Sending Mail to Inmates in Oregon
Correspondence between inmates and friends/relatives is an important part of the rehabilitation process. While it gives the inmate something to look forward to, and helps maintain relationships it also presents security concerns to the facility. All mail is opened, inspected and read to ensure the contents do not contain contraband or create a danger to the facility. Legal mail can be opened and inspected in the presence of the inmate, but will not be read. Depending on the time of year and the amount of mail received at the institution, the inspection of incoming mail can delay delivery for up to ten days. No incoming envelopes can be greater than 1/4" thick. Additionally, no correspondence or envelopes should contain stickers, marker, crayon, glue, glitter, lipstick, perfume or any other kind of embellishments. If your letter or envelope contain any of these it will be rejected by the facility.
Sending Photos
Inmates can receive up to ten photos no larger than 4"x6". Polaroid and instant photos are not allowed as they can be used to introduce contraband. Furthermore, no photos may contain nudity or depict any illegal activities including drug use, drinking, gang gestures etc. You can also send pamphlets, photocopies, and cards but you are limited to only ten total enclosures. Cards cannot contain electronics, or be multilayered.
Remember to always include your complete name and return address on the envelope of your correspondence. You will also need to always include the inmate's full committed name, their SID number, the name of the prison and complete address. Format the inmate's address as follows:
Inmate Name, SID Number
Facility Name
PO Box or Street address
City, State, Zip Code
Remember you should never send any other items to your inmate. Blank paper, envelopes, stamps etc. must all be purchased from the commissary, at no time can you mail these to the inmate.
Friends and family members can also send electronic messages to the inmate. These can be sent online to the inmate and are received in the prison mail room, printed and delivered as regular mail to the inmate. At no time are inmate's allowed to use the internet or e-mail. Electronic messages are provided through AccessCorrections for a fee and still are subjected to having the contents read. You can read more about the electronic mail services offered to inmates in Oregon here.
How to Send Books and Magazines to Inmates in Oregon
Friends and family members can send their inmates books, magazines and newspapers sent directly from Amazon.com. Books should be paperback. No publications can contain nudity, or describe how to manufacture weapons, alcohol, or drugs. When ordering from Amazon.com be sure to include the inmate's full committed name, SID number and current facilities mailing address for the shipping address. If you want to learn more about sending these items to an inmate read about it here.
Sending Money to Inmates in Oregon
All offenders have access to their own personal inmate trust account. Inmates are able to use the money in their trust account to purchase items from the commissary. Offenders can receive funds from friends and family members in a variety of ways.
You can send funds to an inmate by:
- Walk In
- Internet
- Phone
Before you can send money to an inmate you will need to know the following information:
- The Inmates Name
- The Inmates Identification Number
- The current location of the inmate
Deposit by Walk In
Friends and family members can deposit money by visiting any MoneyGram location, this includes any CVS, 7-Eleven, or Walmart. You will need to use the receive code 7813. The deposit may be made for a fee and can be paid with cash or debit card.
Deposit by Internet
You can also deposit money to an inmate's account online through JPAY, and Access Corrections. Each of these companies charges a fee to send the funds, and allows you to use a debit or credit card.
Deposit Funds Over the Phone
You can deposit funds to your Oregon inmate's trust fund account over the phone by calling JPAY at 1-800-574-5729, or through Access Corrections at 1-866-345-1884. Both of these companies charge a fee for sending the funds.
Deposit Funds Through the Mail
The method of sending funds with the lowest fee is through the mail. You can purchase a United States Postal Money order through the post office and make it payable to "DOC for [inmate's name, SID #]". You must include your full name and complete address on the money order. You will mail the completed money order to:
Central Trust, Inmate's Name and SID Number
Oregon Department of Corrections
PO Box 14400
Salem, OR 97309-5077
For more information on sending funds to an inmate, read our guide here.
Oregon Inmate Phone Calls
All offenders in Oregon have access to the telephone and can call home collect or through the prepaid phone service provider Telmate. Telmate allows you to place funds onto an inmate's telephone account over the phone by calling 1-866-516-0115 or by visiting their website at telmate.com. There is no maximum to the amount of money you can place on an offenders phone account. The maximum duration of a phone call is 30 minutes. Three way calling and call forwarding is prohibited and you will be charged a fee of $25 per violation. Inmate's cannot receive phone calls, but you can leave a voicemail for an inmate up to three minutes in length for $1.25 by calling 1-866-516-0115 and pressing option 4. All calls are recorded and monitored.
You may be able to drastically reduce your inmate phone bill by setting up your account with a number local to the facility. Learn more about how you can save money on your inmate phone calls.