How to send messages, photos, and packages
Your mail will be inspected at Dorchester County Detention. Staff search incoming mail as part of routine floor duties, checking envelopes and contents for contraband. In many Maryland facilities, personal letters go through an off-site mail vendor where they're inspected, scanned, and delivered electronically to kiosks or tablets. General correspondence is opened and inspected, while properly marked legal or privileged mail is handled differently—opened only with the inmate present. Books, magazines, and care packages face tight restrictions. Many facilities require publications to come directly from publishers or approved retailers, and packages must be ordered through an approved program. Follow the facility's addressing and preparation rules exactly to avoid delays. Include any required ID numbers and a clear return address.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
Sending mail or supporting someone at Dorchester County Detention? Searches are part of daily life. Staff check incoming mail, clothing, cells, pods, dayrooms, and even conduct body searches—all looking for prohibited items.
Yes. Dorchester County Detention staff list searching mail among routine floor-duty responsibilities, so incoming mail is inspected.
Many Maryland facilities route letters through an off-site mail-processing vendor. Correspondence is inspected and scanned, then delivered digitally to a kiosk or tablet. Procedures vary, so confirm Dorchester's current process before sending anything.
Sometimes, but publications and care packages are usually restricted to approved sources—often direct from publishers, approved retailers, or an approved package program. Check the facility’s approved-sources rules before you order so it doesn’t get rejected.
Ever wonder why doors stay locked, why movement pauses, or why staff can't "just make an exception" during a visit? It usually comes back to the correctional officer's job: safety, accountability, and control inside the building.
