What can I mail to an inmate?
What cannot be mailed to an inmate?
What happens if I mail contraband?
Postcards delivered by the US Postal Service.
Postcards may be any size the post office delivers,
with maximum dimensions of 5-1/2 inches tall by
8-1/2 inches wide. Postcards must include your
name and return address.
Contraband items. Contraband is anything the
jail does not allow an inmate to have unless they
authorize it. We commonly receive and reject
the following contraband items:
One of four things will happen if we find
contraband in your mail:
USPS Standard Postcard Dimensions
Minimum
Maximum
Length
5 inches
6 inches
Height
3-1/2
inches
4-1/4
inches
Thickness
0.007
inch
0.016
inch
$0.28
$0.44
Postal rate
Legal or personal business documents
Books (Limit of three per day)
Books must be ordered and sent directly from the
publisher, a book club, or a bookstore. (You may
not send books directly to an inmate.) The
bookseller’s address must be imprinted on the
package or mailing label. Books may be up to 9
by 12 inches in size and may be new or used.
They must not have a plastic or metal binding.
While paperbacks are preferred, hardbound books
are allowed – except inmates in segregation may
only receive new, paperback books.
Periodicals (Limit of two per day)
Magazines, newspapers, and other periodicals
must be new and sent directly from the publisher
or a bookstore. (Caution: Periodicals with scantily
clad people may be considered sexually explicit
and thus be prohibited.)
How can I send the mail?
We only allow inmates to receive mail sent
through the US Postal Service. We do not accept
hand, courier, or commercially delivered mail.
We will not accept mail with postage due.
Do you open and inspect mail?
All incoming and outgoing mail is subject to
opening and inspection by jail staff.
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Letters and correspondence in envelopes
Drugs (legal or illegal)
Over-the-counter medications
Glasses and contact lenses
Bookmarks, postage stamps, stationery,
writing or drawing materials, and paper clips
Maps
Transportation schedules, such as bus or train
ID, phone, gift, or any other plastic card
Stickers, decals, and tape
Cosmetic, hair care, and hygiene items
Food and clothing
Locks of hair and ribbons
Cigarettes, matches, and lighters
Dried or pressed flowers
Coupons, lottery tickets, and Tri-Met tickets
Compact discs and cassette tapes
Items that exceed approved limits
Items from a non-approved source
Foreign substances, such as bodily fluids,
lipstick, perfume, glitter, glue, paint, and
anything with unusual stains or odors
Items with Contraband Content. This
includes mail with inappropriate words or images.
Contraband content is anything that may threaten
the safety, security, good order of the jail or may
be detrimental to an inmate’s rehabilitation. This
includes content that—
• Threatens, plans, encourages, instructs in
activity that is criminal, or violates jail rules
• Could result in physical harm to anyone
• Is gang-related material
• Is sexually explicit material
• Is inflammatory material - anything that incites
or advocates physical violence, supremacy or
hatred of a class or group of people
• Is code or suspected code
• Is in a foreign language that we are unable to
translate in a timely manner
• Is fraudulently marked as legal or official mail
1. We will return it to you.
2. We will confiscate it and not let the inmate
have access to it until they are released from
custody.
3. We will destroy it if it presents a health or
safety hazard.
4. We will confiscate it as evidence in a criminal
investigation.
Depending on the degree of contraband violation,
a jail command officer may restrict any future
correspondence you have with an inmate.
How do I send money to an inmate?
You may send cashier’s checks, money orders,
and government checks for credit to an inmate’s
account by mail addressed to the inmate or just
the jail. You may send cash, but we do not
recommend it. We will not accept payroll,
personal, business, or two-party checks.
Make the check or money order payable to the
inmate. Write the inmate’s booking number on
the check or money order if possible.
We will not deliver any letter or note to the
inmate that you enclose with money. All social
correspondence will be in postcard form.
Method
Merchant money orders
Post office money orders
Cashier checks
Government checks
Daily Limit
$20 per sender per day
$100 per sender per day
$100 per sender per day
No limit
Can I send photographs to an inmate?
Inmates may only receive the photographs on
the picture side of postcards that are mailed
individually through the US Postal Service.
Inappropriate pictures will cause your mail to be
rejected.
Who can send mail to an inmate?
Who can answer my questions?
Anyone can send mail to an inmate with some
restrictions. We will not accept mail from—
You can call the jail at (541) 247-3243, if you
have a question about inmate mail.
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An inmate in another corrections-monitored
facility or treatment center.
A victim of a crime that the inmate is in
custody for either in pretrial or sentenced
status.
A person acting as a go-between for inmates
by redirecting mail between two or more
people to undermine jail rules
An inmate participating in electronic home
detention.
In certain circumstances, a jail command officer
may further restrict an inmate’s personal
correspondence with certain people.
How do I address the mail?
Clearly write the inmate’s complete name. Do
not use nicknames. If you know the inmate’s
middle name or initial and booking number,
please include those. Send mail to this address:
Inmate’s name
Curry County Jail
P.O. Box 681
Gold Beach, OR 97444
May I call to confirm delivery of an item?
No, it is the inmate’s responsibility to contact you
to let you know they received something you
mailed. You may send a postcard to the inmate
if you want to confirm delivery of an item.
Who can discuss a complaint with me
about inmate mail?
You can contact a jail representative by calling
(541) 247-3243, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. if you have a complaint about inmate
mail.
You can write to the jail commander at the
address below:
Jail Commander (Mail)
Curry County Jail
P.O. Box 681
Gold Beach, OR 97444
You may also send an e-mail to the jail
commander at:
Curry County
Sheriff’s Office
and Jail
Inmate
Mail
Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
About Inmate Mail
[email protected]
Include your return name and address on
the postcard! We will not deliver nor hold
inmate mail that is missing a return address.
Please handwrite your return address rather than
using gummed or adhesive labels. We remove
labels from mail before giving it to the inmate.
Without a return address, the inmate may not be
able to write to you because he or she will not
know your address.
Introduction of contraband into a correctional
facility is a class C felony under ORS 162.185
and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and
a fine of up to $100,000.
Sheriff John Bishop’s
Policy on Inmate Mail
Mail is an important
communication method for an
inmate to carry out legal
business and maintain family
and community ties.
www.co.curry.or.us