CORRECTIONAL TRAINING FACILITY MAIL POLICY

Inmates may receive:

stamps by mail (NO LIMIT),
envelops with the postage printed on,
pictures (limit 10 per envelope-no Polaroid’s),
newspaper clippings,
web pages (limit 5 per envelope).

Inmates may not receive the following items or must have prior approval from staff:

SPECIAL NOTE: Stationary (writing paper, writing tablets, blank envelopes, pencils, etc.) may not be received by mail at this institution. Stationary is available for purchase through the canteen. If you are without funds and indigent (inmates), writing material is available via your housing unit officers. Five (5) envelopes (for free postage) will be issued to you at X-wing during your first week. You must submit requests for additional envelopes to the mailroom.

Items they may not receive by mail are:

third party mail,
magazines, books, catalogs, newspapers,
cassettes,
maps within a ten mile radius of this institution,
jewelry,
pens, pencils, posters, confetti,
lottery tickets,
trading cards, ID cards, musical cards, credit cards, phones cards, cardboard, address books,
clothing,
plants,
metal,
plastic,
wood,
glass,
computer software,
anything larger than 8 x 11 inches,
gang related material, tattoo patterns, drugs etc.... or any given item which may threaten the safety and security of this institution.

FOR MONEY ORDERS:

The mailroom processes funds received for the inmate’s daily. Their envelope will be stamped and marked with the amount received for them. They must keep this envelope; this is their proof that the funds were removed from the envelope. The funds will be forwarded to the trust office for further processing and posting of their account. The funds should be posted to their account within 3 to 4 working days of receipt by the mailroom. To insure that there are no delays in the processing of their funds, inform whose wishing to send them funds that they must adhere to the following policy:

-They must send a money order, cashiers check or personal check.
-They must make the check or money order payable to the Correctional Training Facility.
-They must place the inmates name and CDC# on the check or money order (their CDC # is their account). The check or money order must be completed in its entirety and in a way that is legible (readable).

Note: Personal checks require a 30-day period to allow clearance through the bank.

INCOMPLETE OR UNREADABLE CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS WILL BE RETURNED TO THE SENDER.

Additionally: Inform your correspondents to NEVER SEND CASH! Foreign currency will not be accepted and will be returned to sender.

Note: If the inmate has been ordered to pay restitution, the ordered amount will be deducted from the funds received for them, prior to any posting to the inmates account.

PERSONAL PROPERTY PACKAGES:

Inmates can receive, depending on their privilege group, up to four (4) packages per year (this is one (1) per quarter). If they have received a package in any quarter, and a second package arrives, it will be returned to sender.

1. All inmates will receive a catalog from the approved vendor(s) this will explain how the ordering process works.

2. Once they have filled out their order form, mail it to the family member or a person of your choice. That person will then mail the form to an approved vendor along with payment. Once received by that company they will then fill the order and send it out via (UPS) United Parcels Service. These packages will then be delivered to their Warehouse; (CTF) mailroom will do a pick up daily, Monday thru Friday, for distribution.

3. If they wish to have funds removed fro your trust account, they will complete a Trust Withdrawal Slip along with their package order form and send it (via institutional mail) to the Receiving & Release Sergeant for processing. They will then be sent to the Trust Office. If they do not have the availability of funds, these forms will then be sent back to them with "NSF" (non-sufficient funds) noted on each item form. If their funds are verified by accounting, they will then mail to the completed packet and check to that particular company for processing. (Note: They will be charged 10% to the Inmate Welfare Fund for a processing fee).

4. Should a family member or acquaintance place money in their trust account for the purpose of receiving Personal Property Package they will still be charged the 44% for restitution, as with any normal deposit, if applicable. The 10% to IWF (Inmate Welfare Fund) for processing will still be in effect.

It will be the inmate's responsibility to read and be aware of all ordering instruction that vendors have written in their ordering catalog. CTF assumes no responsibility for damaged or missing items, if this has occurred, it will then be the inmate’s responsibility to contact the company via the US mail or have the person who paid for the package contact that vendor in order to solve the problem. All items are subject to search prior to being issued.

