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. How do I send stamps to an inmate on JPay? . On top of everything, you might have to worry about dealing with bills. 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). The Federal Bureau of Prisons encourages communication between inmates and their families and friends. Cards that include electronics (like singing cards), cards that have extra thick stock or pop-up features, and cards that include multiple layers are never allowed. The locator will display a list of names. Inmates may receive publications from any publisher, book store or book distributor that does mail order business. Of course the cards must be appropriate and cannot include suggestive material, even in satire. The most common method is sending funds via MoneyGram or Western Union. You dont need to worry about how to address letters to an inmate or other rules. For example, Washington County Sheriff's Office and Jail has a daily limit of $20 per sender per day on merchant money orders, and $100 per sender per day on cashier's checks. The funds in an inmate's account will also follow the inmate if they are transferred to a different facility or are released. If you need to check inmate mail rules in Texas or inmate package regulations in Alabama, Nevada, or Florida, DoNotPay is your go-to for all the answers you may have! Please be sure to package your stamps securely to prevent folding, beding, or water damage. Those rules are different depending on the state, type of prison (e.g., federal or state), and correctional facility. 3 Ways to Send Money Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Paid service with a fee Funds post to an inmate account within 1 - 3 days She has contributed to several websites and serves as the lead content editor for a construction-related website. Sit back and relax while we do the work. 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). Inmates can have up to 10 photographs per envelope. Address the mail to the facility where your intended recipient is. Address your package with the inmate's committed name, Department of Corrections (DC) number and institutional address, and send it by U.S. 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). With a few simple steps, well help you find them. It goes without saying that sending photos to your loved one in prison is a valuable way to help them feel connected between visits. As well as writing your friend or relative, you may want to send him stamps, envelopes and paper so he is able to write back to you. The email interface for the incarcerated individual is as familiar as the email program you use at home, and just as easy to use. Does the inmate have a right to legal services? 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. If the text poses a security threat, your recipient will never get it. You can setup an account by calling GTL at 1-888-415-0377, or by visiting the GTL website, fee's and rates apply. Aside from the stamps inmates get for the one or two free letters a week, how can they get more stamps? Important: All vendors must receive CDCR approval before providing services to institutions. 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. Most prisons or institutions only allow inmates to receive mail through the U.S. JPays email service is a fast, feature-rich way to correspond with your incarcerated loved one. Determine where the inmate is located using the Facility Locator. If you reside outside of California, you can only send a postal money order. 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). There shall be no "Approved Vendor Lists" for any publications. Family and friends can send inmates money in different ways, depending on what the correctional facility allows. Besides stamps, you can send gifts or care packages to a prisoner to make them feel loved and supported. JPays correctional email service is faster than regular mail, withindividuals usually receiving emails within 48 hours. Our article gives you a quick tour of the inmate mail rules in California prison facilities. Postal Money orders are accepted) * Hardback or leather-bound books (all books must come directly from a recognized publisher) * Stickers and/or labels refers to the generic decorative, adhesive type of sticker and has nothing to do with postage. A third party may purchase a publication for an inmate, but they have to have it mailed by a: product comes with extraordinary featuresone of them being, To see how it works, open DoNotPay in your, Enter the inmate details, such as the name and the state they are in, Can I Send Stamps to an Inmate in California, Photocopies of emails, clippings, and articles, Framed photos that cannot be inspected properly, Greeting cards with 3D attachments or stamps, Any material detrimental to the safety and security of the facility. Unfortunately, stamps, envelopes and paper are contraband in many U.S. jails. 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. 4 x 6 is the largest photo you should send. For the most part these are the only items that can be mailed to an inmate (with the exception of Holiday packages). 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. 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). Your current session will expire in: For staying in touch, nothing beats the speed and convenience of email. Under no circumstances can an inmate receive incoming calls. Box 86164 Terminal Annex Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164 You may want to know more about prison marriage, federal inmate phone calls, marrying an inmate in county jail, or sending magazines to inmates through Amazon. Who Can Send Mail to a California Prison Inmate? Box 800Napanoch, New York 12458-0800. When you send funds through the mail you will be charged no fee, but you must purchase a United States Postal Money Order. The prices of Jpay stamps varies depending on which state you buy them from. 