Author Topic: Restrictions in snail mail?  (Read 714 times)

Offline Koneko

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Restrictions in snail mail?
« on: May 01, 2014, 01:26:08 am »
Just wondering if there are any restrictions in the number of pages you can send or numbers of photos? Just picked up a pal in Texas and this is good to know :)

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Offline sunrayswench

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Re: Restrictions in snail mail?
« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2014, 11:39:08 am »
Despite some of the other restrictions within TDCJ, they are fairly relaxed about traditional mail.

There are no restrictions on the number of pages, the number of photos, or the number of other inserts such as web-site articles, newspaper cutting etc that you can send in a single envelope.

Some units don't permit stickers on envelopes but a lot do - if you are unsure either call the mailroom and ask, or if that is not practical, try sending a note in a small envelope with a sticker on and see if it goes through or not.

Some units deny anything that looks bulky, calling it a "package".

Some units do restrict the size of paper or card that you can send. For example, Coffield have told me that the longest side of the paper should be no longer than 18 inches (so effectively, no posters).

If the mailroom do deny any items, they will issue the inmate with a denial slip that has a copy for the inmate to send to the free-world person.

You also do not have to put a return address on the traditional mail. Which is good when sending postcards!
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Offline Bluebottle

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Re: Restrictions in snail mail?
« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2014, 02:38:33 am »
Oh I didn't know you didn't need return address on envelopes... that's handy... although I think I'll just keep using the same 'envelope' rules as I do for OR (which are more strict)... otherwise it'll get confusing.

I'm fairly sure I'll have annoyed McConnell mail room staff as the last letter I sent was really rammed into the envelope - I'd folded it in three to fit in a small envelope, and when it struggled, I was too anal to have it all loose in a bigger envelope. Hopefully the smaller one stretched in transit so they can put the letter back in without cursing me too much haha  :P

Offline sunrayswench

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Re: Restrictions in snail mail?
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2014, 03:02:25 am »
Though you don't have to include a return address, it is a good idea to still include one :)

The mailroom staff usually don't mind explaining their particular rules over the phone, though it is best to ask to speak to the Supervisor rather than just whoever picks up the phone at their end.
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Offline Bluebottle

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Re: Restrictions in snail mail?
« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2014, 03:12:35 am »
I'm hoping I never have to phone them (£££). Hopefully this forum will save me that hassle  ;D

Offline sunrayswench

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Re: Restrictions in snail mail?
« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2014, 04:17:03 am »
If you need to call the USA from the UK, you can use this cheap rate number for TeleDiscount: 08452 441 441, or any of their other access numbers here: http://www.telediscount.co.uk/index2.php

You will hear a woman's voice telling you that calls will be 2p per minute or whatever a local rate call is for your provider. Then dial the number you want, followed by hash.

Been using them since about 2000 and never had any issues with it, works when dialing mobile numbers and even if you are calling from a UK phone box!
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Offline Bluebottle

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Re: Restrictions in snail mail?
« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2014, 04:38:40 am »
Wow, you are truly a beacon of knowledge! Thanks!

Offline linny

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Re: Restrictions in snail mail?
« Reply #7 on: May 13, 2014, 08:51:57 am »
Does anybody know if I can use a Tyvek envelop to send a rather large number of pages to my pal? It's not made of paper, so I'm not sure if that's allowed.

(In case you're not familiar with Tyvek: it's a kind of tear free envelop from a polyethylene type of material).
don't compromise yourself, you are all you've got - Janis Joplin

Offline sunrayswench

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Re: Restrictions in snail mail?
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2014, 11:28:34 am »
Does anybody know if I can use a Tyvek envelop to send a rather large number of pages to my pal? It's not made of paper, so I'm not sure if that's allowed.

(In case you're not familiar with Tyvek: it's a kind of tear free envelop from a polyethylene type of material).

I haven't tried, but I would say a cautious no to that. The reason being, plastic can be melted down into all kinds of other shapes etc.

I think you would be better off with a sturdy envelope, perhaps one with a card backing on one side, or sending the documents in multiple conventional envelopes.
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Offline linny

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Re: Restrictions in snail mail?
« Reply #9 on: May 14, 2014, 06:13:03 am »
I feared as much :(

I'll just send it in three envelopes. That way I'm sure it'll make it there intact and it won't cause any issues in the mailroom.

Thanks for the answer!
don't compromise yourself, you are all you've got - Janis Joplin

Offline Devilyn Angel

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Re: Restrictions in snail mail?
« Reply #10 on: May 14, 2014, 11:22:38 pm »
You can always use a large envelope instead of using three separate ones.

Offline linny

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Re: Restrictions in snail mail?
« Reply #11 on: May 15, 2014, 09:18:40 am »
I could if I could find a sturdy type. But the book store/office supply store in my town burnt down recently so I gotta make do with what I can get elsewhere. And supermarkets only have a limited selection, unfortunately.
don't compromise yourself, you are all you've got - Janis Joplin

Offline sunrayswench

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Offline linny

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Re: Restrictions in snail mail?
« Reply #13 on: June 13, 2014, 01:38:19 am »
My penpal in James V. Allred is, like most guys there around this time, suffering from the heat. The other day a friend of him had a heart attack that possibly had to do with the heat as well. Now he asked me to search for a report by the Human Right Clinic of Texas University where they researched the heat and possible risks for prisoners in Texas prisons.
Finding that one was easy (should anyone want it, here's the link to the page where you can download the pdf: http://www.utexas.edu/law/clinics/humanrights/workhighlights.php#extremeheat ). However I’m not sure if I can send it without it being rejected. He suggested ‘disguising’ it, but honestly I have no idea how to disguise a report of several pages. I mean, I can change the locations and name of the University, but I seriously doubt the people reading the mail are that stupid they won’t know what it really is about.

Does anyone know if I can send things like that?
don't compromise yourself, you are all you've got - Janis Joplin

Offline sunrayswench

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Re: Restrictions in snail mail?
« Reply #14 on: June 13, 2014, 10:22:52 am »
Yes you can send any documents like that. If it mysteriously goes missing, send it again. Chances of the same mailroom person handling it twice are very low :)

If your pal is indegent, then TXCURE to run a fan project. Details here: http://www.texascure.org/fanprogram.html
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