What You Can (and Can't) Mail to Dutchess County Jail — books, photos, bras and letters
Mail rules at Dutchess County Jail can feel picky—especially when you're just trying to stay connected. Here's what the facility accepts and the common reasons items get rejected or returned.
Address your letter exactly like this: Incarcerated Individual's Name Dutchess County Justice and Transition Center P.O. Box 1389 Poughkeepsie, New York 12602
Heads up: All incoming mail is opened and inspected for contraband.
Books must ship directly from an online publisher or bookstore - amazon.com or bn.com, for example. Used books aren't accepted. Neither are hardcovers. Stick with new, softcover titles sent straight from the seller.
Photos Bras
- ✓ Photos must not be suggestive, provocative, nude, or revealing.
- ✓ Photos cannot be larger than 5x7.
- ✓ Polaroids are not accepted.
- ✓ Framed photos are not accepted.
- ✓ Brassieres are the only underwear allowed to be mailed into the facility.
- ✓ Bras must be shipped directly from a verifiable online source (for example, Kohls.com or Macys.com).
- ✓ A bra will be rejected if it has padding, underwire, hidden pockets, or metal.
- ✓ The only metal allowed is the metal in the clasp.
Keep in mind: Photos and clothing are still inspected for contraband, so follow the exact size and material rules to avoid rejection.
- Write in blue or black ink only - other ink colors can cause problems when letters are copied.
- Stay inside the margins - keep your writing about one inch away from the top, bottom, left, and right edges so it can be copied clearly.
- Assume everything will be reviewed - all incoming mail is inspected for contraband, so keep your letter simple and easy to process.
Your loved one buys their own writing supplies and postage through commissary. If they don't have funds, the facility provides limited paper and postage so they can still send mail.
One common reason packages get returned: if an item is available in commissary or issued by the facility, you can't mail it in. Those items go back to the sender.
- ✓ Cash sent via mail will be accepted and deposited into an incarcerated individual’s account without a service fee (even though it’s not recommended).
- ✓ Checks and money orders are not accepted and will be returned to the sender.
- ✓ Kiosk deposits are limited to $200 for the initial deposit (with a service fee); after that, you can add more in $200 increments, and each deposit has an additional service fee.
- ✓ Deposits can take up to 24 hours to post to the incarcerated individual’s account.
Note: Funds and mailed items are still subject to inspection, and anything not allowed can be returned to the sender.
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