Mailroom is where all incoming and outgoing mail is processed. Usually the
mailroom is staffed by two or three people whose sole job is processing
the mail, which can be a task. Depending on the facility, incoming
packages are fluoroscoped like at an airport. Letters to prisoners are
opened and checked for contraband or suspicious material relating to
criminal activity. Unless the prisoner is on some form of censorship
because of a criminal investigation, incoming and outgoing regular mail
is not scrutinized or logged. Incoming legal mail is not opened outside
of the prisoner's presence and must be signed for and logged in. Also,
some books and magazines must be signed for and a log kept. With letters
there is not a limit on how many a prisoner can receive or how long a
letter can be here in the MDOC system. To be on the safe side, don't
include anything with a letter until you have checked with the prisoner to see if they can receive it. Be sure to include your full name and address on outside
of the envelope, plainly visible, and the prisoner's full name, DOC
number and address. Don't put any stickers or things like that on the
outside of the envelope unless you know it is okay. Some books and
magazines are not allowed, so check before ordering. All books and
magazines must come from a bookstore, publisher or vendor like Amazon.com. If it is about weapons, martial arts or tattoos, then the
prisoner won't be allowed to receive it. Pornographic magazines
depicting penetration are not allowed. The amount of books/magazines a
prisoner can receive varies from facility to facility. Outgoing mail is
not sealed before it is inspected for contraband and is not scrutinized
and logged unless the prisoner is under investigation. Depending on the
prisoner's housing, mail is either deposited in a designated place or is
picked up by a C.O. when they make their rounds. Mail is passed out Monday through Friday, usually during the evening shift by the C.O. working the floor, but
the policy for delivering books varies from facility to facility. Legal
mail (mail to attorneys, judges, or public officials) must go through
the law library, and that process is initiated by the prisoner by
completing an Inmate Legal Assistance Program request form stating that
the prisoner has legal mail to be posted.
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