The second method of receiving inmate calls is through a prepaid service called Global Tel*link. TouchPay Holdings, LLC d/b/a GTL Financial Services is wholly owned by Global Tel*Link Corporation d/b/a ViaPath Technologies. Many correctional facilities require that they come directly from the publishermeaning they must come from a site likeAmazon. 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. 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 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). An inmate package or letter doesnt always have to contain something they need. Most prisons provide inmates with stationery so that they could send one to two letters a week. Enter the inmates full name and the state they are in. Inmate Quarterly Packages are available through authorized private vendors ( view approved package vendor list ). used books okay, hard covers should be removed and noted on invoice, New books, newspapers and magazines must come from publisher or accepted distributor. If your letter is refused/returned you can contact the facility and ask why, but usually it will have a simple explanation provided. Address the mail to the facility where your intended recipient is. The locator will display a list of names. In prison and jail, there are few things to look forward to, and mail is one of them. Since 2003, the CDCR has contracted with a number of statewide and national companies that ensure inmates receive packages. You can also order magazines and newspapers from Amazon.com but there are restrictions on the content. Sending the inmate illegal material may result in revocation of mail rights for the inmate. Can I Send Stamps to an Inmate in California? Here are some common guidelines. On top of everything, you might have to worry about dealing with bills. 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. The prison staff inspects the letters before they reach inmates, but theres still something special and personal about the written word. Write a letter to the inmate and realize that staff of the prison or institution will read the mail. If they are hardcover they will be rejected. ", Ban on "receipt, possession, or distribution of literature/publications from the MIM to or by inmates", All MIM Mail being returned unopened as unapproved correspondance, All mail with MIM return address is banned. As if having a loved one in jail isnt difficult enough, keeping in touch with them can be challenging as well. Copyright 2023 California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, DOM Article 43 policy regarding Inmate Property. An inmate will be permitted to possess a limited quantity of postage stamps. Inmates can possess max 5 books or magazines, All mail from MIM or with content from MIM is banned. 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. Your current session will expire in: For staying in touch, nothing beats the speed and convenience of email. For the latest information regarding in-person visiting, visit CDCRsVisitation Information PageandVisitation FAQs. Whether you send stamps to an inmate in an envelope or an inmate package, the most important part is addressing it properly. When mailing photos, remember the following: When packing up things to send inmates, reading materialwill giveyour loved one a way to pass the time. 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 ? When choosing things to send inmates, consider these five options to make your loved ones time away a bit better. 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 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. CDCR vendor approval is limited to minimum security requirements and general business intent. What Are the Eligible Inmate Package Vendors? 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). CDCR vendor approval is limited to minimum security requirements and general business intent. 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. This is a general guide about how to send items toan inmate. This is a shop inside a prison that sells coffee, snacks, hygiene items, and writing supplies. The most common method is sending funds via. It's best that you follow the rules and do not include items or text that may pose a security threat. 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. 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. Our apps Connect With an Inmate product comes with extraordinary featuresone of them being Locate Someone. Postal Service mail. Purchases from vendors are at the buyers sole risk. If you can afford to do so, sending your loved one even $20 a month can dramatically improve their time while incarcerated. On top of everything, you might have to worry about dealing with bills. 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). If at anytime you are unsure of what you can send, contact the facility over the telephone using the numbers provided on our site. The funds will be released to the inmate the fastest if the funds are sent via certified check. ", 15 CCR ? For an inmate to be able to write and send letters to their friends. The inmates first and last name and their Inmate ID number, Stamps could be considered contraband in some jurisdictions, such as. All mail, confidential or non-confidential, as well as publications and packages, are subject to inspection. 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. 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. Help type articles, letters and study group discussions from prisoners. Remember all phone calls may be monitored or recorded. It is important for inmates to maintain ties to the community while serving their sentence. 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. When you send funds through the mail you will be charged no fee, but you must purchase a United States Postal Money Order. In case you dont know what California prison facility the inmate you want to send mail to is located, DoNotPay can. c. Pretrial, Holdover, and Detainee Inmates. Well shed some light on how inmates can get a hold of stamps and how their friends and family can help them. Cards cannot have glitter, stickers or anything decorative/added to them. DoNotPay streamlines the process of writing, sending, and receiving inmate letters. MAIL YOUR STAMPS TO Prison Stamp Exchange 1077 N. Willow Ave. Ste 105-405 Clovis, CA 93611 STEP 3: Get Paid 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. Provides Friends and Family with a variety of support features, including live chat with customer service, submitting support tickets, and keyword content searches. JPays email service is a fast, feature-rich way to correspond with your incarcerated loved one. Open DoNotPay in your web browser and do the following: How does sending letters with DoNotPay work? . By sending these visual connections, your loved one can still see whats going on and remain interested/connected to the outside world. 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. All mail you send to an inmate should be formatted as follows: Inmate Name, ID number Unit (if known) Institutions Name Facilities address. How do I send stamps to an inmate on JPay? Does the inmate have a right to legal services? MIM(Prisons) is a cell of revolutionaries serving the oppressed masses inside U.