INMATE MAIL

Correspondence by mail is a major component of helping to keep inmates connected to family and friends. The following guidelines govern mail policies and procedures at the Howell County Sheriff's Office Adult Detention Center.

RECEPTION AND DIAGNOSTIC PHASE

Upon arrival to the Howell County Sheriff's Office Adult Detention Center (ADC), each inmate is provided with two pieces of paper, a postage-paid envelope and a writing instrument for correspondence. Inmates may receive written correspondence and pictures through the mail. However, photographs must be sent in a separate envelope than the written correspondence. Inmates cannot receive food, clothing, cash, money orders, checks, stamps, stamped envelopes or other items through the mail.

MAIL ADDRESSING

To ensure delivery of your correspondence, include on the envelope:

• Your return address and;

ATTENTION: Jail Division

Inmate Last Name, First Name MI.

Howell County Sheriff's Office

1106 Missouri Avenue, West Plains, MO. 65775

ENVELOPES

• Bubble envelopes and padded envelopes are not allowed.

• Envelopes with writing or drawings are permitted as long as censorship guidelines are met (see below).

GREETING CARDS

• Greeting cards must not exceed 8 ½ by 11 inches.

• Mechanical, musical greeting cards or cards which contain batteries, ribbons, strings or metal pieces will not be permitted.

• Homemade cards which have layers that are taped or glued will not be allowed.

• Greeting cards and postcards must be signed in ink.

MAIL INSPECTION

• For security purposes, all incoming and outgoing mail is subject to search and is examined for unauthorized articles or substances.

• Substances including any type of body fluid, hair, powdery substances or other substances which may appear to create a health or sanitation hazard may be cause for rejection of the correspondence. Any other items, including but not limited to stamps, stickers, blank stationery or envelopes cannot be included inside an envelope sent to an inmate.

• Correspondence written in a foreign language or that is indecipherable may be censored or delayed, based upon staff resources available for interpretation.

REJECTION MAIL

If any correspondence, pictures or print materials are determined to not be in compliance with policy, the inmate and the sender will be notified. An inmate who disagrees with the censorship decision may file an appeal through the inmate grievance process. A sender who disagrees may submit a written request for an independent review within 30 days of the date of the notification-of-appeal letter.

The following items will be rejected or might be subject to censorship. This is not a comprehensive list.

• Sexually explicit writing

• Photos containing nudity (any pictorial depiction with less than a fully opaque covering is considered a nude photo), including bare chested children and adult females

• Song lyrics with a parental advisory

• Tattoo patterns

• Gang depictions

If any piece of the correspondence is not allowed, the entire mailing will be rejected.

ENCLOSURES

Each incoming letter may include up to five 8½ x 11-inch enclosures or news clippings. However the enclosures may not include pictures. Pictures and personal correspondence must be sent in separate mailings. Inmates may not receive any enclosure that contain depictions of gang activity, tattoo patterns, sexually explicit materials or other inappropriate content. Stamps, stamped envelopes, labels and stickers cannot be included in mail sent to an inmate.

PICTURES

• A picture is defined as a visual representation of a person, object or scene, including but not limited to photographs, drawings, cartoons or sketches.

• Pictures must be mailed separate from written correspondence. Only film-processed photographs and digital copies are permitted. Polaroid photos are not allowed. Pictures can have no writing on them other than a name, date and location. Pictures of inmates may not be sent.

• Pictures may not contain depictions of gang activity, pornography, nudity (including bare-chested adults and children), sexually explicit images or other inappropriate content.

• Photo frames, photo booklets, plastic photo albums and photographs are not permitted. Photos that have been altered or cut are also not allowed.

MAGAZINE AND NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTIONS

After an inmate leaves the diagnostic center and is permanently assigned to a facility, you may make gift subscription purchases of magazines and newspapers for an inmate. Before purchasing a subscription, however, please verify that the magazine or newspaper is allowed. Also verify that you have the complete and accurate mailing address, including the inmate's name, number and housing unit. The subscription must be directly received from the vendor. You may also deposit funds to an inmate’s account for the inmate to use to subscribe to a periodical.

UNWANTED CORRESPONDENCE FROM AN INMATE

If you have received unwelcome mail or threatening letters from an inmate, notify the Sheriff's Office in writing that you wish the correspondence to cease. Please provide a copy of the correspondence received. The inmate will be directed to stop writing to you. If the behavior continues, please notify the Sheriff's Office and the inmate will be referred for possible disciplinary action.