RALEIGH—To make prisons safer and more secure, the North Carolina prison system is changing the way offenders receive mail.
, An official website of the State of North Carolina, Prison System Upgrades Offender Mail Security. The offender submits a facility Request for Assistance Form requesting the religious correspondence course, sacred text or Bible study to the facility chaplain, religious coordinator or designated staff. Downloading the app is free, but fees are charged (starting at 49 cents) to send content. Copyright 2023 Corrections1. These are hazardous to breathe or even to touch. Offenders receive copies of mail, not the original paper. All general incoming correspondence needs to be sent to the DOCs third-party mail vendor Smart Communications. 2 0 obj Smart Communications is unable to process a mailing that does not have the inmates name and number on it. All rights reserved. Otherwise, the photo book will be destroyed. I ordered a book for an inmate and had it shipped to the SPC; however, the inmate has not received the book yet. "Reducing the volume of drugs and other contraband entering our prisons will help us protect our staff, the offenders in our custody and the general public. Mail - Department of Corrections Numerous jails nationwide have done so as well through several digital-mail delivery businesses. Yes. What should I do? TextBehind states they will process these within one business day. TextBehind connects you with every inmate across America using text messages with photos, custom greeting cards and electronic money orders. What happens if I send a photo book with more than 25 photos? Any other forms of general incoming correspondence, like letters, pictures, greeting cards, children's drawings etc., that are included with an official document sent to Smart Communications will be forwarded along with the official document to Central office and then to the coordinating SCI's Business office. This new system is expected to reduce mail delivery times to next-day delivery, once received by TextBehind. Inmate Mail | Collin County Sheriff's Office | McKinney, TX All publications need to be sent to the DOCs Security Processing Center. Inmate Name and Opus Number All rights reserved. The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) supports and embraces family, friends, and loved ones of those who have been incarcerated to maintain contact. By that time I have completely forgotten what I even sent lol. Keystone State. New Mail Scan System for Inmates in North Carolina <> % Offenders will receive mailed contents including cards, photos and artwork but not on the original paper. This means that all publications which are successfully delivered to the SPC and are addressed correctly will reach the inmate within 2-3 weeks of the date it is delivered to the SPC. Besides hiding contraband in prison mail, smugglers have learned to make the mail itself into a drug. Corrections1 is revolutionizing the way in which the corrections community finds relevant news, Such mailings must be clearly marked as legal mail and will be inspected by Prisons mail handlers at the facility. DACwants its prisons to be as safe and secure as possible for staff and offenders. The original documents are then destroyed. If the inmate does not wish to appeal they can forward a cash slip with an addressed envelope to the mailroom within 15 working days from the denial to have the publication mailed out of the facility to a friend or family member. If the inmate does not wish to appeal they can forward a cash slip with an addressed envelope to the mailroom within 15 working days from the denial to have the publication mailed out of the facility. Letter with All offender mail (paper and electronic) is addressed and delivered to TextBehind. RALEIGH, N.C. State prisons will transition next month to a new mail system in a bid to reduce contraband smuggling. Those wishing to send offenders letters, greeting cards and uploaded photos and artwork can do so using the app. Further Information: Read Release Notes. Smart Communications maintains electronic copies for 45 days. Starting on October 18th, 2021, any mail sent to someone in a North Carolina prison will be scanned and reprinted before being delivered*. The Smart Communications websiteis great resource of information regarding their services. Yes. Enter https://www.corrections1.com/ and click OK. General incoming correspondence includes but is not limited to letters, greeting cards, pictures, children's drawings, etc. 6. An item glued, taped, or otherwise attached; An aftermarket alterations, such as paint, crayon, marker, ink, glitter, cloth, or string; A label or sticker (including address labels) except for a postage that is to be removed; A biohazard, illicit substance, scent, or lipstick; Any material of a sexually explicit nature; Any material which suggests, represents, references, depicts, or incites acts of: A message that appears to be written in code; Actual or described plans or implements that may be used to escape; Actual or described construction or use of weapons or other devices to be used to inflict illness or injury; Information for making illegal substances such as alcohol or drugs; Information about theory, design, or manufacturing of correctional facility security systems, communication systems, or security equipment; Instructions on how to violate correctional facility rules or encourage a breach of security; Materials that advocate for or provide instruction in the formation of inmate unions. 901 greenmount avenue baltimore, maryland 21202. cmcf. As soon as we plug a hole in one area, offenders find a workaround. Only copies of these items will be acceptable. All publications need to be sent to the DOCs Security Processing Center. This new system will be faster and safer.. 2. Walk-in sites accept cash only. Questions about the DOCs mail procedures can be emailed to My husband is hours away from me and our kids, but this app keep us well connected. If it was sent via the companys app, TextBehind can process it within one business day. Upon arriving at the facility mailroom the mail will be denied and confiscated. Approved requests will be internally processed by the chaplain, religious coordinator or designated staff within two weeks of receipt. Enjoy an even lower cost per credit than ever before. Any hard-cover photo books will be denied by the facility mailroom. The new system is expected to reduce mail delivery times to next-day delivery, once received by the company. Center. Thanks for this amazing app I give it a 5 star !! Senders of mail who register withSmart Communicationscan receive alerts when mail arrives at Smart Communication and when it is delivered to or rejected by the DOC. It should look like this: endobj Customize the letter and submit. What happens to my photographs when they arrive at Smart Communications? Besides hiding contraband in prison