Callaway County Jail Is Postcard-Only: What to Send and What Gets Rejected
Mailing someone at Callaway County Jail? Personal mail has to be a postcard—no exceptions. Here's what to send, what gets rejected, and how to avoid wasting time and postage.
Callaway County Jail switched to postcard-only for personal mail on 05/01/2021. Letters, greeting cards, and anything in an envelope won't make it through - only postcards and legal mail. Packages? Don't bother. The jail has limited storage and refuses all packages. They'll just get returned to you, costing time and money.
Reminder: Personal mail must be a postcard (effective 05/01/2021). Legal mail is the exception.
Your postcard needs to pass two checks: size and format. Stick to 5" x 7" or smaller. Use a standard white postcard - nothing fancy. Index cards won't work, and neither will photographic postcards or photos mailed as postcards.
- ✓ Postcard is no larger than 5" x 7"
- ✓ Postcard is a standard white postcard
- ✓ Not an index card
- ✓ Not a photograph/photo postcard
Most rejected mail fails on format. Photos, index cards, anything that isn't an approved postcard - none of it gets through. Skip packages entirely. The jail refuses them due to limited storage, and they'll be sent right back to you. One more thing: no drawings. Mail with drawings on any part of the envelope gets rejected, so resist the urge to decorate.
Heads up: The jail cuts stamps off postcards before delivery, so your recipient won't see them. This is normal - don't worry if the stamp is missing.
Legal mail plays by different rules. For it to qualify, mark "Legal Mail" clearly on the front of the envelope and address it to an official who qualifies for confidential communication. Miss either step, and it may not be treated as protected correspondence.
- Mark the envelope “Legal Mail” and address it to a qualifying official - this is what triggers legal-mail handling.
- Have the inmate present the legal mail to a detention officer before sealing - legal mail is shown to the officer while still open.
- Show there is no contraband, then seal it - the inmate demonstrates the envelope contains no contraband and seals it at that time.
- Officer witnesses and initials the envelope - the initialing documents that the officer observed the process.
Keep in mind: Legal mail only gets confidential treatment when it's properly marked and follows the before-sealing procedure.
Mail got refused? You may be able to appeal. Send your appeal to: Lt Melissa Ewens Callaway County Jail PO Box 817 Fulton, MO 65251
Practical Checklist
- ✓ Use a postcard only (no letters)
- ✓ Keep it 5" x 7" or smaller
- ✓ Choose a standard white postcard
- ✓ Do not send index cards or photographs
- ✓ Don’t add drawings to mail/envelopes
- ✓ Expect the stamp to be removed (cut) before the inmate receives the postcard
Don’t send extras: Packages aren’t accepted and will be refused and returned to the sender - and postcard stamps are removed before inmate possession.
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