What the Oklahoma County Inmate Handbook Covers — and How Your Loved One Can Access It

The Oklahoma County Detention Center resident handbook covers the facility's rules, policies, and procedures. If you want to help your loved one adjust, avoid rule violations, or understand how things work inside, this handbook is the place to start. The current version is effective January 1, 2024.

The handbook goes beyond general rules. The table of contents lists specific topics like "Tablet Rules" - useful if your loved one relies on a device to read messages or access services. There's also a "Trust Fund Procedures" section covering resident finances and trust accounts. This is often where you'll find answers to the everyday money questions families run into.

Access starts with a PIN. Each resident gets one that unlocks the resident manual, telephone system, and their trust account. It's not just a random number - it's tied to several essential services your loved one uses daily.

The handbook includes a "Tablet Rules" section because tablets are part of daily life inside - residents use them to read rules and other information. If your loved one mentions tablet access issues, the handbook can help them understand what's expected and what might lead to restrictions.

Can't read the handbook on a device? Printed copies are available. Your loved one can ask to see one in their housing unit POD office - helpful for someone who's new, on lockdown, or having trouble with tablet or PIN access.

Take that warning seriously. It shapes what communication really means in a jail setting. Conversations, messages, and everyday actions can have consequences - discipline inside the facility or evidence in court. When writing or exchanging messages, keep things straightforward. Don't push your loved one to discuss details they shouldn't put in writing.

• ✓ Include the resident’s name, OCDC booking/identifying number, and a return address on all envelopes and mail.
• ✓ Keep pages to 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches tall (larger mail won’t be accepted).
• ✓ Limit the mailing to 5 pages or fewer; anything over 5 pages will be returned and not scanned/delivered.
• ✓ Write on the front side only; mail is scanned front side only, and anything written on the back causes the mailing to be returned.
• ✓ Include no more than 1 photo per mailing; if you send more than one, the entire letter and contents will be returned and nothing will be scanned/delivered.

Two things make life easier for families: knowing what your loved one can handle on their own, and keeping realistic expectations about privacy. The resident's PIN controls access to the manual, phone system, and trust account - so they can manage basics without needing you to step in constantly. But remember, the handbook is clear that there's no legal right to privacy in the facility. What a resident says or does can be used in court or discipline. Keep messages supportive and practical, not investigative or detailed about a case. If your loved one needs help reading or understanding the handbook, they can ask staff for assistance.

• ✓ Address it with the resident’s name and OCDC booking/identifying number, and put a return address on the envelope.
• ✓ Use standard letter-size pages only (8.5" x 11" or smaller).
• ✓ Keep it to 5 pages max so it will be scanned and delivered.
• ✓ Don’t write on the back of any page - front side only.
• ✓ If you include a photo, include only 1 photo total in that mailing.