The envelope art has stopped, at least from texas. I miss it. I was thinking of trying my hand at doing my own envelope art to send in, but does anyone know if it will be allowed?
Dee

I miss it too! One of my pals would always draw for me.

I miss it too and wanted to do my own on the envelope I sent to him, but I didn't for fear the letter would be rejected, so I am following their crummy rules. I truly miss it, it was the first thing I would see in PO Box before his name or address.

i would not risk it at all. they are stopping all of that. i miss the letters my husband would send with the envelope art. i still have the ones he has drawn and colored to have for keep sakes.

Are you guys kidding???? What could possibly be the harm in drawing on an envelope???? That is just ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yes, I was wondering what was wrong that they could stop it, too. I thought at first maybe they'd be saying it could contain gang code or something, but they can still send out art on other stuff, so that can't be it. Maybe because it's a form of barter? If they don't want inmates bartering, they need to let them work and earn decent money.

You may be right on the bartering thing. Still that wouldnt stop it. My man does peoples envelopes but also portraits, cards, etc that would be on the inside of the envelopes anyway!

What a ridiculous rule! Another way to yank the inmates' chains because they can. Sad!

No Dee no art on envelopes coming or going.

Their reasoning behind it has nothing to do with gangs or bartering. They say it is because it is a problem for the US Postal Service and is againist Postal policy to have the envelopes drawn all over and that they have to go by PO rules.

It is BS, they did it because they can, it isn't againist PO rules, as long as the machine can read the address.

You also use to be able to post a ton of stickers on the envelopes, but you can't do that anymore either.

softie

My friend sent me a letter from Texas, and put "airmail" on it, and they returned it to him cause he had put something that was not supposed to be on the envelope. I mean, that is so stupid, its an overseas letter.
As for doing artwork on the envelope, ladies have had mail returned, because they have written the word "photos" on the envelope. Its so stupid. (this is Texas I am talking about).
I have a friend in Oklahoma that sends me mail, and has really nice artwork all over it. I have to admit, its so nice to recieve mail so colourful and artistic. Every state has its own laws with mail, but Texas mail has gotten ridiculous.

I received a letter from a pal in mine in Ill. and he said it was stopped there.
Now I can't understand why we can't send one in with art on it.
I am mad about this, hope everyone has signed the Mail restriction petition.(under petion forum)
I might write a letter to the post office (The head of it) and ask them about this!!
:-)
Dee

I still draw little pictures and messages on the inside of the envelope. But sure will miss my pretty envelopes.

if this was a post office policy then why is it all of sudden a problem? inmates have been doing this for years and years. and what about the envelopes you can buy that have decorations on it? are they banned to? plus it is the united states post office not texas office. if they banned it here for that reason then it should be banned the same in all states... my husband informed me it was because of bartering. some inmates trade and so forth to get the inmates that can draw to do something on the envelope. he says they are trying to stop the trading and selling that is happenig in prison. to me they need to get there stuff straight. they cant send it on envelopes but they can draw it on paper and put it in envelopes. just doesnt make sense to me. on another note. this started june 1st of this year. another "new" rule is that they are supposed to give the inmates there mail the same day it is received ok if this is the case why the heck does it take a week to get a letter to someone who is only a 120miles away? it all doesnt make sense. it sounds like to me that tdcj needs to abide by there own rules or come up with some rules they can live up to!
ok i am off my soap box!

No I still use the stationary envelopes with pretty designs on them and they still make it thru. They better not make a policy for that cuz I love to use beautiful paper to given them something to stare at!!! They better not!!!

I think Texas also stopped the handkerchief art, didn't they? It's just Texas for you. They do it because they can and because it hurts someone. That's the whole deal. I do think the barter thing has a lot to do with it. If they can, they'll soon stop the art work sent out inside envelopes, too.

Matchstick art, envelope art, handkerchief art------all of these are dying arts in prisons. Other prisons have stopped some of it, too. But I'm sad to see these things go because they're unique to prisons and prisoners and I appreciated them so much.

My TX penpal informed me that the legislature made the rule about no envelope art. I didn't know it applied to IL also? I use rubber stamps to decorate my envelopes, but not "all over". no problem so far.
Oh, John in Tx also told me, and this proves your theory toi ama, that they will not allow handmade envelopes on cards, they can only use business envelopes.

I just found out about Il. He said it was inmates were sending gang related messages out.

Dee

I live in Illinois and jacob is serving in Illinois also. The letter that I got yesterday was drawn on.....THats why I was so confused reading about this. Hmmm...I'll have to ask Jacob.....

The reason the rules change with each prison in Texas, is because when the DOC made the new rules they left it up to each Warden what they wanted to enforce.
So now it has become a guessing came on who, what , where and when............:D

softie

I was refering to the prison in Galesburg Ill.
I just received the letter 2 days ago.
Dee

We just received a beautiful handkerchief that my husband sent to our daughter - so I don't know about that part of it. However, I always put stickers and would leave a kiss with my lipstick on the envelopes and my husband told me that as much as he loved to receive it that it would no longer be allowed, along with perfume scented letters. With Texas, why ask why??!!

I've heard about those handkerchiefs but have never seen one.
What was on it?
Dee

The handkerchiefs have art on them Dee, they draw on them like art board, then are beautiful. I will take a picture of one this weekend and post it so you can see.

softie

thanks, I would love to see one!
Dee

I received a beautiful handkerchief last Xmas. He embroidered a nativity scene, then filled in the shapes with colored pencils. Amazing what they can do with few resources.

