:hmm: I have a friend in the Hutchin Unit. His mom mailed him photos of his grandmothers funeral. She was hoping it would help him gain some closure in the grief process. The unit mailed them back to her, and never let him see them. Why is they can get nude photos and etc....but not one of a funeral?

Am I missing the harm in funeral photos?

Laura

That's a good question-that's wierd...

I am glad someone else wonders? I thouht maybe I was having a brain fart!

Laura

I DONT HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT EITHER.MAYBE SOMEONE DOES.

i dont't have an answer either. i did a search at the TX DOC site on mIla and got this reponse:

Inmate Mail Correspondence

Due to national concerns related to mail, incoming correspondence that is intended for offenders, which contains powder or any granular substance will not be delivered to the offender. Please do not place substances in or on correspondence that is mailed to an offender in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; the offender will not receive such mail.

Mail
The families and friends of offenders are encouraged to write often. Letters sent to offenders should include the offender’s name, TDCJ number, and unit/facility address on the envelope. All mail addressed to offenders must be received through authorized channels. Letters for different offenders should not be included in the same envelope.

There is no limit on the number of persons with whom an offender may write.

Mail is forwarded to offenders who transfer from one facility to another within TDCJ. Letters will be forwarded to offenders who are released from prison, if the offender provides a forwarding address at his last unit of assignment.

Offenders may not write to minors whose parents disapprove, with the exception of an offender’s own children or stepchildren. Unauthorized materials or contraband found in mail addressed to offenders will be rejected. Individuals who carry out serious violations of the correspondence rules may not be allowed to write to an offender.

Newspapers, magazines, and books may be mailed directly to offenders only by the publisher, publication supplier or bookstore; subject to review and rejection in accordance with the correspondence rules. Stationery (defined as paper, unstamped envelopes, carbon paper, but excluding paper or envelopes with names, addresses or letterhead) may be mailed to offenders only from legitimate vendors or suppliers of stationery. Items such as food, clothing, jewelry, and toiletries may not be mailed to offenders. Individuals may not mail packages to offenders.

perhaps there was some 'errant' substance they saw. or perhaps they thought thet there might have been too many picutres. or perhaps the guarrd that was on duty that day is just an a**. who know. you might want to try just one single phot and see if that goes thru.

or contact the facility it self / perhaps the chaplain? and see what can be done.

Good Luck to you!

Jerry

Jerry,

thanks for the response...... i went the tdcj site too and i found no answers there. i am going to a ask the warden. i just wanted to see if there was some sort of info that i was not aware of, before i ask him. i didn't want to look like idiot!:)

you try to be supportive and helpful to a inmate with a fence or walls between you and people making rules up ad they go. the problem is they loose site of the big picture. keep their moral up and maybe they will be more open to the some of the support tool, calsses and etc that are available to them. if your depressed and have no initiative why would you want to work or go to church or anything for that matter.

Laura

LAURA, I DONT UNDERSTAND EITHER! I HAVE MAILED MY SON PICTURES AND HE SAYS HE RECIEVES THEM. BUT THIS IS TEXAS, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT IS OK. SHERRON:fb:

Sherron,

i mail photos all the time too..... i think it really helps keep them in touch with the outside world. once i talk to the warden i will post his response. i will see him tonite at the tifa meeting.

Laura

SOMETIMES THERE IS A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF PICTURES YOU CAN SEND AND IF IT IS OVER THE LIMIT THEY WILL SEND THEM ALL BACK-COULD THIS HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM?

That's something to think about... the number of pictures that were sent. I have sent a friend of mine pics in the past, but not more than 3 or 4 at a time... so I dont' know if that'll be an issue or not.
Hope you find out something Laura!

Jodygirl

The only thing that I have to add is - were they poloroid pics? This type is not allowed anywhere - at least that is my understanding.

Teb,
I am not really sure about the polaroid pics. I actually just sent some to my husband and he got them. I know that at the unit he is at we have to cut the white bottom portion off the polariods. I guess it may depend on the unit. whatcha think?

Krisintex is correct. As long as the polaroids have the bottoms cut off, our lovedones can have them. I think calling the warden is the right way. Rules change from Unit to Unit; just like the laws change from state to state. Let us know the outcome. Pictures of the funeral was an excellant idea.

