Inmate Mail

Mail

Inmates may receive cards, letters and photographs in the mail. Stamped envelopes and other stationery items are available for purchase through inmate commissary. Inmates are allowed to receive only those publications sent directly from the publisher and prepaid by the inmate. Inmates are allowed to purchase only those materials which are accepted for distribution by the United States Post Office, except those which describe the making of any weapon, poison, explosive or destructive device, or any matter of a character tending to incite murder, arson, riot or any other form of violence, or which are considered to be pornographic.

There is no limit on the number of letters an inmate may mail each day. Each inmate must pay for his/her own postage and stationery. Inmates without funds will receive two (2) free stamped envelopes per week. Inmates are considered indigent if they have less than $2 on their inmate accounts on the day that commissary slips are passed out. Those inmates who fall into this category will be provided with two (2) stamped envelopes at this time along with their indigent package. Postage for legal mail for inmates with no funds will not be restricted. Mail to local courts or district attorney shall be sent via inter-office mail unless specifically requested otherwise.

The inmate address while at the Mariposa County Jail is:
Inmate’s Name
c/o Mariposa County Jail
Post Office Box 727
Mariposa, CA 95338-0727

Please be sure to provide a return address on the outside of the envelope so that it may be returned to you in the event that the letter is deemed to be un-deliverable to the inmate or the inmate is no longer in custody.

All incoming/outgoing mail will be inspected for contraband, however mail will not be read unless there is good cause to believe that the contents contain information relating to escape plans, criminal activities (in or out of jail), violation of facility rules, coded language or racially inflammatory information. Legal mail, mail from attorneys, the courts, the Sheriff or the media may only be opened in the presence of the inmate to whom it is addressed.

No Packages Will Be Accepted Without the Prior Approval of the Jail Lieutenant

It is the responsibility of the inmate to inform friends and family of mail policies and acceptable items. The following are considered contraband or unauthorized items and shall not be given to inmates. These items will be turned over to a Jail Supervisor for determination of disposition:

  1. Obscene photos, publications or writings, and mail containing information concerning where, how or from whom such matter may be obtained; any nude photographs of friends, relatives or acquaintances; any materials which depict illegal or explicit sexual acts either by illustration or photograph.
  2. Any matter of a character tending to incite murder, arson, riot, violent racism or any other form of violence
  3. Matter concerning gambling or lottery
  4. Any matter which threatens blackmail or extortion
  5. Any material which concerns the sending of contraband in or out of the facility
  6. Depicts, encourages or describes methods of escape from correctional facilities or contain drawings, blueprints or similar descriptions of correctional institutions
  7. Any information which would present a clear and present danger of violence and/or physical harm to person inside or outside of the facility
  8. Concerns plots or plans to disrupt the order of the facility and/or to breach the security of the facility
  9. Concerns plans for activities in violation of the law, or of rules and regulations or procedures of the facility
  10. Concerns coded messages which are not reasonably understood
  11. Depicts or describes procedures for the construction or use of weapons, ammunition, bombs or incendiary devices.
  12. Depicts or describes procedures for the brewing of alcoholic beverages or the manufacture of drugs

The following items are considered illegal contraband and shall be turned over to the Sheriff’s Department investigative unit and a crime report initiated:

  1. Letters containing any suspected narcotic
  2. Letters containing any suspected tobacco products
  3. Letters containing any object which may be considered a dangerous weapon, i.e. razor blade or other metal objects.

The following are considered unacceptable for delivery and shall be returned to sender. Contraband items will not be placed into the inmate’s property but shall be returned in the original letter.

  1. Letters containing stickers or postage stamps
  2. Letters or envelopes containing lipstick or perfume
  3. Letters which may have been contaminated by body fluids
  4. Letters containing personal checks, cash or money orders
  5. Mail containing any material which must be sent only by the publisher, i.e. magazines or books of any kind.
  6. Mail containing Polaroid photographs
  7. Mail containing any other unacceptable item but that does not pose a threat to the safety of the facility, i.e. locks of hair.

We do not accept change of address requests to the jail mailing address. If an inmate wishes to have mail forwarded, it must be done through an outside party.