Sending Legal Mail to Callaway County Jail: What Lawyers and Families Need to Know

Since 05/01/2021, Callaway County Jail only accepts postcards for incoming personal mail. Legal mail is the main exception - it follows a separate set of rules.

For your mail to qualify as legal mail, write

Prepare Marking Addressing

• ✓ Write “Legal Mail” on the front of the envelope so it’s unmistakable
• ✓ Address it to an official who qualifies for confidential communication (such as an attorney or a court)
• ✓ Make sure the envelope is clearly identified as legal mail before it reaches the jail

Legal mail at Callaway County Jail can't just be sealed and dropped off like regular mail. The inmate must present it to a detention officer before sealing so staff can follow proper legal-mail procedures.

Before sealing, the inmate shows the detention officer that there's no contraband inside. Once the officer confirms this, the inmate seals the letter right there.

Practical Tips

• ✓ Mark the front of the envelope “Legal Mail” in clear, readable lettering
• ✓ Send legal mail only when it’s truly going to a qualifying official for confidential communication (for example, an attorney or a court)
• ✓ Don’t assume it will be treated as legal mail if the label is missing or unclear

• ✓ Expect the letter to be presented unsealed to a detention officer before it’s sealed
• ✓ Keep contents straightforward so the inmate can show there’s no contraband before sealing
• ✓ Don’t include anything that could be mistaken for a prohibited item, since the envelope won’t be sealed until after the check

The postcard-only rule can surprise people who are used to sending full letters. At Callaway County Jail, that restriction covers incoming personal mail - legal mail is the exception. Getting the "Legal Mail" label and proper addressing right is what makes the difference between confidential legal correspondence and regular mail.