Ok I talked to the warden..... to be honest he was as baffled as we are. He took my name and number down and said he would call me after he investgated it. At 10 am this morning he called. They were returned because of the width of the envelope. If a envelope is more then a 1/4 thick it is considered a package and they can not accept packages from individuals. Warden Rupert is a very good warden , who is very committed to his job and familes/friends.

I did mention to him that I have sent thick packeges numerous times, and they had never been returned. He was going to pay a visit to the mail room to investagate the issue further. I will let you know what he finds out.

I am going to send the TDCJ web master a email requesting he update the website with the thickness requirements.I think that is a important fact that should be there in the family information.

Soooo stay tuned for more updates on this issue.:)

See Ya,

Laura

Laura, I am glad that the warden there is a good one and seems to care about what went on in your situation. I had heard about the thickness of packages sent in before but failed to think of that. I do agree that TDCJ should update the site because as you said it is an important fact.

i didn't see it mentioned. is there a limit on amount of photos sent at a time? if so they send them all back.

i can't believe that they sent the pictures back to you of his grandmoher funeral. my husband got some pictures of his brother furneral and they let's him have them, and also my friend got some from his sister funeral. they are both at different units. it got to be with the units cause they are run in different ways if you know what i mean. they shouldn't but they are especially the lamesa unit which is the nasty, rude, etc... i hope no one loves know their if so, try your dambness to get your love one out of their please i did i'm sooo happy

There is no limit on the number of photos. The limit is in the width of the enelope. It can't be more then a 1/4 inch thick. The photos were not rerturned to contents. They were returned because the envelope was over the width limit!

Happy Turkey Day Everybody!

Laura

I know this is like several weeks after the fact, but I was just curious if the pictures ever got thru? A lot of people were talking about packages, and I send my son the large manila type envelopes with poems, song lyrics, pics etc. and he's never had a problem. But hey this is Texas, they seem to make the laws up as they go!! I hope he finally has gotten them!! (ODIESMOM) =0)

Odiesmom,

yes the warden did get them to him. i too send tons of stuff to randy. i think i need to take stock in xerox paper. i print so much off if the internet and send it to him.:)

take care,

laura

i'm new at this tdc stuff....Youve got to be kidding, they actually allow a person to receive nude photos? Not that I intend to send Wade any but this just blows my mind...Funeral pictures - no; nude photos -yes...really is this right?

it is plum stupid. they can have nude photo's but no funeral? man, what a messed up state as Tx

yes darlene, they can, make no sense does it?

That is just too wild. What a Glorius State we live in....I'm beginning to get educated, Thanks, you are such a wonderful caring bunch of people. I thanks God every day that I stumbled on this site.....You are awesome....

lulu, Darlene it had nothing to do with the pictures themselves it was the thickness of the envelope. She found out from the Warden that if it is over 1/4 inch thick it is considered a package and packages aren't allowed. But she did say the warden got the pictures to him.
Yes Darlene TX does allow nude photos, some states do some don't.

softie

that is strange, i have sent, oh, never mind,,lol i need a nother cup of coffee, i sent packages back to the guys, but it was their legal work. sorry. :)

Laura:

I've sent Arthur Poloroids before and he's only told me once that he didn't get a certain picture. I sent him 13 at one time, some were regular pictures and three were poloroids, but he only received 12. Maybe that's the limit. I never received it back. The missing picture was of our new car. I sent another poloroid and this time he received it. Now, thinking about why those pictures of the funeral were sent back, could it be because of the nature of the pictures? Nude is one thing, a guy is going to "happy" to see that, but a funeral can make him upset, especially if he's really close to his grandmother and not able to be there for the funeral, or there to see her before she past away. I may be wrong, but it's just a thought. Jean/Arthur'sgirl

I send Skip a little bit of everything!! Nudes, letters, stuff off the internet, word search puzzles, cross words, and he gets PLAYBOY, which IS on the TDCJ approved list of magazines...
I really think we should all start writing our letters on toilet paper now....sounds like our loved ones could use all they can get...

kath