QUESTIONS ABOUT INMATE MAIL

Click on the links below for quick answers to your questions:

Who may send mail to an inmate at NORCOR?

How may I send the mail?

How do I address the mail?

What may I mail to an inmate?

What can’t I mail to an inmate?

Do you open and inspect mail?

What happens if I mail contraband?

How do I send money to an inmate?

Whom do I contact if I have a question about inmate mail?

May I call to confirm delivery of an item?

Whom do I contact if I have a complaint about inmate mail?

Who may send mail to an inmate at NORCOR?

Anyone can send mail to an inmate with some restrictions.  We will not accept mail from:

•   An inmate in NORCOR, another corrections-monitored facility, or treatment center.

•   Someone who is acting as a go-between for inmates by taking mail

     mail received from one inmate and sending it to another inmate.

•   A victim of a crime that the inmate is in custody for either in pretrial or

 sentenced status.

On a case-by-case basis a command staff may impose restrictions on with whom an inmate may correspond on a personal basis.

How may I send the mail?     Back to Top

We only allow inmates to receive mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service.

We do not accept hand delivered mail.  We will not accept mail with postage due.

 How do I address the mail?  Back to Top

Clearly write the inmate’s complete name.  Do not use nicknames.  If you know the inmate’s middle name or initial and file number please include those.  Send mail to the following address:

            Inmate’s name, File number

            NORCOR

            201 Webber Road

            The Dalles, OR   97058

Be sure to put your return name and address on the mail!  We will not deliver or hold  mail for an inmate if it is missing a return address.

Please hand write your return address rather than using gummed or adhesive labels.  We remove such labels from mail before giving it to the inmate.  Without a return address the inmate may not be able to write to you because he or she may not know your address.

Do not place any stickers, liquid substances, or non-postal related stamps on the mail or seal it with a “lipstick” kiss. 

Do not spray letters with perfume.

What may I mail to an inmate?   Back to Top

•         Written correspondence (Except junk mail)

•         Legal or personal-business documents

•         Postcards and greeting cards

 Greeting Cards must not contain metal, plastic, or other hard materials, be made or folded in a way that could hide contraband, or be larger than 9 by 12 inches.   Musical cards are not allowed.

•   Pictures (Limit of 3 per letter)

Pictures may be either be photographs (up to 4 by 6 inches) or a printed piece of paper or a photocopy (up to 8 ½ by 11 inches).  Multiple pictures or pictures mixed with text on a single sheet will count as one picture.  Mounted, framed, or Polaroid pictures are not allowed. 

•   Pamphlets (Limit of 3 per letter)

Must be eight pages or less.  Pamphlets over 8 pages long are considered books.

•   Books (Limit of 3 per day through the administration window)

You may NOT send books directly to an inmate.  Inmates CAN receive books directly from the publisher.  Books may be up to 9 by 12 inches in size and shall not be hardback, but shall be paperback.  Books may be new or used.  Books must not have a plastic or metal binding.  All books sent to an inmate shall become property of NORCOR upon the release of the inmate. (exception: personal Bibles).

•      Money for the inmate’s account

Go to “How do I send money to an inmate?” for what is an acceptable form, source, and amount of money to send to an inmate.

 What CANNOT be mailed to an inmate?  Back to Top

Contraband items.  Contraband is anything jail staff do not allow an inmate to have unless they authorize it.  It’s anything not specifically approved for mailing under “What may I mail to an inmate?”  Commonly mailed contraband items are:

•       Maps

•       Books (unless mailed directly from the publisher)

•       Transportation schedules, such as bus or train

•       Stickers and decals

•       Cosmetic, hair care, and hygiene items

•       Food

•       Gifts

•       Locks of hair and ribbons

•       Cigarettes, matches, and lighters

•       Dried or pressed flowers

•       Coupons and lottery tickets

•       Compact discs and cassette tapes

•       Items that exceed approved limits

•       Items from a non-approved source

•       Foreign substances, such as bodily fluids, lipstick, perfume, glitter, glue, and anything with unusual stains or odors.

•       Bookmarks, postage stamps, stationery, writing or drawing materials, and paper clips
   

 Items with contraband content, either as words or pictures.  Contraband content is anything that may threaten the safety, security,  good order of the jail or may be detrimental to an inmate’s rehabilitation.  This includes content that:

•      Threatens, plans, encourages, instructs in activity that is criminal or

              violates jail rules   

•      Could result in physical harm to anyone

•       Is gang-related material

•        Is sexually explicit material (This is the most common reason for

              Confiscating an item based on content.  Be careful what you send!)

•        Is inflammatory material (This can include anything that incites or           

                    advocates physical violence against others or the supremacy or

                    hatred of a class or group of people)

•       Is code or suspected code (This can include a foreign language if we                                                      

              are unable to find a translator in a reasonable period of time)

•         Is fraudulently marked as legal or official mail

What happens if I mail contraband?  Back to Top

One of three things will happen if we find contraband in your mail:

•        We will confiscate it, place it in the inmates property box, and not allow the inmate access to it while 

                lodged at NORCOR.

•         We will destroy it, if it presents a health or safety hazard.

•         We will confiscate it as evidence in a criminal investigation.

Depending on the degree of contraband violation command staff may restrict any future correspondence you have with an inmate.

***Introduction of contraband into a Corrections Facility is a Class C felony under ORS 162.185 and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.***

Whom do I contact if I have a question about inmate mail?  Back to Top 

You can contact jail command staff by calling 541-298-1576 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday 8am-12pm, 1pm-4pm if you have a complaint about inmate mail, or you may send a letter to: NORCOR Lieutenant, 201 Webber Road, The Dalles OR 97058

May I call to confirm delivery of an item?   Back to Top

No.  It is the inmate’s responsibility to contact you to let you know they received something you mailed.  Write to the inmate if you want to confirm delivery of an item you sent to him or her.