Inmate Mail

mail EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1, 2021   U.S. Postal Service, ASM, Sec. 274.96 “Authorized personnel of prisons, jails, or other correctional institutions, under lawful rules and regulations, may open, examine, and censor mail addressed to an inmate of the institution if the inmate-addressee consents to receive his or her mail at the institution through the institutional authorities. If the inmate does not consent, the personnel may return it to the post office unopened, marked “refused.” An inmate may designate in writing an agent outside the institution to receive his or her mail, either through an authorized address of the agent if the mail is so addressed, or at the delivery post office serving the institution, if the mail is addressed to the inmate at the institution.” Correspondence from inmates does not become U.S. mail until it comes into the actual custody and control of the Postal Service, either when given to a postal employee or when deposited into a receptacle authorized by the Postmaster-General for the receipt of mail; (i.e., a street collection box, lobby drop in a U.S. Post Office, etc.). Therefore, unless items are considered actual mail matter as referenced above, the federal laws pertaining to the protection of mail matter do not apply. Christian County is a postcard-only facility for all incoming and outgoing mail. With the exception of Legal Mail effective February 1, 2021 Outgoing Mail
  • The Pod Officer will collect all mail at mail pass unsealed.
  • All legal mail will be properly marked “Legal Mail” on the front of the envelope and will be legitimately addressed to a Congressman, Judge, Attorney, or other officials who qualify for confidential communication.
  • Legal Mail will be taken to the Pod Officer before it is sealed. The inmate will show the Pod Officer that there is no contraband contained in the envelope before it is sealed. The inmate will be allowed to seal the letter at that time. The witnessing officer will then initial the back of the envelope and the front “Legal Mail.” Legal Mail that the Pod Officer receives without the Officer’s initials will be returned to the inmate.
  • All Mail will have the proper postage applied. Mail with bleached postage stamps applied to them will not be mailed.
  • Mail addressed between two inmates currently incarcerated in the Christian County Jail will not be mailed.
  • Mail that has drawings on any part of the postcard will not be accepted in the mail. The Postal Service indicates that such drawings cause problems with their sorting equipment.
  • Outgoing mail will not be accepted without a return address. The return address will have the inmate’s name, 110 W. Elm, Room 70, Ozark, MO 65721, and the inmate’s jacket number.
  • Sending or receiving a mail by any method other than stated above is a violation of the facility rules. Underground mail (passing of notes to anyone) is forbidden.
  • Mail that is to be delivered to a Judge or Public Defender from Christian County may be given to the Pod Officer for forwarding to their individual offices.
Incoming Mail
  • All incoming personal mail will be on a postcard. Postcards must be no larger than 5” X 7”.
  • All incoming postcards must be standard white postcards, no index cards or photographs.
 
  • Mail received from another Jail and /or Penal Institution will be returned to the sender.
  • Mail and correspondence from Courts, Attorneys, Officers of the court, and Government Agencies will be opened and inspected by an officer in the inmate’s presence and signed for acceptance. Failure to do so will result in Mail or Correspondence returned to the sender.
  • We are a postcard-only facility. No Monetary items in any form will be accepted through the mail for deposit in the inmate trust fund account and will be returned to sender. All funds must be deposited using the Lobby Kiosk, inmatedeposits.com, or homewave.com for phone time.
  • Due to limited storage areas, packages will not be accepted into the Jail. Instead, the packages will be refused and returned to the sender. No holiday or birthday cards and or packages will be accepted.
  • All postcards will be photocopied front and back. The inmate will receive the photocopy, and the original will be placed in the inmate’s property bin to be given upon release.
  • Mail received for inmates who have been released from custody will be returned to the sender, provided the item is unopened. The Jail will not hold mail for inmates after they have been released.
  • It will be the inmate’s responsibility to notify their family and friends to log onto the Christian County Sheriff’s website to read the policy on inmate mail.
Unacceptable postcards will be returned to the sender.  
    1. Defaced or altered postcards are unacceptable.
    2. No plastic/wrappings on postcards
    3. No labels or stickers will be accepted.
    4. No postcards with watermarks or stains
    5. No postcards with bio-hazards, including lipstick and perfume
    6. No postcards depicting nudity, weapons, drug use, or gang references
    7. No glitter will be accepted.
  • All postcards must be addressed with complete names and clearly legible.
  • Incoming postcards must contain the sender’s complete first and last name, complete return address, and the intended recipient’s complete name and jacket number.
  • The sender may have the right to appeal the incoming mail process to the Jail Captain by mailing such appeal to be addressed to:
Captain D. Whisnant 110 W. Elm Room 70 Ozark, MO 65721 Mail Limitation
  • Mail will not be delivered on the weekends and holidays.
  • Magazines, Books, and newspaper subscriptions are not allowed.
NOTE: The U.S. Postal Service will not return magazines and newspapers to the sender in the absence of the Inmate.  It is entirely the Inmate’s responsibility to notify the publisher of his or her change of address or desire to cancel the subscription.  The Jail will not be responsible whatsoever for a former Inmate’s loss due to the Inmate’s failure to notify a publisher of his/her release from our custody.