Article 41 – Inmate Mail
54010.12. 2 Processing Outgoing Confidential Mail
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In order to be accepted and processed as confidential correspondence, an inmate’s letter shall comply with the following requirements:
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The letter shall be addressed to a person, official, or office listed in Subsection 54010.11.
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The address of the attorney must match the address listed with the State Bar.
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The inmate’s full name, Department identification number, and address of the facility shall be included in the return address appearing on the outside of the envelope.
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The word “Confidential” shall appear on the face of the envelope. Mail received in the mailroom without this notice of confidentiality shall be processed as regular mail. If for any reason the mail cannot be processed as regular mail, it shall be returned to the sending inmate.
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Inmates shall post confidential mail by presenting the mail unsealed to designated staff. In the presence of the inmate, the staff shall remove the contents of the envelope upside down to prevent inadvertent reading of the contents. Staff shall remove the pages and shake them to ensure the absence of prohibited material. If no prohibited material is discovered, the contents shall be returned to the envelope and sealed. Staff shall place their signature, badge number, and date across the sealed area on the back of the envelope. Staff shall then deposit the confidential mail in the appropriate depository.
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If prohibited material is found in the confidential mail, the prohibited material shall be confiscated; however, the letter may be returned to the inmate or mailed following the process outlined above. If the prohibited material indicates a violation of the law or intent to violate the law, the matter may be referred to the appropriate authorities for possible prosecution. Administrative and/or disciplinary action shall also be taken against all parties involved.
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It is the responsibility of staff to transport inmate mail to the appropriate depository as designated by the Warden.