Can a pad of paper (8 1/2 by 11), writing paper (small pad), pencils or pens be sent to you or are these to be purchased at the commisary? Is there a weight limit on mailings also?

Thanks

I'm sorry, I forgot to say that I am going to FPC Duluth.

They actually provide free paper, envelopes, and pencils about once a month along with deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, razors. They can also be purchased at commissary.

You could probably be sent in a few pages of printed stationary with a letter but any more than that would be sent back. You can receive cards without any stickers or other attachments, and photos that are not Polaroid, but that's it...not tablets, no pens. Sorry!

You CANNOT send anything that is blank for them to be able to write on...such as any blank paper, pads of paper, pretty stationary, blank cards, blank postcards. You cannot send these things. They either are supplied with it or if they need more than what is supplied they can purchase it thru commissary.

I know it sucks but the Feds don't let us send much. I accidentally sent blank postcards because I went to a mueseum and told him I'd get postcards for him. I sent them like they were pictures but they got sent back to me as "contraband" the inmate can use blank paper, cards, postcards as a trade tool and they don't allow that. That's why we can't send stamps either.

My man can get stickers all over his letters. If he couldn't I would be getting everything returned. That has been the case in all the facilities he's been in, and there have been quite a few.

My husband asked his mother to send him a valentines card and inside it put one in there that he could send out to me. She signed the "blank" card in pencil. Well it was sent a week before Valentines day (he usually gets our mail next day). He didn't receive it until the end of February. The card that was included (signed in pencil) Had BIG black x's all over the inside and back of the card. My husband said it wasn't even a sharpie it was a big marker. I just had to laugh. I guess they are wise to that one!!

Tammy

If you want to be send paper to draw on, I once had a bookstore send a bound, hardcover sketchbook to my husband and he was able to receive it. Inspired him so much, he wrote a book (with illustrations). A nice gift to receive back! On the subject of stamps, it depends on the institution. I've had mail returned because of having a stamp on it. And a lot of places won't accept greeting cards that have layers - anything they can't look "under" without destroying it. What I don't understand is why they don't sell greeting cards in the commissary anymore. You'd think they'd want to make the profit! Zelda

Feds won't let you send much. One thing Zelda, I thought it crappy that they didn't have greeting cards anymore too. However, they just opened up another hustle because my husband sends these cards he pays an inmate to make and they are more special because they include his personal message and they make me cry too:blush:

All the feds must be different. I get tons of cards from my sweetie. His has lots of variety. Maybe the level makes a difference.. Lee's in a low.

When I send my husband cards, I only write on the right hand side inside the card, so the back of the front is blank. I figure he can contribute the "picture" side to the "hustle" and some other prisoner can make his sweetie happy. Z.

When did they stop selling cards?
The majority of the cards were Hallmark...and I was under the belief that Hallmark actually donated old card styles that were not put out to sell any longer.

It must vary by location, because my husband gets little cards in the commissary to send - they are maybe 3 inches by 2 inches, but my little one loves to get cards from Daddy.

You can send polaroid pictures in if you cut the top and bottom off and peel the negative off the picture.

My man just got transferred to Calipatria from Avenal, and is that right, they can't be sent pens or stamps?? It's certainly going to be different here I see.

My husband was at Sandstone and is now at Duluth. Sandstone sent back papers with stickers on them and construction paper cards the kids had made because they were glued together. It think that is all I have had sent back. My husband did just write and asked for some mailing labels with our address on them and his, because another inmate was able to receive them. I guess I will try and see if they get through to him.

When my man was at an FDC he used to send the best cards but now that he is at and FCI he rarely sends cards cause she said they only have them on Christmas, or he can get blank ones that aren't anything special like the ones he used to send so I guess some places have them and some don't. I never got a hallmark card only once when the Chaplin gave it to him. I miss the cards that's for sure.

I got a greeting card for Mother's Day from J. He's at USP Terre Haute so I guess they are still selling them in commissary

is ther ea web site that has a list of what you can and cant send

If you go to WWW.BOP.gov (http://www.BOP.gov) and do a search under policy for: Program Statement 5265.11, Correspondence (http://www.bop.gov/policy/progstat/5265_011.pdf) , this instruction covers all the rules regarding inmate mail.

Keep the Faith

Michael :thumbsup:

Recently, I aquired a pen pal in prison and not knowing the mail rules. I sat down and sent him a pair of my special thongs: Stating to him that I was sending him something familar from home. What a stir I caused. For weeks, that was the talk of the town. Finally, after about a month I got my blacks thongs back. It was time I learned the mail rules.. Kat

Are you talking about flip flops (shower thongs) - or something more intimate?? LOL! Z.

I want to make sure I understand this. Are you saying that in the woman's camps no hard cover books allowed???

In the women's camps hardcover books must be sent directly from the publisher or book stores such as Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, etc. Paperbacks can be sent by you to inmates via regular mail.

SusanT

Thank you for the information,there is so much I need to learn. Thank you for PTO