mail, smugglers have learned to make the mail itself into a drug. Please emailRA-CRMailProcedures@pa.govfor more information about the DOC's procedures with Original Transactional Documentation. Years in Business: 8. Business Started: 7/25/2014. Once a photo book clears the Security Processing Center it is shipped to the State Correctional mailroom where the inmate is located. Lexipol. The offender is informed of course approval/denial in writing within two weeks. Upload it and text out a quick note to let them know they are on your mind. What type of paper will photos be printed on? text behind inmate maildam health swindon opening times. All general incoming correspondence sent to an inmate must contain a The prison mailroom prints approved pages and delivers them to the offender. Alternatively, all legal mail, case files, supporting documents and court documents must be sent to the prison facility directly by an attorney or legal organization. For a list of facilities and physical addresses, click here. Starting Oct. 18, mail to inmates in a state prison must be sent directly to TextBehind. The result is a safer and more secure prison environment, reducing drug use and risk of overdose. P.O. Prison systems across the country have transitioned to digital mail over the past few years, including West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Wyoming, Colorado and Arkansas. DPSCS permits and encourages an inmate to correspond with family, friends, and loved ones with minimum interference and consistent with the legitimate security needs of the facility. All general incoming correspondence included with a photo copy of an official document sent to Smart Communications will also be scanned into the electronic system. Yes. Inmate's Full Name, Inmate SO Number. All scanned mail is uploaded to a database that is organized/sorted by inmate. View our Terms of Service PO Box 33028. LearnMore. Will the general incoming correspondence mail procedures delay the parole process? They failed to pass on two letters I mailed to prison inmates. People wishing to send offenders letters, greeting cards and uploaded photos and artwork can do so using the app. At the facility, each photo will be inspected to ensure the photos comply with DOC policy specifically, photographs containing obscenity, explicit sexual material or nudity, as outlined in Section 2 of theDC-ADM 803, Inmate Mail and Incoming Publications Procedures Manualare prohibited. Prison System Upgrades Offender Mail Security | NC DPS Acceptable forms of photo ID include a driver's license . So far so good! TextBehind was created to provide an easier, more affordable method of communication MADISON , Wis. (WEAU) - The Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) is taking action after it said theres an increase an increase in drugs coming into prisons through mail. 1. photos & videos, TextCard Since the company earns its revenue through app fees, DPS and North Carolina will pay nothing for the servicenot even for copies. We anticipate less drug use, risk of overdose and violence by offenders for control of the drug trade. When your photo copy is mailed directly to the institution the photo copy of the official document will be transferred to the business office by the SCI mailroom staff and all other correspondence included in the mailing will be destroyed. Here's how TextBehind works: 1. The DOC recommends using the following address formatfor photos that are ordered from an outside vendor: Inmate Name, Inmate NumberPO Box 33028St Petersburg, Florida 33733. Yes, all photo copies of official documents are also held in the business office. It has gained around 10000 installs so far, with an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 in the play store. How do I obtain a DOC Issued Attorney Control Number? In addition to processing mail sent through the U.S. text behind inmate mail - takasugi-k.com DOC security staff will conduct thorough security screenings of all incoming publications. A separate secondary authentication number will be emailed to each Attorney Control Number holder each week. Mailroom staff can accidentally be exposed to the drugs by touching the paper or breathing the fumes. Marylands Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) permits and encourages inmates to receive mail, reading materials, and publications consistent with the United States Constitution, Maryland State and Federal laws and regulations, and Maryland DPSCS policies and procedures. acronym facility name facility mailing address; bccc. No, they just need to fit within the confines of the photo book and not exceed 25 pages in the book and a size not to exceed 8x11 inches. 7. "Contraband makes a prison unsafe in so many ways," Ishee said. The Security Processing Center processes the following materials: Use the SCI mailing address found on the SCI's webpage, Mail which is addressedto DOC staff members, Mail which contains cash, personal checks or money orders, Mail which is bound in the center or is in a format which prevents scanning, Mail that has been damaged by the United States Postal Services, The return address listed on the envelope. Otherwise, the photobook will be destroyed. General Incoming Correspondence, TextBehind Inmate Texting App - Apps on Google Play TextBehind also offers an app for people who are comfortable submitting letters by smartphone or computer and uploading photos to send. Reentry Unit. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Inmates will continue to write to the Board of Pardons and pay the fee for an Application for Commutation. And one from the North Carolina website: "For those who prefer writing on paper, the most obvious change to the process involves a new mailing address. Will pregnant inmates still be allowed to bring pictures back from the hospital of their new baby? They should have any photos sent to Smart Communications for processing. During the same period, the men's prisons recorded 568 cases of drugs or paraphernalia caught by mail room staff. If the inmate does not wish to appeal they can forward a cash slip with an addressed envelope to the mailroom within 15 working days from the denial to have the publication mailed out of the facility to friend or family member. Otherwise, the photo book will be destroyed. You may mail a photo copy of a business document to the institution address starting January 31st or to Smart Communications. text behind inmate mail What happens if my photo book is denied because of content? A return name and address must appear on the envelope. Cooper, however, said the drug problem in Wisconsins prisons has made these facilities too dangerous. DOC: Wisconsin inmates will get copies of their mail going forward Super cheers. If more than 25 photos are contained within one mailing, they will be confiscated. 3312 Paper Mill Rd, STE 200, Phoenix, MD 21131-1473. INMATE MAIL SERVICES - Maryland