Approved vendors:
The approved vendors for all Personal Property Packages at this time are as follows:

Access Catalog Company
10840 Lin Page Place
St. Louis, Missouri 63132
1-314-301-3300
Walkenhorst's Catalog and Institutional Sales
1774 Industrial Way
Napa, California 94558-3316
1-707-255-3017

Union Supply Company, Inc.
399 West Artesia Blvd.
P.O. Box 7006
Rancho Dominguez, CA 90224-7006
1-310-603-8899

Are you sure about the books and magazines? Because I had a paper saying that they could receive them. Is this for the people on the North Facility?

they can receive them just through the company not from you sending it in.
megan

Wow they have a ton of restraints placed on them. They provide envelopes, do they provide paper as well? Just curious.

Yes I believe that they do provide paper. This is what one members husband sent her…it is what they provided him with when he arrived at CTF. Actually CTF’s mailroom seems to be really laid back. The only thing that they seem to be strict on is nudity. “Things” have to be covered, and the inmates are not to display them either.
Megan

can I mail him a map of California?

I would think so…as long as it fits the size dimensions that the prisons allows through the mail. I think that they just do not want a Soledad map with streets around the prison and stuff like that.
Megan

Addresses for CTF-Soledad

Correctional Training Facility


Inmates Name and CDC#
CTF-Soledad Central Facility
P.O. Box 689 Housing Unit
Soledad, CA 93960-0689

Inmates Name and CDC#
CTF-Soledad South Facility
P.O. Box 690 Housing Unit
Soledad, CA 93960-0690

Inmates Name and CDC#
CTF-Soledad North Facility
P.O. Box 705 Housing Unit
Soledad, CA 93960-0705

PIO: (831) 678-3951
Records office: (831) 678-3951, ext. 2139 (for housing)

Please remember the envelopes can ONLY have embossed postage on them They can be purchased at the post office or online but they can not have METERED postage.

can I mail him a map of California?

You can send maps, just not detailed maps of the area near the prison. I know there is a specific mileage limit, but I can't quite remember what it is. Something like no detailed maps of an area 50 sq miles around the prison. But a state-wide map should be fine.

Thank You!!

I have read all your posts and it has helped me so much. Thanks everyone. My man was sent to Soledad on the 10th of march and I am trying to find out all I can about the place.

My man was sent to salinas state prison on the 9th of march. I was wondering if we are able to send them packages of stuff they need like toothbrush and paste, shaving cream, etc???

We have a thread specifically for questions about packages that are going to SVSP or CTF, maybe try posting your question there:thumbsup: . That way we do not get a discussion about packages in the mail thread.
Megan

here is the link

http://prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185369

thanks i didnt know

Does anybody know if you can send return address labels on the the letters that you send to the inmate? I notice that sticker's are not permitted, but since this is on the outside of the letter it should be okay right?

It states no stickers but they do allow them. They just can’t be loose like a sheet of stickers if you send them like that they will stick them where ever on the letter.
megan

Has anyone ever tried sending in blank greeting cards? I checked the mail rules, and it doesn't say you specifically can or can't--sort of a grey area. And I've never tried. Has anyone else done so at CTF, successfully or not?

Thanks!
JMK

You could always send him a card and write very lite in pencil, that way he can erase it and use it,. They can always get ahold of an envelope for it. This is always a good backup plan just in case they don't allow them. I used to send card stock that way. I've also sent B-day cards that way also.

Hello lady~ Are we allowed to mail pens if they are clear ink pens with a letter ?

No i dont think CTF allows it, they can buy them through canteen

Hello lady~ Are we allowed to mail pens if they are clear ink pens with a letter ?

Have you ever ordered stamps through usps.com? I´m not in the U.S. and my honey needs some stamps badly and I tried to order some at usps.com. It worked fine until I was told that the address isn´t correct?! Any advice?

