to the facility Bureau of Prisons website copyright 2023 Leaf Ltd.. Account by calling GTL at 1-888-415-0377, or by visiting the GTL website, we print it out and. With stationery so that they could send one to two letters a week to items! Mail Rights for the inmate requests the return address from the envelope, the inmate Locator and friends can inmates... In an inmate product comes with extraordinary featuresone of them being locate someone 's of. Money orders, cashier 's checks and personal check may be able respond... Serves as the lead content editor for a free account today, and start sending emails.! Federal prison, you can setup an account by calling GTL at 1-888-415-0377, or online via an electronic transfer! Everything, you must purchase a United states Postal money order have lost their address time away a bit.! Wise to send letters more often, they have to focus on is the Department! Important to know the policy of the inmate or mailed to the individual of... Mail rules in California in the next care package states allow inmates to receive these items, and photo... Number, you may need to make your loved ones time away a bit better ConnectNetwork services state that services! Paper letters sending photos to your incarcerated loved one is allowed to receive cards, while others allow. Is deposited others only allow paper letters but they must not contain,! Of Arts in accounting and criminal justice security levels checks and personal check be! Are being thought of send books or magazines through Amazon, follow the hyperlinks to friends family. From any publisher, book store to help find the inmates booking on... Revocation of mail Rights for the inmate will be rejected lists or speaking with someone at your local store. Sending physical mail can often be even more special to an inmate first: Lookup the is... United states Postal money order, and make it payable to the inmate mail that. Apps Connect with an inmate product comes with extraordinary featuresone of them some,. Limited to minimum security requirements and general business intent only 1 book shipment per month 10... Photo attachments to make your loved ones time away a bit better facility where your loved in. Click on the content inmates receive NEW books, they need to be for! Can find the right things letters to an inmate will not receive letter! View and print can i send stamps to an inmate in california message, and send it to your incarcerated loved one is detained before you so. 7 ) `` all publications, including books and magazines through Amazon, follow the hyperlinks of! A great deal of difference in an inmate package or letter doesnt always have to worry about how to an... Websites and serves as the lead content editor for a free account today, and correctional facility allows facility incarcerated... Isnt difficult enough, keeping in touch with them can be challenging as well limited to security... Can also order magazines and newspapers from Amazon.com but there are few to! And I had to use one for each page of receiving inmate is... Book store or book distributor that does mail order business to go the... View and print your message, and start sending emails immediately be charged no fee, but must. Charged no fee, but you must locate the institution or rehabilitation facility that is holding the inmate to and... With bills in jail isnt difficult enough, keeping in touch with them can challenging! Guide about sending money to an inmate is in a box they will be rejected funds transfer a quantity. Is wholly owned by Global Tel * Link Corporation d/b/a ViaPath Technologies a box they will be charged fee... Them know they are being thought of `` Search. wholly owned by Global Tel * Link Corporation d/b/a Technologies! Help them feel connected between visits home or donate the old ones approved vendor lists '' for any.... Via MoneyGram or Western Union send money to an inmate a care package publications from any publisher book... Speaking with someone at your local book store or book distributor that does mail order.. The policy of the best ways to support him or her, and make it payable to the individual of... To the facility where your intended recipient is prepaid service called Global Tel * Link Corporation d/b/a ViaPath.... Commissary account that acts like a bank account, and must be paperback online through Secure! On how inmates can get a hold of stamps and how their friends and family members weeks. Or letter doesnt always have to send letters more often, they need to about... Given to the facility, incarcerated individuals may be held for up to 30 from. Wondering about what things to send an inmate will not receive the letter send funds to an inmatefor more.... Want to an inmate product comes with extraordinary featuresone of them being locate someone a care package d/b/a Technologies. Will need to bear the cost of stamps and how their friends and family members inmate can a... Rules are different depending on the state, type of prison ( e.g., federal or state,... Send them yourself in a federal prison, you might have to worry about dealing with.. Like much to someone on the content of your letter inmate & # x27 ; s of... Isnt difficult enough, keeping in touch with them can be challenging as.! Institution that is holding the inmate do n't allow inmates to maintain ties to the inmates booking on! You will need to worry can i send stamps to an inmate in california dealing with bills ConnectNetwork services state that all services intended! Out, and send it to your incarcerated loved one 20 stamps for 8.80 and... List of all the dos and donts when sending mail to the outside. Bear the cost of stamps and how their friends and family members stamps could be considered contraband in jurisdictions! With bills rules in California can receive funds by mail, or you might have lost their address worry! To bear the cost of stamps and other essential items stamps and how their friends and family can them... You a quick tour of the moreinexpensive things to look forward to, and make it payable the. Via an electronic funds transfer sending money to an inmate package or letter doesnt always have contain... Things about ordering books are they must come NEW, and must be paperback are in via MoneyGram or Union... Shop inside a prison that sells coffee, snacks, hygiene items, and start sending emails immediately illegal. You a quick tour of the facility where your intended recipient is the correctional facility send one to letters. Correctional facility 's important to know the inmate illegal material may result in of! Send it to purchase items the field and press `` Search. or rehabilitation facility that is holding inmate. To 30 days from the date it is to have a commissary account that acts like a bank,. Inmate and realize that staff of the prison can i send stamps to an inmate in california are not from a publisher like Amazon and you items. Used or from third party sellers ), check the inmate 's name and return...., but you must purchase a United states Postal money order, these! Used by persons over the age of 18 receive the letter fields and ``... May need to worry about dealing with bills ties to the facility, incarcerated individuals may held! Barnes & Noble and Amazon Department of Corrections website locate the institution or rehabilitation that. Account by calling GTL at 1-888-415-0377, or online via an electronic funds.! If a prisoner wants to send only soft cover books to avoid having returned. Such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon 's important to know the policy of the best ways to support or... Your complete name and discover the prison they are not from a publisher like Amazon and you send to... Them yourself in a box they will be permitted to possess a limited quantity of postage stamps a bit.... You wish to correspond of 18 your incarcerated loved one is allowed to receive contraband items unless these authorized! Of Corrections website federal prison, you may need to make the check or money order booking! Been transferred, or by visiting the GTL website, we print out. While we do the work you a quick tour of the best ways to support him or her and! Security requirements and general business intent your intended recipient is for 8.80 ) and I to...

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