Montgomery County, PA

Section 9. Mail Privileges

A.  Effective July 26, 1999, in compliance with Act 76 of 1998, the Inmate Guidelines, Section 8.  Mail Privileges, Page 10, will be rescinded and replaced with the following.

B. If you wish to receive mail or send mail out, you must give the Warden or his designee the authorization to open and inspect your mail.  This will be asked of you at the time of commitment.  If you agree with the facility’s request you may send and receive as much mail, including letters, packages, and publications as you desire, except where there is convincing evidence to justify the limitation for reasons of public safety, or facility order and security.

C.  The facility reserves the right in accordance with the federal case law to limit the volume of publications received by the facility due to storage limits, reduction of fire hazards, preserving sanitary conditions, and limiting opportunities for the introduction and hiding of contraband.  Limitations will be related to legitimate penological interests.

D.  The facility does not permit distribution of sexually explicit materials to inmates under eighteen (18) years of age, in compliance with 18 Pa. C.S.A. 5903.

E.  The facility does not distribute sexually explicit materials to inmates in compliance with 18 Pa. C.S.A. 5903.

F.  Effective July 26, 1999, for your convenience, the facility has a list of subscriptions through a authorized vendor that you may order magazines and or books.  It is not mandatory however to order from this list.  This subscription list is made available in the library, or send a request slip in care of the Librarian for information. Regardless of whether you order from this list, only prepaid  magazines, newspapers, and books sent directly from publishing companies and book stores shall be accepted, and shall be given to the inmate after inspection for contraband.  You must request money be deducted from your account and a check be sent to the publishing company and or book store, by submitting a request slip to the Librarian.  We will not accept any books, magazines, or newspapers without a check being sent from your inmate personal account to the vendor.  (Refer to Inmate Guidelines, Section 15.  Articles from outside the facility, for limitations.)

G. Each issue of a publication will be inspected separately by a Committee of employees designated by the Warden, to review sexually explicit material and make a determination within the guidelines, of whether it is or is not sexually explicit.  If a determination is made to withhold any such material, the inmate will be advised in writing as to the reason (s) the material was withheld.  If any material is withheld, the inmate may appeal the decision to a designated member of the administration.  If the material is disapproved it shall be returned to the sender or retained along with records of the decision.

H.  For purposes of this document, pictures in a magazine are not considered photographs.

I.  The facility does not accept bulk mail.  Bulk mail is defined as advertising materials, catalogs, and flyers mailed at less than first or second class mail rates.  Inmates may however, prepay the postage on catalogs and other materials and have them mailed first or second class mail.

J.  Inmates are prohibited from sending or receiving battery operated greeting cards.

K. Inmates are prohibited from sending or receiving “bill me later” or free gift transactions.

L.  Writing paper, postage stamps and envelopes must be purchased from the commissary.

M.  Mail and packages to and from inmates shall not be held for more than 24 hours before delivery, excluding weekends and holidays.  Incoming mail is opened, examined for contraband, and must include a return address.  Magazines after review, will be delivered within a reasonable period of time.

N.  A Correctional Facility employee will open and examine for contraband all incoming “Legal Mail” in the presence of the addressee.

O.  The return address on all incoming mail which is to be treated as “Legal Mail” must make the source of the mail clearly identifiable as an elected or appointed Federal, State,  Local Official, or as a Lawyer.

P.  If the return address does not make the source of the mail immediately identifiable as an elected or appointed Federal, State, Local Official, or as a Lawyer, then the mail will not be opened in the presence of the inmate.

Q.  All new admissions without funds are eligible to receive one postage paid first class envelope during commissary.

R. All newly admitted eligible inmates must request the envelope and stamp by submitting a Request Slip to the Commissary Supervisor.

S.  Forms for Return Receipt, Registered and Certified Mail are available with appropriate postage purchased through the Commissary.

T.  The “Receipt for Certified Mail” (white copy) should be kept by any inmate who sends a piece of mail as Certified Mail.  The request for “Return Receipt” (green card) should be attached to the piece of mail.

U.  A postal scale and a list showing the postage rates is available for use by inmates by contacting the assigned Social Service Counselor.

V. Outgoing mail must have your full name, Pod, Section, Cell and Facility

 Address, ex.:                NAME (LAST, FIRST)

POD, SECTION CELL

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

60 EAGLEVILLE ROAD

NORRISTOWN, PA 19403-1400

1.  Inmates are permitted to seal all outgoing mail.

2.  Outgoing letters must be placed in the mailbox of Housing Section.

3.  All outgoing letters are mailed.

4.  All outgoing mail must be placed in the envelopes purchased from the Commissary, indicating the return address.

The following requirements must be met in order for your mail to be properly processed:

               (1) Return address: Full name, booking number, Facility address.

               (2) Proper mailing address of person being sent to.

              (3) Must have money in inmate account to cover postage charges, unless it is a pre-stamped envelope.

               (4) If an envelope is over stuffed it muts be sent to Commissary Department to be weighed to add additional postage. If not it will be returned by the Post

             Office to be resubmitted for additional postage due.

              (5) All Over Seas mail must be sent to the Commissary Department to be weighed and proper postage assigned.

              (6) Any mail received to have postage put on, and the inmate account does not have enough to cover the cost, the mail will be sent back to the inmate via the Social Service Department.