Writing To A Friend/Loved One In Jail Or Prison?
NOTE: This is a personal blog, any views or opinions represented in this blog belong solely to the CIFF Consulting. WE ARE NOT Psychologists or Therapy Professionals, all data and information on these blogs is for informational purposes ONLY.
Writing letters is one of the most popular ways to keep in touch with incarcerated individuals. This blog will outline the general rules of sending letters to correctional facilities.
There is no limit to how much mail an inmate can receive unless the amount is seen as disruptive by the correctional staff. In Canadian correctional facilities, inmates can only receive physical mail (no text or emails).
How To Address An Envelope?
When addressing the envelope make sure you have your friend/loved one’s correct name on the envelope. Make sure you have the correct address for the institution(please check under Correctional Facility to verify).
Be sure to include a return address on the upper left-hand corner of the envelope, so that your friend/loved one can respond to your letter if necessary.
Sending a letter to an Institution
Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Formal-Letter
How To Locate An Incarcerated Individual?
Provincial:
Contacting Correctional Institutions around your local area seems to be the best way to locate your incarcerated friend/loved one.
You can also write a letter to that institution and if your friend/loved one is not at the Institution, the letter (most of the time) will be forwarded to the individual, though your letter may take a few extra weeks to reach your friend/loved one.
Federal:
According to CSC: For privacy reasons, CSC will not disclose the location of an inmate. If you do not know which penitentiary an inmate is located in, you may send your letter to one of our regional headquarters. They will then attempt to forward on the mail. Make sure you include the inmate’s first and last name on the envelope so it can be forwarded on.
Mail Inspection.
Regular letter/mail can be sent through Canada Post or delivered by hand to an institution. Once received the mail will be inspected by the correctional staff and then delivered to the inmate (all incoming and outgoing mail is subject to search).
Usually letters are not read, however there are circumstances when the warden (or institutional head) may authorize intercepting communications.
There are many reasons a letter may be returned to the sender including:
Anything written in code
Drugs
Tobacco and all related products (ie., pipes, lighters, matches, etc.)
Weapons
Any sort of electronics (ie., a camera, a mobile phone)
Stickers, anything glued or taped on
Revealing photos
Musical cards (greeting cards that play music)
Stamps, envelopes, pre-stamped envelopes, or writing paper
Dried flowers, seeds, feathers, etc.
Jewellery, charms, etc.
Telephone calling cards, plastic cards, laminated cards
Magnets
Sexually explicit content, inappropriate content such as violence, alcohol, drugs, weapons, or obscene gestures
Markers, crayons, highlighters, pens, pencils or other sharp objects
Unknown substances
Computer disks, tapes, CD’s, cassettes or DVD’s
Paintings or anything painted on
Tattoo paraphernalia
Material which promotes hatred of any identifiable group
Source: https://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/family/003004-0005-en.shtml
Contact the Institution if you have further questions about what can and cannot be sent to an Institution. Also, read our blog regarding sending money to a friend/loved one and also to liven up the conversation read our blog about fun things to write about.
Letters are a good way to keep in touch, but it usually takes 1 or 2 weeks for your incarcerated friend or loved one to receive the letter. Phone calls are a faster way to speak with incarcerated individuals.
