Inmate Mail | Orange County California – Sheriff&039s Department

inmate mail

inmate name and register number (required information) 501 city drive south orange, ca. 92868

Inmates can send and receive unlimited correspondence. the only exception is when there is reasonable cause to justify the limitations for reasons of public safety or order of the facilities, or to avoid the violation of state or federal laws. all incoming/outgoing mail is subject to search before being delivered.

acceptable mail elements

mail must meet the following guidelines:

• Mail must contain both the inmate’s name and register number as well as the sender’s name and return address. the envelope may not contain any other unnecessary writing, artwork, or markings.
• new paperback books, magazines, or newspapers must be mailed or sent directly by the publisher, bookstore, or book distributor that not mail order businesses. publications will be shipped directly to the jail from the vendor. broken pages or broken post articles are not allowed. Hardcover, vinyl, or leather bound books are not permitted. inmates may only possess a maximum of 5 books or magazines. the package must be accompanied by an invoice indicating the buyer, the recipient, the content and the name of the online store.
• magazines, illustrations or photographs showing female nipples, genitals, sexual activities, bondage or degradation. they’re not allowed. personal photos may not contain nudity, partial nudity or be sexually suggestive.
• photos depicting gangs, gang hand gestures, weapons, drugs, illegal activities are not allowed. any material that tends to incite or promote racism, violence or any other prohibited conduct is prohibited.
• oversized packages or boxes will not be accepted and will be returned to sender unless previously approved by the division commander. (An oversized package is defined as any item larger than a 9″x12″ legal size manila envelope.) boxes will not be accepted unless they come from an approved secure source.
• mail containing correspondence material (envelopes, paper, pencils, stamps, etc.) will not be accepted. All correspondence materials must be purchased through the jail commissary or ordered and shipped directly from the United States Postal Service’s online store, The Postal Store, at www.usps.com. only stamps and envelopes from the usps online store are accepted.
• money orders should be made payable to “orange county sheriff’s department”, with the inmate’s name and register number noted on the money order reference line. personal checks, cashier’s checks, corporate checks and payroll checks are not accepted. ($500.00 is the maximum amount inmates may have in their account at any one time)
• There is a maximum limit of 10 pages of additional photocopied or printed materials (including photographs) allowed within mail sent to the inmates.

mail containing the following elements will not be accepted

• items that cannot be inspected without damage (for example, multi-layer cards, polaroids, laminated or glued items, etc.).
• items containing aluminum foil or metal any kind, glass, wood, hard plastic, rubber, hair, leaves, flowers, clips, jewelry, staples, bleach, colored paper, tracing paper, thick art paper, glitter, confetti, stickers, tape, glue, paint, watercolors, tobacco products, or other prohibited substances, or any items written with crayons, chalk, or markers.
• items that may compromise the security of the facility.
• wall signs , travel brochures, catalogs, wall calendars, or any other item larger than a legal-size sheet of paper.
• credit cards, personal checkbooks, original certificates (for example, marriage, driver’s license , diplomas, etc.).
• any food.
• any clothing. clothing, hygiene item or other personal property. (a pair of prescription or reading glasses may be mailed in. glasses must be in a non-decorative plastic frame. no eyeglass cases. two boxes of contact lenses are allowed. inmates may obtain lens solution contact lenses and contact lens cases in jail. dispensary.)
• letters from third parties. (Correspondents may not forward letters from one person to another.)
• Any item containing any unknown substance or unknown odor (for example, stains, lipstick, perfume, smoke, etc.).
• greeting cards, cardboard and colored paper, except postcards. only mail written on postcards or white paper (plain or lined, no cardstock) is allowed.