What Should I Avoid Writing in a Letter to an Inmate?

Why must I strictly avoid discussing criminal activity or legal cases? Any mention of the inmate's past or current legal case, future illegal plans, or confessions to unsolved crimes must be avoided. Your letters can legally be used as evidence in court or directly during parole hearings, making criminal discussions a severe liability.

What are the rules regarding coded language and mentioning prison staff? Prison staff are highly trained to search for gang signs, hidden codes, or suspicious slang. Even innocent inside jokes can be labeled "coded communication" and rejected if guards cannot understand them. Furthermore, you must never mention staff members or guards by name, as negative comments or complaints about employees are flagged as security threats and can place the inmate in a difficult position.

Can I discuss business plans or complex financial transactions? No. Inmates are generally prohibited from running businesses from behind bars. You must strictly avoid discussing complex financial transactions, investment advice, stock trades, or providing instructions for others to carry out work on the inmate's behalf.

What personal information, explicit content, or jokes are forbidden? For security and compliance reasons, you must not include home addresses of other people, full social security numbers, or detailed descriptions of your daily routine. Additionally, descriptions of sexual acts or graphic language violate strict obscenity rules and can lead to confiscation. Finally, you must never joke about escape plans or "getting them out"; mailroom staff have zero tolerance for these topics, which result in immediate lockdowns or disciplinary action..