My son was allowed to draw on all his envelopes from LCI, Ohio but now that he is in Camp Reams, boot camp, they do not consider drawing productive! JZ

Oh dear.. i always put small stickers on my envelopes, or draw a little person saying hello.. i just sent off 5 letters this week to Texas.. will they get rejected?

When does this whole art thing come into effect..

That is strange that the post office is coming up with these rules cause my mom works for Canada post and she said i could mail an envelope that i had glued magazine pictures on (and I mean ALL over).. he got it.. at the beginning of june.. But im not gonna take my chances..

No more perfume??:blah:

The new rules started on the 1st June, but I believe that anything that was sent before then still got in.
I didnt know it was no more perfume, I didnt see that in the rules, but I guess they would make any excuse to reject a letter :(

Kyla I also did not know anything about perfume. I sent one to my husband. Actually I just stored some envelopes in a perfume box & they picked up the scent. And the other day he tried to send me a letter with my name and I :heart: U after my name. It was not allowed to go out. They said it was contraband. He had to provide a new envelope and sign the slip he was sent for the "contraband". You know I wish they would worry more about running the prison than looking for even more ridiculous ways to mess with the inmates!!!!!! :mad: :angry:

I find it hard to believe it's a P. O. policy just because so much mail has stuff on the outside besides just the addresses - i.e "attention so and so" or "personal and confidential", etc. And a lot of people mail things with stickers, etc. on them (I don't mean to prisons), but those don't get rejected. And lots of people write the 'ol S.W.A.K., etc. I agree, that policy is ridiculous. (Wouldn't want anyone having any fun or enjoying themselves now, would they?) Oh and a lot of cards you buy these days have decorative envelopes with stuff all over them!

Ok, I just got off the Texas web site, and what it seems to me is that they changed the rules because some inmates were trying to send out mail, and have it not clear where it was comming from (the prison). So, I guess because this happend they decided to stop it all together. As far as the perfume, well I didn't see anything about that, and if they are doing this for the reasons they are saying they are then perfume does not add confusion to where the letter came from. I did however see where they were talking about not sending any powdery substances in the envelops (which I am sure we all know why that is).

here is where they talk about the envelope art.

http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/announcements/announcement-inmate-corresp.htm

I havn't heard nothing about perfume, I mean that would really be taking it to far. What next, only blue ink and no letters bigger than such and such, only certain stamps placed a certain way, how about no more mail at all.
Dee

My fiance is in Nevada and I have to say, the art on his envelopes is absolutely beautiful. I would REALLY miss it! I open the mailbox and see it first thing - I love it. I hope they don't "go the way" of Texas!

Ok well i checked out the TDCJ site and this is what it says:

1) Offenders may not draw pictures or write messages on the outside of their envelopes.
2) Mailroom staff shall refuse to mail any item they reasonably believe will be deemed unmailable by the United States Postal Service. (which unless you work for the postoffice how would you know)..

So there it goes.. it says OFFENDER.. nothing about mail being received.. therefore they cannot refuse to deliver to an inmate our mail that has writing on the envelope because it says nothing about the mail coming in, only that the OFFENDER is not allowed to send out such mail..


Perfume is still allowed.. and my penpal still puts in cologne samples from magazines..:o

I am a letter carrier for the USPS and the post office has nothing to do with whatever is going on with the envelope art...jeez, it that was the case the addresses would have to be typed...you cant believe soe of the writing skills!!! I am sure its DOC just tryin to make people miserable...

There are some prisons who restrict incoming mail as to ink and paper. I've a referral I can't mail to yet cuz 3 things have been returned so far. Figured out why the 1st 2 things were returned (see below) but can't for the life of me figure out why the 3rd letter was sent back.
* white lined paper in letter/legal size only
* blue or black ink only... no gel, glitter, sharpie inks

This wasn't in Texas btw. I had to BUY a white tablet because I didn't own any white lined paper. :) Am I in school again and don't know it? *confused look*

Here is something that I found interesting.. There is envelope art that is being sold over the internet.. some of the envelopes I have been able to find are selling for $10.00 and more. So maybe that is another reason they are not letting them do it anymore. Because we all know that they would not want an inmate to make a profit while in prison. Just a thought.

some of the envelopes I have been able to find are selling for $10.00 and more.

I don't think it's the same, buying one as it is receiving one that someone made especially for you.
Dee

Dee I think you are correct, that it is more special to receive one than to buy one. But in a way it is nice to know that there is a future for the artists that create the envelopes and such.

That is just plum foolish that you can't get envelope art! I used to get it from AZ, I have one of the drawings Tattoo'd on my Leg. My husband and I send Stickers back and forth on our envelopes here in Ohio.
Tracy :cuffs: :cuffs:
www.Johnspirko.com

that really su*ks. i love the art that my baby draws on my envelops. i cant imagine the harm done in a little art. i guess that they figure that thell take away every little thing while ever your locked up. im in texas but my baby's in hobbs, nm. i suppose hes still allowed to draw for me. hes only been there a few weeks though. we'll see.:confused:

The handkerchief art is still allowed but I so miss the envelope art. That was my husband's way of sending me flowers. Who knows with TDC the reasons. We all enjoyed it to much is the main reason.

Hankerchief art is only allowed if some type of art class is taken. if they get caught defacing a hankerchief it can be taken as contraband.

I just recently got a letter from Matthew, and he drew a very nice picture on the outside of the envelope, which he also added color :) So I dont know if the same rules apply to California prisons. What could possibly be the harm in inmates drawing on the envelopes??? What a bunch of jerks, what will they think of next???