Back in February, a shipment of books (5 Star Trek TNG novels) I sent to my son at Polk Youth Institution in NC (via Barnes & Noble) never made it to him. USPS tracking info said it had been delivered, but my son never received it. I called the mailroom at PYI and got the usual condescending attitude, excuses about how many inmates they have there, and assurances that the package had never shown up. I contacted the USPS and they told me I needed to file PS Form 1510, Mail Loss/Rifling Report, which I did. It was a bit cumbersome, since much of the information required (such as where mailed from, etc.) must come from the originating party. I filled it in the best I could. I also contacted Barnes & Noble. They issued me a credit, re-shipped the books, and he got the second shipment. My son reads a lot, and he received all his books for a while. Then last month, I sent another shipment (4 books, all Star Trek TNG novels) via Booksamillion. Again, USPS tracking showed they had been delivered, yet he never saw them. I contacted Booksamillion, and like B&N, they issued me a credit and re-shipped the books. By now though, I was getting quite annoyed. I decided to write the DOC in NC. What follows is the unaltered communication thus far:

To whom it may concern:

I'm having some problems with getting packages through to my son, who is an inmate at Polk Youth Institution. I am in Florida.

In February of this year, I sent an order of five paperback books through Barnes & Noble and the USPS tracking information showed it had been delivered in Butner at 3:34 PM on February 22nd. (You can see this for yourself at by following this link http://www.usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm?from=home&page=0035trackandconfirm and entering this tracking number: 420275099102025315586066339374

My son never received the package, and inquiries to the mailroom at Polk yielded no answers. I contacted the bookstore and they were nice enough to issue me a new shipment at no extra charge, which he did receive. I did, however, file "PS Form 1510, Mail Loss/Rifling Report" with the postal service on the first shipment.

In June, I sent a shipment of four paperback books through Booksamillion, and again, the tracking number ( 01801689704626171087 ) shows the package was delivered at 7:56 AM on June 30th, but as of the evening of July 6th, the books had never made it to my son. I didn't even bother wasting another long-distance call to the mailroom. Booksamillion has now also sent another order at no cost to me. Hopefully, my son will receive it. I wonder how long these companies will continue to be so accommodating. That's now a total of more than FIFTY DOLLARS worth of books that have mysteriously disappeared.

Meanwhile, it means that my son is sits for weeks waiting for his books, and since we can only communicate through letters and bi-weekly phone calls, it's an enormous inconvenience to have to keep checking up on packages that the US postal service says were delivered. I realize there is a large inmate population at Polk, but nevertheless, how can a package simply "vanish"? I can think of no acceptable excuse. Inmates have had everything else taken from them. They certainly should receive mail sent from their families.

If someone could check into this, it would be much appreciated. If it has happened twice to us, I'm sure there are other families with the same problem.

