Communication is important to keep the prison family together. It’s important to know if the facility where your loved one is serving time allows emails. It’s also important to know that if you are mailing letters and cards, what is approved at that facility.
All mail must be delivered through the US Postal Service when sending mail to a loved one in prison. Facilities do not typically allow personal packages or boxes to be delivered. Some facilities have a site to order supplies, or during the holidays you can order a holiday package. When sending mail, make sure you are in compliance with the facility’s rules and that all of the required information is on the envelope. All mail is opened and may be reviewed by facility staff. Make sure you know what is considered contraband by the facility. For example, a card with electronics or glitter may be considered contraband and either returned or destroyed, depending on the facility’s rules.
When a loved one is transferred to another facility his/her mail may be forwarded from one facility to another right away. Check with the facility to find out if mail is being forwarded. Also note that there may be a delay in your loved one receiving his/her mail if moved to another facility. Even if the first facility forwards the mail right away, it may take time for the second facility to have your loved one set up in the mail system. (There is always the slight possibility that their mail will get lost. It’s a good idea to keep copies of all important letters.)
Legal Mail
Legal mail should not opened by facility staff, but the person that is incarcerated may be required to open legal mail in the presence of facility staff. Make sure both you and your loved one write “Legal Mail” on the front of the envelope.
There are services that allow you to email with your incarcerated loved one and they vary from facility to facility and state to state. Some facilities allow tablets for your loved one, however there is a fee for sending and receiving emails. Cell Phones and social media are not available to inmates. There are outside companies working with some facilities that allow you to email letters. The facility would then print the email out for your loved one.
Books and Magazines
Facilities typically allow approved books (books that do not contain inappropriate content) to be delivered from reputable book companies. Same goes for magazines. Magazine subscriptions from reputable, appropriate (no nudity, weaponry, inappropriate verbiage) companies is typically allowed. Some facilities do have a maximum number of magazine subscriptions allowed per inmate.