I recently got a new penpal who's on Death Row in LA State Penitentiary in Angola. He got my first card and letter, but the mailroom sent back another letter because there was perfume on it, which was forbidden! There was perfume on the first letter also, so I'm glad that it has seemed to slip through. I can't find the exact mailroom rules anywhere, not on the DOC website either. I do know that stamps and stickers are not allowed and that obviously perfume isn't allowed either! I have a lot of penpals in different states, but I've never heard from any of them that perfume isn't allowed.
Anyway I would like to know if any of you can send me the exact mailroom rules for death row in Angola, or knows where I can find them.

hi marion,
ive never seen a list of mailroom rules. ive sprayed perfume many times and never had a problem. my friend did the same thing and she wrote the fragrance in the letter and some of the ink was smudged, so they sent it back to her.
it seems to go like this ...
if you spray perfume, spray it in the air and then run the letter through! OR ... spray the envelop BEFORE you write the address on it.
and DONT MENTION that you have sprayed it.

like i said, there isnt a mail room list of what is allowed and what isnt. that would be TOO easy.

good luck hun, and let me know if you send another that gets through!!

Thanks for your answer, I got the letter back and the ink was not smudged. I never spray perfume on the letter, only the envelope, so I really don't know what was the problem. On the mailroom form that was closed in they said that perfume is forbidden!
My penpal there has no one who cares about him and hasn't had any mail in years! So I really don't want to take any risks anymore, it'll only make him wait so much longer to get mail again.

I guess you're right, if there were a list of the mailroom rules that would be too easy, now they can always say anything they like.

whats so sad/frustrating is that what gets through depends on who opens the mail that day.
i just cant see why a little smell good stuff isnt allowed!!

I'm glad that this information was posted I have a new Pen-Pal in Camp J and I have no ideal with regards to the mail rules however the ladies in the mailroom were very nice and helpful when I sent my first letter BTW I sprayed my with perfume but sofar so good:)

Any other information about Angola? I'm from Los Angeles Ca so I'm totally lost;)

Angola is horrible!
Camp J is WORST of all!
You can't send anything with perfume, lipstick, stickers, markers, crayons (they sent back a drawing my 6 year old had made for my BF's Birthday)!
Around the holidays it is easier for perfumed mail to get in unnoticed.
My BF is in Camp J and he is ALWAYS complaining about the smell and so I keep the
writing paper in a drawer with those little sachet packets (available at Target and Walmart) and that scents the paper, but the smell is not overbearing.
Take note, they also read the mail and they have also been known to black out certain things with black marker. I hope this helps.

Kori

Thank you for the information!!!!

Kold- WOW!! i read your post and i was just freaking out, because ive never had any of that stuff happen to me when i write, and ive been writing for 10 years!!!
i guess it really does go to prove that it ALL depends on who opens the mail that day.
what harm could a drawing with markers do? thats just pitiful!

I think it is because my BF is in camp J. Camp J is the "JAIL" where inmates are sent for write-ups and such. They are not treated like the other inmates in the less restricted camps. I guess they go above and beyond with making sure that Camp J inmates understand that they are in Camp J to be PUNISHED. It is sad and very cruel.
Be very fortunate that your loved one is not there, ask him about Camp J and I am sure that he has heard some rumors.

Kori

oh, i know aaallll about camp j!
i still dont see why they have to treat them like that, you know?

They just don't care and they feel that the inmates are not human beings, they are garbage to them. I know that they get sick of me and I really don't care. I call there once a week to check on my BF and when his grandmother passed away, the Social Worker had the audacity to tell me to write and let him know about his grandmother, because he did not want him to react violently. My BF is very big (6'6) and he has a very sweet demeanor, he just doesn't like to be pushed around and his mouth is why he is in camp J, he won't allow the CO's to talk to him like dog, which I doubt any of us would. Warden Cain came all the way to camp J to tell him about his Grandmother, so I appreciated that, but he thinks that his guards are always in the right and I told him point blank that they ain't Sh-T. I also called JCAHO on them about them being lax in taking him to the doctor. He has asthma and it took the 3 weeks to get his inhalers.
I also had to threaten to sue and had a friend that works for the ACLU call, because
they did not want to allow him to keep one of his inhalers in his cell. I have a POA and I use it to the fullest. I have no problem calling there and I don't stop, until my questions are answered. I just want him out of ANGOLA.

Kori

Thank you all for your advice, I guess I'll just have to be careful with the mail. I already know that I'm not allowed to use stickers or send stamps. But am I allowed to send envelopes or stationary?

kold- you go girl!
i wouldnt let them treat my baby like that either!!!
it takes alot of guts to deal with them ... i applaud you :)

Ladies be careful what kind of photos you send.My girlfriends man did time in one of the prison camps.She sent nude photos nothing crazy just some breast showing first time no problems.Second time he came from work and was called over.They told him after they showed him the photos rip or we hold your mail.They were calling him the big lover etc.Any how those photos must went the guard booth because she said from then all the guards would be smirking when she came to visit.Just thought you all might like the warning!

:angry: Hi,

amazon don taccept the zip code when I want to order books for my friend .

THey say its not valid? How can I sent him books???

Sura

:angry: Hi,

amazon don taccept the zip code when I want to order books for my friend .

THey say its not valid? How can I sent him books???

Sura

Maybe try using a different internet site other than amazon ... I have had trouble with them in the past and ended up just using a different site to purchase materials ...