Sincerely,
xxxxxxxxxx

`````````````````

From: "George Currie" <CGE03@doc.state.nc.us>
Cc: "DOC INFO" <info@doc.state.nc.us>,
"Young Mitchell" <mwy01@doc.state.nc.us>,
"Jesse Swartz" <sjl33@doc.state.nc.us>
Subject: PACKAGE DELIVERIES AT POLK YI




I HAVE RESEARCHED YOUR EMAIL OF July 14 WITH THE FOLLOWING RESULTS:


1. xxxxxxxx RECEIVED 5 PB BOOKS ON MARCH 30, 2004, FROM BARNES AND NOBLES, 4 PB ON JULY 14 AND 2 ON July 15 FROM BOOKS A MILLION.


2. THESE ARE THE ONLY RECORDS WE HAVE OF HIM RECEIVING PB BOOKS THIS YEAR.


3. WE CHECKED WITH BUTNER POST OFFICE ON BOTH TRACKING NUMBERS. THEY CAN ONLY VERIFY THAT THE BOOKS CAME TO THE BUTNER POST OFFICE. THEY HAVE NO RECORD TO VERIFY THAT THE BOOKS WERE PUT IN THE POLK MAIL OR SENT TO SOME OTHER INSTITUTION'S MAIL. WE HAVE NO RECORD OF RECEIVING THESE BOOKS. WE CAN NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT WE DID NOT RECEIVE.


4. I CAN SEE HOW YOU WOULD BLAME US BASED ON THE MIS-INTERPRETATION FROM THE BUTNER POST OFFICE. THEY ONLY VERIFIED TO YOU THAT THE BOOKS WERE RECEIVED BY THEM, NOT POLK Y.I.


5. THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT DOES NOT HAPPEN THAT OFTEN. WE HAVE A VERY GOOD SYSTEM FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, ESPECIALLY FOR PACKAGES. WE TRACK EVERY PACKAGE THAT IS DELIVERED TO THE POLK MAIL. WE CAN NOT ACCOUNT FOR ANYTHING THAT IS NOT DELIVERED TO US.


6. FEEL FREE TO ADVISE IF I CAN PROVIDE ASSISTANCE.
THANKS FOR YOUR INQUIRY AND CONCERN.


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"E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties by an authorized state official."
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Mr Currie,

I appreciate the information, and your taking the time to write to me. Obviously, I've been quite frustrated in trying to solve the issue of the lost packages, since I have limited communication with my son. Since I'm shipping these books third-party, this adds to the frustration, of course, since it makes it difficult for me to obtain information from the USPS. In the past week, I have done some inquiries regarding USPS parcel service, and their reliability seems to leave much to be desired. If these packages are going missing at the post office, it's probably a matter for the Postal Inspector.

Again, thank you for your response.

Best regards,
xxxxxxxxxxx

I don't have much to add other than from those people that I've known/met over the years who have worked, or still work the the NC DOC; the mailrooms within the DOC tend to have a 'problem' with ""lost or misdirected"" mail/packages. Take that to mean what you will.

Sorry for your headaches/frustrations.

Keep the faith

Greyghost

I have had something disappear out of a package I sent only to be told he recieved the package but said $40 item wasn't in it (I had the reciepts which I provided and It was inside when I sealed it and shipped it) Trying to get an answer or a refund was a huge hassle and I was basically told by the prison he was in at the time that I didn't include said item in the box as the officer who opened it said he didnt see said item so it was my word against his.Eventually I just gave up as I didn't want any trouble to come to him over my pushing the issue

I can relate to both of you,Things being taken, My son was in Mcf which he had been transfered there from the farm.... Just for court so after court he was suppose to be transported back but wasn't til like a week later... I went to the court room told them he requested to the judge to be sent back (LOL Judge was right there)anyways after that I went and put money on his books $40.00 (thinking it would save a stamp and money order the wait for my son to get it, he was sent back the next day They sent the cash with with my son The CO told my son to give him the money when they got to the prison he would see to it ....It would be place on his books my son asked for a reciept and The CO said you will get one in the mail as soon as I get in ur books. MY son knew better but what was my son suppose to do... he said it over and over reciept but The CO demanded my son to move on. Here it is hard for me to send him the money being in the bind I am in.. $40.00 is alot of Money for us right now. Anyways if you guys now how to go about trying to see if it was added to his books which my son did Monday but of course wasn't there .Who can I call to get this investagated. Is there something My son can file or what?
Thank you for your time.

Update...

I heard from Brian, and he received the re-shipment of the books. Interestingly enough, he also received 2 of the books from the original shipment at the same time. (He donated the duplicates to the library.) This tells me that package arrived, either partial or intact. There's something going on. If it's not fishy at Polk, someone is stealing at the post office. Either way, as I said in my reply to Mr. Currie, maybe it's time to bring in the Postal Inspector. There are LAWS, aren't there? :)

California Sunshine:

It's always "your word against theirs". They work for DOC, you are associated with an inmate. They assume they have the high road. It's pretty disgusting to me, and one thing I've never been able to tolerate is getting ripped off. Makes my blood boil.

Oneluv4Son:

I can only suggest that you do what I did... contact the Indiana dept of corrections. I found an e-mail address for you. Not sure if we're allowed to post addresses here, so go to this link http://www.ai.org/indcorrection/ and click on "Contact Us".

I wish you the very best of luck, hon.

I would follow up with the post office as well.. send them a copy of the communications from the prison - make them aware that the prison is passing the buck back to them!

I would follow up with the post office as well.. send them a copy of the communications from the prison - make them aware that the prison is passing the buck back to them!

Excellent idea. I just visited the USPS website again and could find no e-mail contact info for the postal inspector. I submitted an inquiry asking for an e-mail address and I told them why I wanted it. So far, they've been very good about sending personal and helpful answers. I will keep you all posted.

Not sure if this will help at all. I just had some p/b books sent to my man from barnes and noble. As I live in australia I sought the help of a friend in the states to organise for me. This was a trial run to see if all ran smooth. Whilst my man is still only in county I imagine the process the same. We continually tracked the package on UPS site and printed out the details of date and time signed for at the jail and also the signing officers signature. From what my friend said u have to join in order to get that final piece of info but I think well worth it to have the backup. Having all this info we felt a better chance of proving if it not delivered to my man. Still waiting to hear if he got them ok.
Glad to hear your son finally got his packages but there is nothing more annoying when some go missing. Between ph calls and all we send our loved ones last thing we can afford is theft n really there is no other word for it.

Thank you brian's Mom... I am going to send an email right away I am just affraid for my son. We will see what happens. Take care and good luck!Oneluv4Son:

I can only suggest that you do what I did... contact the Indiana dept of corrections. I found an e-mail address for you. Not sure if we're allowed to post addresses here, so go to this link http://www.ai.org/indcorrection/ and click on "Contact Us".

I wish you the very best of luck, hon.

I also have the same problem with the prison system. I have been in constant contact with the mailroom. I actually talk to the woman who oversees the mail for the level which he resides at. I sent a package to my husband and it was lost. I have filed a federal complaint and I also just wanted to share with anyone else who may have to go through this (hopefully not!!) that all you have to do is file a lost letter/package form and then they have 4 weeks to send some type of resilution and if they still continue to just blow you off or blame it elsewhere, all you have to do is contact you GOVERNORS office and file a complaint with them and BELIEVE me they WILL get into some serious trouble if it is not resolved. I know this info because I am going through this currently and I also have a neighbor who works for the USPS!! (Post office)

I think the guards are taking the items and selling them to the inmates. Its known to happen. I hear about it all the time

Thank you all for your responses. While it may not be a problem for everyone, it could become so, if people take a lackadaisical attitude. There have been a couple more exchanges between me and Mr. Currie. For clarity's sake, I'll post them now:

~~~~~~~~
From Brian's Mom:

Mr Currie,

I just wanted to inform you that since I heard from you, Brian received the re-shipment of books. Interestingly, at the same time, he also received two books from the original shipment (in other words, he received duplicates of two of the books) which he "donated" to the library.

This tells me that either the package did indeed arrive at Polk, or at least two of the books from that package somehow arrived there.

I just thought I'd let you know.


Sincerely,

<Brian's Mom>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To: <Brian's Mom>
Subject: Re: PACKAGE DELIVERIES AT POLK YI




thank you, i am glad things worked out. g

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From Brian's Mom:

Things didn't "work out", Mr. Currie. I'm more confused than ever as to how 2 books of a 4-book shipment happened to make it to my son. weeks after it was received at the Butner post office. I'm not saying that the problem must be with the Polk YI mailroom, but there is a problem somewhere between when the package is received at the Butner post office and its delivery to my son. If the Butner post office is indeed the problem, that should be
investigated by authorities. If the problem is at the Polk mailroom, that should be investigated, as well. As I said in my earlier e-mail, it's probably a matter that the US Postal Inspector should be invited into. I've been in contact with the US Postal Service about the situation and have received phone numbers and contact persons that I should inform in the event of any future package delivery problems.

Thank you again, Mr. Currie, for continuing to respond to my inquiries. Your help is needed and very much appreciated.


Best regards,


<Brian's Mom>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: "George Currie" <CGE03@doc.state.nc.us>
To: <Brian's Mom>
Cc: "DOC INFO" <info@doc.state.nc.us>,
"Young Mitchell" <mwy01@doc.state.nc.us>,
"Jesse Swartz" <sjl33@doc.state.nc.us>
Subject: Re: PACKAGE DELIVERIES AT POLK YI


thanks for the additional info. you have made some good suggestions. hopefully they will help. thanks for your research. we look forward in assisting anyway we can to make this process better.....gec

this makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up! they're ripping in the mailroom ... from what i gather they think this way ... "why should xxxx get this cool book, he don't deserve it ...". it infuriates me to no end. they need to be checking their own employees' pockets @ end of shift!

Brian's Mom-

Don't worry---I'm sure the other 2 books will show up too, in good time. Just as soon as the person in the mailroom is done reading them. :rolleyes:

Good luck on dealing with them!