Tina

Tina--
USPS verifies the address when you order, so if it doesn't match exactly what's in their database you will get the warning that the address is incorrect/cannot be verified. Because we have to add so much extra information to the address (ID #, cell #), it will never match up perfectly. You should be given an option to use the address as you've put it in, so I would recommend that you do that. This is what I've done in the past, with no problems.




Have you ever ordered stamps through usps.com? I´m not in the U.S. and my honey needs some stamps badly and I tried to order some at usps.com. It worked fine until I was told that the address isn´t correct?! Any advice?

Tina

I have ordered preprinted envelopes and stamps on-line through the USPS website without any trouble. It seems to take about 2 weeks for him to get the items even though they get delivered to the prison in about 2 days.

Hi! My friend told me from today on (?) no more Amazon orders are accepted (or at least only if the mailroom stuff is in good mood). I think I read on PTO somewhere last week only cd orders were not accepted anymore. Does anyone have details?
Thanks!

I guess alot of these issues have alot to do with where they're at, I spoke to the person in the mailroom at CTF and she said that they can receive stamped envelopes and they have to be the ones with the green circular embelm (which is the stamp) and so far the only place I've found them is the postoffice. She never said anything to me about sending just stamps because they can be purchased by the inmate. The envelopes I described are the only one that they are excepting through the mailroom. The inmates she said can get paper and envelopes from the unit officer by just asking for them.

Do the money orders have to be postal money orders?

no they dont...have you ever tried www.jpay.com (http://www.jpay.com) ?


Do the money orders have to be postal money orders?

my son reciently wrote and told me not to send him money because he would rather send us a form from a vender and he can order what he needs. Anyone ever heard of this? For some reason he thinks he can order anytime I think he is wrong about this.

Hmmm...that doesn't sound quite right. The only way an inmate can get food/supplies are through:
1. Canteen (he buys it once/month with money from his books--the money you've sent in)
2. Special food sales (happen only periodically a handful of times a year--also paid for with the money on his books)
3. Quarterly Packages (ordered once per quarter/4 times a year)
4. Special Purchases (at CTF you can't send food through these)

My best guess is that he is talking about sending you a list of stuff he wants from a vendor, and having you order him a Quarterly Package. However you can only do this 4 times a year, once per quarter. Does that help? Please let me know if you questions about any of this!

JMK

my son reciently wrote and told me not to send him money because he would rather send us a form from a vender and he can order what he needs. Anyone ever heard of this? For some reason he thinks he can order anytime I think he is wrong about this.

my son reciently wrote and told me not to send him money because he would rather send us a form from a vender and he can order what he needs. Anyone ever heard of this? For some reason he thinks he can order anytime I think he is wrong about this.

They get quaterly packages...you can also send money orders..so he can go to store once in awhile...they also have special times when they can order Pizza and Sodas.:D .we are not allowed to send any writing material...other than envelopes and stamps..to be on the safe side I send the pre-stamped ones from the Post Office..I was able to send writing paper a couple of times...but that depends on the mailroom, most of the time they send it back...:blah:

Hello lady~ Are we allowed to mail pens if they are clear ink pens with a letter ?
I mailed a pen to my friend at Soledad, he's in the South Facility. He said you could include a clear bic pen when you send a paper package. That included a writing tablet and 20 stamped envelopes as well. He was able to recieve everything as far as I know, because he thanked me for it afterwards.

The Special Purchase orders are for, when they first get to prison and they need to purchase large appliances like tv fan cd player hot plate ect and this is so they don't use up all there weight in food package. But Oh My Gosh! Filling a package with seccure packages is so easy and they have alot of Great eatable items, Great quality fabrics, Name Brand tennis shoe. And much more from theire well organized catalog. So have lots of fun with it. Jaxitis

Has anyone sent a calendar in to CTF North? I've been trying to call the mail room to ask, but haven't had much luck getting through. If anyone has sent one in (successfully), do you know how big it can be? I'm assuming the same 8X10 rules apply, but since most calendars are bigger than that maybe not! Also, did you send it yourself, or did you have to order it from a bookstore?

