Can I Hand-Deliver or Receive Letters During a Visit?

During a face-to-face prison visit, hand-to-hand exchanges of any physical items are major security violations. Here is what you need to know about visiting room mail rules:

• The "No Hand-to-Hand" Rule: Visitors cannot give letters to inmates or receive messages from them in real-time. Because staff cannot instantly verify paper for hidden contraband or codes, attempting an exchange can result in an immediate termination of the visit, visiting bans, or inmate disciplinary action.

• Bringing Papers to Read: You are generally prohibited from bringing any personal papers, letters, or notebooks into the visiting room. All personal items must be stored in lockers before passing through the security search and metal detectors.

• Handling Legal Documents: Regular visitors cannot bring legal papers into a standard visit; only attorneys have this privilege. Legal documents must be processed safely through the official prison mailroom.

• The Correct Way to Exchange: To discuss a letter during your visit, mail it a few days in advance so the inmate can read it beforehand. If the inmate has a letter for you, they must send it to your home address via the facility's outgoing mailbox..