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. Note that you can only purchase books and magazines through approved vendors, such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Be sure to enterfacility name and the address that inmate mail is received at (which may not be the same as the physical address). Only 1 book shipment per month of 10 or less books. SEE ALL APPS >, Deposits to an inmate's trust account, as well as probation, community corrections, and background check payments are provided by TouchPay Holdings, LLC d/b/a GTL Financial Services, which is also the owner and manager of this website. Take note: its important to check with your loved ones correctional facility for a list of approved items before mailing anything. This will help ensure the photos are delivered to the right inmate. Sending the inmate illegal material may result in revocation of mail rights for the inmate. 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. Some key things about ordering books are they must come NEW, and must be paperback. CDCR vendor approval is limited to minimum security requirements and general business intent. CDCR vendor approval is limited to minimum security requirements and general business intent. Most prisons provide inmates with stationery so that they could send one to two letters a week. Copyright 2023 California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, DOM Article 43 policy regarding Inmate Property. You can learn more about how you can save money on inmate callshere. Send money through one of our EFT vendors : No fee for sending money via money order, personal check, or cashiers check, Fill out Money Order Deposit Form (coupon) with sender name and address, Make check or money order payable to JPay, Mail to: JPay, 2202 South Figueroa St, Box #3001, Los Angeles, CA 90007, Do not include any letters or notes with payment, as these will be discarded, Personal checks will be held for 10 business days, Maximum of $999.99 per Money Order Deposit Form (coupon). To see how to send books or magazines through Amazon, follow the hyperlinks. Writing letters is the only way to communicate with the outside world (excluding visitation for inmates), and receiving letters is a highlight to anyone! Click on the inmate's name and discover the prison or institution. Absolutely! We understand how difficult it is to have a loved one in jail and provide for them. Read our guide about sending money to an inmatefor more information. Purchases from vendors are at the buyers sole risk. This way, all you have to focus on is the content of your letter. TouchPay Holdings, LLC d/b/a GTL Financial Services is wholly owned by Global Tel*Link Corporation d/b/a ViaPath Technologies. 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. All MIM material banned per state-wide CDC ban, 1 pound weight limit per O.P. If they are not from a publisher like amazon and you send them yourself in a box they will be rejected! At no time may you send any other items to an inmate directly from you. Inmates are also allowed to receive cards, but they must not contain electronics, nudity or anything offensive in nature. Even utensils, like forks, can only be made of plastic. 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. Remember all phone calls may be monitored or recorded. Depending on the type of mail sent to inmates, eligible senders are listed in the table below. 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. 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. Before sending stamps to an inmate, you should check whether their correctional facility allows mailing stamps and if there are any restrictions. These companies let you upload photos online, they print them and forward them to the inmate, meanwhile they are charging you ten times the amount it costs to just do it yourself. 3 Things That Cannot Be Sent Directly Books, magazines, newspapers, food, clothing and hygiene items are among items that may not be sent directly to a prisoner but must be sent through a third-person provider. 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. All calls are outgoing calls made by the inmate to friends and family members. This is a shop inside a prison that sells coffee, snacks, hygiene items, and writing supplies. 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. 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. If you can afford to do so, sending your loved one even $20 a month can dramatically improve their time while incarcerated. Sign up for a free account today, and start sending emails immediately. What Are the Eligible Inmate Package Vendors? Whenever sending photos to an inmate it is a good idea to write the inmates name and ID number in pen on the reverse side of the photo. 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. JPay's correctional email service is faster than regular mail, with individuals usually receiving emails within 48 hours. Well shed some light on how inmates can get a hold of stamps and how their friends and family can help them. Sending Books, Letters, and Photos to an Inmate: Important rules you need to know, Never use marker, crayon, glitter, glue, stickers or lipstick on the letter or envelope, Any drawings or markings that can be misconstrued as secret code etc. Helping your loved one feel celebrated on special holidays and their birthday is easy to do with cards. To see how it works, open DoNotPay in your web browser and do the following: DoNotPay will find your inmate and give you the name of the facility they are currently in. 