Rules for Inmate correspondence

1. Any piece of inmate mail is subject to inspection
2. In conjunction with the Supreme Court Ruling filed January 2, 2018, non-privileged mail will only be accepted or sent in the form of post cards, unless it is legal mail or medical documentation for the medical department
3. Post cards must be standard white postcards, no index cards or photographs
4. Postcards must be no larger than 5”x7”
5. Money orders will be accepted in a plain white envelope
6. Bulk mail and/ or packages will NOT be accepted and will be returned to sender unless it is legal mail (ex: manila envelopes, envelopes packed full of stuff, cardboard envelopes from the post office, etc.)
7. Pictures will be accepted. Pictures must not have any nudity or partial nudity, drugs and alcohol and/or gang signs in them may be discarded or placed in inmate property. Inappropriateness of pictures will be determined at the discretion of the Administration. Inmates can receive a reasonable amount of pictures (no more than 10) at a time. All pictures will be scanned for inmates to view via the pod kiosk. Pictures will be placed in the inmate’s property. Books will be accepted from publishers only (Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Barnes and Noble, etc.) Hardback books will NOT be accepted. Books sent in will become property of this facility
8. 3 way mail will not be accepted and may be discarded. Sending a postcard to someone who sends it back to another inmate is considered 3 way mail and it may be thrown away. Disciplinary action may be taken towards the inmate trying to use 3 way mail
9. Outgoing correspondence will have the correct return address (inmate first and last name, Bates County Jail, 6 West Ft. Scott, Butler MO, 64730)
10. Outgoing mail shall only be mailed in the form of white postcards available for purchase from commissary
11. No post cards will be sent or received with inappropriate signs, picture, phrases, nudity, weapons, drugs, alcohol or any gang references on them
12. Defaced or altered postcards are unacceptable
13. No plastic or wrapping is allowed on postcards
14. No stained or watermarked post cards will be accepted
15. No post cards with bio-hazard, including lipstick or perfume will be accepted
16. Indigent inmates will be responsible for ordering their own indigent supplies from the kiosk. This includes post cards
17. Greeting Cards will be available on commissary for inmate purchase (EX: Birthday and Holiday Cards) Greeting Cards are only for inmates to send out. Greeting Cards mailed to inmate will not be accepted.)