$. or other rules. In many locations, you can attach a photo to an email, or even record a 30-second VideoGram to send along with your letter. Adding a personal touch with holiday and special occasions templates, DoNotPay is convenient to use with only a few simple steps to follow before we mail your letter. Though the provisions from each facility are different, most inmates are given three meals a . Be sure to enterfacility name and the address that inmate mail is received at (which may not be the same as the physical address). Family and friends can send inmates money in different ways, depending on what the correctional facility allows. She has contributed to several websites and serves as the lead content editor for a construction-related website. Terms of Use governing use of ConnectNetwork services state that all services are intended to be used by persons over the age of 18. Can I Send and Receive Letters via DoNotPay? Yes, up to 40 stamps per envelope. Can I Send and Receive Letters via DoNotPay? . 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. Non-confidential mail must also be read before being delivered to the inmate or mailed to the individual outside of prison. While inmates dont have direct access to the internet or internet messaging services, many correctional facilities now offer internet-based services loved ones can use to send communication. 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. 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). 2. 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. If you are unsure of this information utilize our inmate search feature, or call the facility directly for this information. 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. Visit DoNotPay in your web browser, and well also help you: We have helped over 300,000 people with their problems. CDCR vendor approval is limited to minimum security requirements and general business intent. 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. Wow, so I went to buy stamps again for my account and I got 60 single page stamps for $10. 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. She has owned and operated her own income tax-preparation business since 2006. If not, telephone or email a jail command officer at the facility and ask for the information you require. 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. JPays correctional email service is faster than regular mail, withindividuals usually receiving emails within 48 hours. 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! Depositing funds for an inmate can make a great deal of difference in an inmate's quality of life. This method charges the person receiving the call and cannot be made to cellular phones. All mail is opened and inspected, sometimes read. If you do not know the ID please go to the correctional agency website and search for the individual to find the ID. 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. To send money to an inmate first: Lookup the inmate's CDCR number using the Inmate Locator. Click on the "Email" tab and follow the prompts. Address the mail to the facility where your intended recipient is. 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! The funds in an inmate's account will also follow the inmate if they are transferred to a different facility or are released. Global Tel Link, also known asGTL, is a privately run company that is contracted through the California Department of Corrections to provide inmates with a pre-paid calling solution. Yes. Most prisons or institutions only allow inmates to receive mail through the U.S. The institution can deduct up to 50% of a deposit if the inmate owes outstanding balances. 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. This is where DoNotPay comes in. Remember, when sending items to an inmate it is best to send a letter first. The phones are usually off by 9-10pm each night. However, families that purchase packages directly from a vendor are not impacted by restitution. They keep you going from day to day and bring the voices or those you love right into your head. Remember all phone calls may be monitored or recorded. 1. Make sure you know how inmates are permitted to receive routine mail. Depending on the type of mail sent to inmates, eligible senders are listed in the table below. Depositing funds for an inmate can make a great deal of difference in an inmates quality of life. The photos can be as large as 8"x10" but must not contain nudity, hand gestures, tattoos, or anything illegal or gang related. Usually mail is delivered within seven days of it arriving at the facility, but certain circumstances such as a lockdown or a large influx of mail during holidays can slow down delivery. You can find the inmates facility address by selecting the prison they are in. In most cases, a guard will open and inspect mail in the presence of the inmate. It's not easy when a loved one is incarcerated, but keeping in touch between visiting times can help make the situation more tolerable. When using a single stamp, only 5 photos can be sent at a time. Photos are great to receive when your incarcerated for many reasons. A letter won't be forwarded if it: There is no quarterly limit for book shipments, but an inmate may only have ten books in their possession at any time. If the inmate requests the return address from the envelope, the address is torn off and given to the inmate. Besides the fact that it is a rip-off, it really takes the best part out of receiving a letterIt may be hard to understand, but when an inmate receives a letterthat ispenned by hand it is much more personal, and can give the sense of a connection to whomever is writing the letter. Read More: How to Contact an Inmate. * Mail written in gel-type ink * Mail written in crayon * Mail with lipstick imprinted on it * Polaroids * Stickers and labels * * Stick-on return address labels ** * Odor-causing substances like perfume or cologne that permeate the mail * Items containing glue or white-out * Marking pens * Felt-tip pens * Care packages * Flowers or candy * Ribbons * Phone cards * Greeting cards * Post cards * Plastic * Glitter * Tape * Stationery * Envelopes * Post-it Notes * Craft materials * Parchment paper * Black paper * Staples * Paper clips * Postage stamps (loose or book) * Cash or personal checks (U.S. 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. How to Send a Los Angeles County Inmate a Care Package, How to Send Money to a Georgia Prison Inmate, Washington County Sheriff's Office and Jail: Inmate Mail Guide, Florida Department of Corrections: Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Writing to an Inmate. Only 1 book shipment per month of 10 or less books. The prison staff check every inmate letter and package, and if they find any contraband, it will be confiscated, thrown away, or returned to the sender. You can see the list of all the dos and donts when sending mail to an inmate in California in the table below. 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. A time must also be read before being delivered to the facility where intended! You must purchase a United States Postal money order can i send stamps to an inmate in california available through authorized private vendors ( view package! 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