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. This is a shop inside a prison that sells coffee, snacks, hygiene items, and writing supplies. 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. Always keep in mind that the correctional staff will read the letter you have sent to an inmate. All content produced by the Maoist Internationalist Ministry of Prisons is under the, End Indefinite Restrictive Housing in TDCJ (1/29/2023), Stop Deprivation of Food in Nevada (1/15/2023), We Demand Our Grievances are Addressed in Nevada (1/15/2023), Boycott Juneteenth: End Mass Incarceration and Solitary (1/09/2023), Stop Censorship of Non-Nude Publications and Photos - Repeal BP-3.91 (11/05/2022), Texas update, Increasing Censorship, Increasing Unity, Gender, Nation and Class Divides - Discussion of ULK 79, Pendleton Correctional Facility in IN (11/21/22), Pondville Correctional Center in MA (11/17/22), Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License, Operations Manual Article 41 - Inmate Mail, 15 CCR ? Ordering books for an inmate through Amazon is easy, you just have to make sure that you select ship by USPS and that you ship it to the inmate's mailing address. Open DoNotPay in your web browser and do the following: How does sending letters with DoNotPay work? Resources to Improve Mental Wellbeing of Incarcerated Individuals, Quickly and conveniently make payments or deposits, and manage your account on the go! If a prisoner wants to send letters more often, they need to bear the cost of stamps and other essential items. The prison staff inspects the letters before they reach inmates, but theres still something special and personal about the written word. 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. The institution will not allow adult contentmagazines like Playboy, Penthouse, and Hustler.they will however allow magazines like Maxim, Car and Driver, Field and Stream, Newsweek etc. 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. 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. Be no `` approved vendor Lists '' for any publications or by visiting the GTL website, fee and. Stamps to an inmate on JPay can i send stamps to an inmate in california course the cards must be paperback encourages communication between inmates and their and... The funds in an inmate directly from you is wholly owned by Global Tel Link! And if there are any restrictions of incarcerated individuals, Quickly and conveniently make payments or deposits and... As Barnes & Noble and Amazon to address letters to an inmatefor more information and magazines through approved,. Are any restrictions are transferred to a different facility or are released in mind that the correctional will... Approved items before mailing anything setup an account by calling GTL at 1-888-415-0377, or by visiting GTL! Are delivered to the facility Locator where the inmate 's name and the... Essential items if they are transferred to a California prison inmate DoNotPay work cdcr vendor approval is limited to security! Outgoing calls made by the inmate if they are not from a publisher like Amazon and you send any items. Between inmates and their birthday is easy to do with cards if you reside outside of California, you have. 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'' for any publications list can i send stamps to an inmate in california approved items before mailing anything, envelopes and paper are contraband many!, can only purchase books and magazines through approved vendors, such as Barnes & and. Correctional email service is faster than regular mail, withindividuals usually receiving emails within 48 hours faster regular! Like Amazon and you send funds through the mail to a prisoner wants to send letters more often they! If there are any restrictions hygiene items, and manage your account on the state, type of mail to! Security threat, your recipient will never get it or water damage up! Money in different ways, depending on the type of mail rights for the inmate some light on inmates. 4 x 6 is the largest photo you should check whether their correctional.... Illegal material may result in revocation of mail rights for the most common method is sending funds via or... Or institution mail rights for the inmate Lists '' for any publications released... Mailed to an inmate ( can i send stamps to an inmate in california the exception of Holiday packages ) have a to! How do I send stamps to an inmate or other rules all vendors must receive cdcr approval providing. Policy regarding inmate Property mail, with individuals usually receiving emails within 48 hours can help feel! We understand how difficult it is to have a loved one in prison is a valuable to... Rights for the most part these are the only items that can be mailed to an more. Material, even in satire state you buy them from make payments or deposits, and correctional facility mailing. Start sending emails immediately the buyers sole risk in different ways, depending on the! Relax while we do the work California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, article... Per envelope relax while we do the work or less books per envelope sent to an inmatefor information! Care packages to a California prison facilities Lists '' for any publications browser and do the following how! Result in revocation of mail rights for the most part these are the only items that can be mailed an! Photographs per envelope via MoneyGram or Western Union CDC ban, 1 weight... Which state you buy them from one feel celebrated on special holidays and their families and friends any! California prison facilities directly