I was able to mail in calendars at DVI, but haven't yet tried at CTF.

Hello,

I am new to this chat. My son is out E.C.I. in Westover, Maryland. He can order from Walkenhorsts but he needs the order number of some of their newest cd. Does anyone out there know them.

The cd's are:

DMX - Year of The Dog, Again
Jay z - Kingdom Come
Young Jeezy - The Inspiration
Eminem Presents - The Re-Up
Project Pat- Crook by the book-the fed story
The Game- Doctor's Advocate

If anyone has any of the order numbers and prices please send them to me right away. I only have until the end of the day to get them in for the quarter.

hi can anyone tell me about family visits my husband and I should be getting one soon what can I bring?

oh by the way he's at soledad california....n-facility

My father-in-law sent my fiance a tv and cd player via special package just before christmas as he still hasn't received it. He also hasn't received any of my letters yet that I sent over 3 weeks ago. Is this prison usually this slow in getting stuff to the inmates? I thought that packages didn't take that long?

Check out this link:
http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/BudgetRegs/pendingrulespage.html
The CDCR is trying to change some things in regards to mail and a few other policies.
Stamps will have to be ordered directly from USPS, no letters of a sexual nature at all and one great thing is that there will be a requirement that all inmates receive their mail within 7 days of the facility receiving it and packages within 14 days.
You can voice your opinion, look here for the contact info in an easier to find format: http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2678318#post2678318

My husband is at CTF Central. He told me that they cannot get unlimited stamps anymore. Forty stamps per envelope. Also, no blank paper.

I wanted to know if you can send a cd in the mail. I wanted to record a message and put it on cd to send to him. I wasn't sure if I could do this?

No, sorry. The only way to send CDs is through an approved vendor, in a quarterly package. You cannot send any CDs, books, magazines, etc. through the mail yourself.



I wanted to know if you can send a cd in the mail. I wanted to record a message and put it on cd to send to him. I wasn't sure if I could do this?

My fiance wants me to send him all these cd's and california qp doesn't have alot of them. Am I able to send them through Amazon or someone like that like I did with his magazines or do they only allow cd's to come from the approved quarterly package vendors?

Taniarenee,
Which prison is your fiance in? If he is at SVSP I'm afraid I can't help you---but I'm sure someone else will. If he's a CTF, you cannot order CDs from Amazon (only books/magazines). CDs must come in Quarterly Packages. I have had luck ordering CDs through Walkenhorst that are not in their catalog; same with Access. I usually call them and tell them the names of what I'm looking for, and they look up to see if they can get them. I've done this several times successfully. I see that you're a long way away, so you could probably do the same thing via email if you don't want to call long distance to the vendor.

Please let me know if you have other questions!
JMK




My fiance wants me to send him all these cd's and california qp doesn't have alot of them. Am I able to send them through Amazon or someone like that like I did with his magazines or do they only allow cd's to come from the approved quarterly package vendors?

Thanks for your response. He's in CTF - North so that sucks that I can't order them through Amazon. I'll try emailing access and see how I go there. Thanks

We used to be able to order them through special purchases too, but not any more (my brother is also at CTF North). Let me know if you have any trouble getting the information you need--I'm happy to give the vendor a call for you if have trouble getting the info you need via email.

JMK

Thanks for your response. He's in CTF - North so that sucks that I can't order them through Amazon. I'll try emailing access and see how I go there. Thanks

Thank you so much I really appreciate it. I will let you know how I go

do you carpool to CTF N

Hey guys......I just wanted to check with you and see if this information is still correct? If I read it right - NO PAPER, PENS, PLAIN ENVELOPES can be sent?? Only STAMPS???

We have a friend who is there - just wrote to me - he's in Whiting Hall?? I was going to send him some writing items - but checked your Mail Policy sticky first.......just wanted to make sure it's still the same????

Thanks.....

CORRECTIONAL TRAINING FACILITY MAIL POLICY

Inmates may receive:

stamps by mail (NO LIMIT),
envelops with the postage printed on,
pictures (limit 10 per envelope-no Polaroid’s),
newspaper clippings,
web pages (limit 5 per envelope).

