Alachua County Sheriff's Office

Mail Rules & Regulations

General Mail

There are no limitations on the amount of mail coming in or going out.

Outgoing mail may be opened and inspected to determine if the letters may contain threats of violence, blackmail, extortion, criminal activity, violation of institutional rules, code, and/or information that if communicated would create a clear and present danger of violence and physical harm to some person.

Indigent inmates shall receive postage and stationary. They must have less that $.50 in their account for a period of ten (10) days or more, or have entered the facility with less than $.50.

Legal mail will be brought directly to the inmate to whom it is addressed. The officers will require that inmates open and shake the letter in order to check for contraband.

Mail shall be delivered the same day it is received.

NEW MAIL CORRESPONDENCE RULES

Effective April 1, 2010, for the safety and security of the inmates and staff at the Department of the Jail, all incoming and outgoing mail, with the exception of privileged mail, must be in the form of a postcard only.

All postcards must meet the following requirements:

• Postcard size-minimum: 3 1/2" by 4 1/4 " but no larger than 4 1/4" by 6"
• Color-white only
• Pre-stamped
• Must be typed or written in blue or black ink only
• Must include the inmate's full name and MNI number
• Must include a complete return address

Unacceptable Postcards which will be returned to the sender:

• Defaced or altered postcards
• Plastic or any type of wrappings on the postcards
• Any color of postcard except white
• Postcards marked with paint, pencil, magic marker or crayon
• Postcards with any type of sticker or label-including stamps and address labels
• Postcards with watermarks or stains
• Postcards with any biohazards, including lipsticks and perfumes
• Postcards depicting nudity, weapons, or gang references
• Any postcards that have any type of picture either drawn on it or attached to it
• Oversized postcards

All incoming mail, except for legal mail, must be by postcard only (the requirements for postcards are outlined above). If a non-legal envelope is sent to the Department of the Jail, then it will be returned, unopened, to the sender.

Mail containing contraband considered to be illegal, such as drugs or tools with which someone may escape, will be turned over to the Booking Support Supervisor or Shift Commander, intact, with a statement from the mail-handling employee. An incident report will be written and shall contain the inmate's name, MNI#, a detailed description of the item found, the date and time of discovery, disposition of the item, and the signature of the person finding the item. Privileged mail shall not be opened and inspected by the mail-handling employee.

All mail received with unauthorized items will be returned to the sender. Postcards not meeting the Department of the Jail requirements shall be returned to the sender. Unauthorized items will include, but will not be limited to, the following:

• Postcards or privileged/legal mail without a return address
• Stamps
• Envelopes
• Writing paper
• Greeting cards
• Blank postcards
• Loose pages from a book or magazine
• Newspaper clippings
• Plastic, metal or glue
• Photos or pictures of any type, to include computer generated photos
• Stickers
• Tape
• Xerox or photocopied materials

Mail that emits a suspicious or foul odor will be returned to the sender.

Incoming mail shall be treated as privileged correspondence only if it is clearly marked with the name, address, and title of the sender. Privileged/legal mail must have a recognizable legitimate address of the legal firm or other governmental unit.

For the security and safety of all inmates and staff at the Department of the Jail, no publications of any kind will be accepted. Any type of publication sent in will be returned to the sender. All reading material for the inmates is provided through the Library/Book carts and the Chaplain.

Privileged Mail

Mail or correspondence between an inmate and attorney, legal aid lawyer or agency and other government officials is considered privileged.

Outgoing privileged mail shall not be opened, inspected or censored in any way if it is clearly and properly marked with the name and title of the recipient and the correct return address of the sender.

In-coming mail will be inspected:

All mail received with unauthorized items (contraband), either in the envelope or attached, will be returned to the sender. The items include, but are not limited to, the following: stamps and envelopes, writing paper, greeting cards, blank postcards, loose pages from books or magazines, newspaper clippings, plastic, metal, glue or tape, photographs, sexually suggestive and/or nude pictures, stickers and photocopies.

Only money orders will be entered in the inmate's account. Personal checks will be placed in the inmate's property. Money orders must have your SPN number on it. The SPN number is located on the inmate armband. If the money order does not have the SPN number it will not be accepted.

No material that advocates racial, religious or national hatred, or material that is sexually explicit or not in good taste will be allowed.