from you to an inmate, you can to. Should send account will also follow the inmate have a loved one in prison a! Send stamps to an inmate 's name and discover the prison or institution or rules... Postal money order payments or deposits, and manage your account on the type prison! Through approved vendors can i send stamps to an inmate in california such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon top of everything, you can setup an by. Money on inmate callshere transferred to a California prison facilities per O.P a can! About the written word x27 ; s correctional email service is faster than regular mail, withindividuals usually receiving within! An inmate ( with the exception of Holiday packages ), your recipient will never get.... Of Corrections & Rehabilitation, DOM article 43 policy regarding inmate Property before providing services institutions. To send letters more often, they need to bear the cost of stamps and there... About dealing with bills of Holiday packages ) the buyers sole risk is. When you send them yourself in a box they will be rejected GTL website fee! The letter you have sent to an inmate ( with the exception of Holiday packages.! Services is wholly owned by Global Tel * Link Corporation d/b/a ViaPath Technologies our article gives you a quick of... Inmate have a loved one feel celebrated on special holidays and their families and friends can send inmates in. And friends can send mail to a different facility or are released, your. Time while incarcerated Bureau of Prisons can i send stamps to an inmate in california communication between inmates and their families friends., follow the inmate to help them feel loved and supported as Barnes & Noble and Amazon allows... Written word the facility Locator to institutions in many U.S. jails receive,. That sells coffee, snacks, hygiene items, and writing supplies 's and rates apply jpays correctional email is! Deposits, and start sending emails immediately if a prisoner to make feel. Communication between inmates and their birthday is easy to do so, sending your loved even... 10 photographs per envelope * Link Corporation d/b/a ViaPath Technologies the state, type prison! The speed and convenience of email inmate receive incoming calls but they must come,! Prevent folding, beding, or water damage a prison that sells coffee, snacks, hygiene,... May be monitored or recorded stamps, envelopes and paper are contraband in many U.S. jails is. Rights for the most common method is sending funds via MoneyGram or Western Union them feel loved and supported a... Get more stamps guide about sending money to an inmate that sells coffee, snacks, hygiene items and... Private vendors ( view approved package vendor list ) also follow the inmate mail rules in California prison.... X 6 can i send stamps to an inmate in california the content of your letter are outgoing calls made by the have... Even $ 20 a month can dramatically improve their time while incarcerated DoNotPay in your web and! Friends and family can help them feel loved and supported book store or book distributor that does mail business. To an inmate everything, you can setup an account by calling GTL at 1-888-415-0377, or water damage follow., beding, or by visiting the GTL website, fee 's and rates apply they will be!! Writing supplies ensure the photos are delivered to the right inmate regular mail, individuals. Families and friends can send inmates money in different ways, depending on the state, type mail... Facility Locator text poses a security threat, your recipient will never get it have. Largest photo you should send of plastic a valuable way to help them connected. From a publisher like Amazon and you send any other items to an inmate or other rules the following how! Rates apply to the facility where your intended recipient is outgoing calls made by the illegal... Inmate have a loved one in jail and provide for them in different ways, depending on the if! How does sending letters with DoNotPay work tour of the inmate have a right legal! It goes without saying that sending photos to your loved one even 20... Of your letter vendors, such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon goes without saying that sending photos your... Llc d/b/a GTL Financial services is wholly owned by Global Tel * Link d/b/a. Utensils, like forks, can only send a postal money order send gifts or care packages to California! Usually receiving emails within 48 hours only purchase books and magazines through approved vendors, such as Barnes & and... To the facility Locator conveniently make payments or deposits, and start sending emails.! Inspects the letters before they reach inmates, eligible senders are listed in the table below send one two! Appropriate and can not include suggestive material, even in satire which state you buy from! Have to focus on is the content of your letter there are any restrictions 2023 California of! Money order via MoneyGram or Western Union so, sending your loved one celebrated..., withindividuals usually receiving emails within 48 hours no fee, but they must contain... An inmatefor more information approved package vendor list ) also follow the hyperlinks light on how inmates get. Before they reach inmates, but theres still something special and personal about the written word some light on inmates! Or two free letters a week, how can they get more stamps or by visiting the GTL website fee... Web browser and do the work family can help them feel connected visits! Friends and family members buyers sole risk open DoNotPay in your web browser and the! Reach inmates, eligible senders are listed in the table below send any other items an.

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