Inmates may not receive the following items or must have prior approval from staff:

SPECIAL NOTE: Stationary (writing paper, writing tablets, blank envelopes, pencils, etc.) may not be received by mail at this institution. Stationary is available for purchase through the canteen. If you are without funds and indigent (inmates), writing material is available via your housing unit officers. Five (5) envelopes (for free postage) will be issued to you at X-wing during your first week. You must submit requests for additional envelopes to the mailroom.

Items they may not receive by mail are:

third party mail,
magazines, books, catalogs, newspapers,
cassettes,
maps within a ten mile radius of this institution,
jewelry,
pens, pencils, posters, confetti,
lottery tickets,
trading cards, ID cards, musical cards, credit cards, phones cards, cardboard, address books,
clothing,
plants,
metal,
plastic,
wood,
glass,
computer software,
anything larger than 8 x 11 inches,
gang related material, tattoo patterns, drugs etc.... or any given item which may threaten the safety and security of this institution.

FOR MONEY ORDERS:

The mailroom processes funds received for the inmate’s daily. Their envelope will be stamped and marked with the amount received for them. They must keep this envelope; this is their proof that the funds were removed from the envelope. The funds will be forwarded to the trust office for further processing and posting of their account. The funds should be posted to their account within 3 to 4 working days of receipt by the mailroom. To insure that there are no delays in the processing of their funds, inform whose wishing to send them funds that they must adhere to the following policy:

-They must send a money order, cashiers check or personal check.
-They must make the check or money order payable to the Correctional Training Facility.
-They must place the inmates name and CDC# on the check or money order (their CDC # is their account). The check or money order must be completed in its entirety and in a way that is legible (readable).

Note: Personal checks require a 30-day period to allow clearance through the bank.

INCOMPLETE OR UNREADABLE CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS WILL BE RETURNED TO THE SENDER.

Additionally: Inform your correspondents to NEVER SEND CASH! Foreign currency will not be accepted and will be returned to sender.

Note: If the inmate has been ordered to pay restitution, the ordered amount will be deducted from the funds received for them, prior to any posting to the inmates account.

PERSONAL PROPERTY PACKAGES:

Inmates can receive, depending on their privilege group, up to four (4) packages per year (this is one (1) per quarter). If they have received a package in any quarter, and a second package arrives, it will be returned to sender.

1. All inmates will receive a catalog from the approved vendor(s) this will explain how the ordering process works.

2. Once they have filled out their order form, mail it to the family member or a person of your choice. That person will then mail the form to an approved vendor along with payment. Once received by that company they will then fill the order and send it out via (UPS) United Parcels Service. These packages will then be delivered to their Warehouse; (CTF) mailroom will do a pick up daily, Monday thru Friday, for distribution.

3. If they wish to have funds removed fro your trust account, they will complete a Trust Withdrawal Slip along with their package order form and send it (via institutional mail) to the Receiving & Release Sergeant for processing. They will then be sent to the Trust Office. If they do not have the availability of funds, these forms will then be sent back to them with "NSF" (non-sufficient funds) noted on each item form. If their funds are verified by accounting, they will then mail to the completed packet and check to that particular company for processing. (Note: They will be charged 10% to the Inmate Welfare Fund for a processing fee).

4. Should a family member or acquaintance place money in their trust account for the purpose of receiving Personal Property Package they will still be charged the 44% for restitution, as with any normal deposit, if applicable. The 10% to IWF (Inmate Welfare Fund) for processing will still be in effect.

It will be the inmate's responsibility to read and be aware of all ordering instruction that vendors have written in their ordering catalog. CTF assumes no responsibility for damaged or missing items, if this has occurred, it will then be the inmate’s responsibility to contact the company via the US mail or have the person who paid for the package contact that vendor in order to solve the problem. All items are subject to search prior to being issued.

