 Incoming General Correspondence
PROCEDURE C: Incoming General Correspondence
1. Except as set out below, mail or other designated staff shall open and inspect all incoming general correspondence envelopes to check for checks, money orders, or contraband. Except as set out below, if a check or money order is found, it shall be removed and credited to the prisoner’s account, except that a check or money order for one prisoner that comes from the family or visitors of another prisoner shall not be credited to a prisoner’s account without the prior written approval of the Chief Administrative Officer, or designee. If contraband is found, it shall be removed and handled in accordance with Procedure A.12.
2. All incoming general mail, except for postcards, must have both a verifiable name and a verifiable return address except as set out below.
3. Incoming general mail with a verifiable return address but no name which appears to be from a business or agency shall be opened to determine who it is from. If it is determined to be from a business or agency that does not ordinarily include its name on the outside of envelopes for legitimate privacy reasons (e.g., a bank) and the mail is otherwise acceptable under the provisions of this policy, it shall be forwarded to the prisoner. If the mail is determined to be from someone other than such a business or agency, it shall be handled as set out in Procedure A.13.
4. Any other incoming general mail with a verifiable return address but no name may be returned to the return address without being opened or may be opened. If it is opened, it shall be handled as set out in Procedure A.13.
5. Any incoming general mail without a verifiable return address (with or without a name) may be opened or may be immediately disposed of without being opened. If the mail is disposed of, the prisoner to whom it is addressed shall be promptly notified in writing (Attachment B). If the mail is opened, it shall be handled as set out in Procedure A.13.
6. The envelope shall not contain any correspondence or any item intended for any person other than the addressee or from any person other than the sender, except that it may include correspondence from the prisoner’s minor children. Any mail in violation of this requirement shall be handled as set out in Procedure A.13.
7. If there is more than one prisoner with the same first and last names, the mail shall be returned to the sender with a notation that the sender will need to include the prisoner’s MDOC number or full name. If the prisoner’s name is misspelled to the point that the prisoner cannot be identified with reasonable certainty, the mail shall be returned to the sender with a notation that the sender will need to spell the prisoner’s name correctly.
8. Mail or other designated staff shall be responsible for the distribution of all incoming general correspondence. A distribution schedule shall be posted in all housing units.
9. A prisoner shall not be allowed to distribute any other prisoner’s mail. A prisoner shall not be allowed to have possession of any other prisoner’s mail.
__________________ The pessimist complains about the wind;
the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.
William Arthur Ward
Last edited by Skye; 03-04-2008 at 11:57 PM.
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