Approved vendors:
The approved vendors for all Personal Property Packages at this time are as follows:

Access Catalog Company
10840 Lin Page Place
St. Louis, Missouri 63132
1-314-301-3300
Walkenhorst's Catalog and Institutional Sales
1774 Industrial Way
Napa, California 94558-3316
1-707-255-3017

Union Supply Company, Inc.
399 West Artesia Blvd.
P.O. Box 7006
Rancho Dominguez, CA 90224-7006
1-310-603-8899

Hello Jordanrae,
You can only send stamps to CTF. They don't allow paper, enevelopes or pens. If you ever come to visit your friend, PM me and I'll help you out with the infamous line.

Hey Klinus.....thanks!! I will absolutely contact you! I will need all the help I can get and you're the best there is!! :)

Hello Jordanrae,
You can only send stamps to CTF. They don't allow paper, enevelopes or pens. If you ever come to visit your friend, PM me and I'll help you out with the infamous line.

Hello Im very new to this site and love it! all lot of great information thank you . I have a loved one who is the North Facility CTF Soledad but prior to this mailing address I was told he was at CTF I mailed his letters to the p.o box for this facility and found out that there is a totally different p.o box for the North facility he has send me letters stating he hasnt recieved mail from me and Ive bee writting him like a mad woman...lol.. will his mail get to him?

Welcome! You know, I'm not exactly sure what happens when you send to the wrong PO Box (each part of CTF--North, Central, South--each has a seperate PO Box). I'm pretty sure it will get to him, but might take a little longer than normal. I know they look up each inmate in the computer when they process mail to make sure the cell # is correct, so if the mailroom for one of the other faciliities did that it should show that he is at the prison but at north.

Then again, the prisons don't generally operate using basic rules of logic, so don't be surprised if the mail gets returned to you instead. :) Not sure how long ago you sent your first letters, but for me the mail to North has been taking under a week for postcards. I haven't sent many actual letters recently, but just sent one over the weekend so should know soon how long it took him to get it.

Let us know if you have other questions!


Hello Im very new to this site and love it! all lot of great information thank you . I have a loved one who is the North Facility CTF Soledad but prior to this mailing address I was told he was at CTF I mailed his letters to the p.o box for this facility and found out that there is a totally different p.o box for the North facility he has send me letters stating he hasnt recieved mail from me and Ive bee writting him like a mad woman...lol.. will his mail get to him?

I must have missed this posting a couple of months ago...just wanted to clarify that you can send envelopes but they have to be the ones you get from the post office that have the postage already imprinted. You can also send in the blank postcards from the post office . Just no plain regular envelopes.

Hey guys......I just wanted to check with you and see if this information is still correct? If I read it right - NO PAPER, PENS, PLAIN ENVELOPES can be sent?? Only STAMPS???

We have a friend who is there - just wrote to me - he's in Whiting Hall?? I was going to send him some writing items - but checked your Mail Policy sticky first.......just wanted to make sure it's still the same????

Thanks.....

Addresses for CTF-Soledad

Correctional Training Facility


Inmates Name and CDC#
CTF-Soledad Central Facility
P.O. Box 689 Housing Unit
Soledad, CA 93960-0689

Inmates Name and CDC#
CTF-Soledad South Facility
P.O. Box 690 Housing Unit
Soledad, CA 93960-0690

Inmates Name and CDC#
CTF-Soledad North Facility
P.O. Box 705 Housing Unit
Soledad, CA 93960-0705

PIO: (831) 678-3951
Records office: (831) 678-3951, ext. 2139 (for housing)

I have a question, my friends daughter gave me an address, but it is nothing like the ones above. Is there a way that I could find out exactly where he is? the address has his name, cdc#, ctf/rainier.a. and cell #
I am totally lost.
I would truly appreciate any help!!

So he is on the north yard, all you do is write it like
his Name and cdc #
ctf North RA-CELL#
Soledad ca 93960
I have a question, my friends daughter gave me an address, but it is nothing like the ones above. Is there a way that I could find out exactly where he is? the address has his name, cdc#, ctf/rainier.a. and cell #
I am totally lost.
I would truly appreciate any help!!