How to Contact an Inmate at Facility

Personal information you send through facility or state websites (including email, chatbots, or web forms) is not privileged or confidential. Staff may use it to respond to your request, and they can forward it to whoever is best positioned to help. Keep your message focused on what's necessary. Don't share sensitive details you wouldn't want passed along.

State websites also automatically collect and store information about your visit as you browse. That includes which pages you view and when you accessed them. This is standard for government sites, but it matters if you're trying to keep your research or outreach private.

1. Assume your website activity is recorded. Browsing facility or state pages can be logged, including pages viewed and access date and time.
2. Keep online messages minimal. If you use an email address, chatbot, or web form, send only what is necessary to get an answer.
3. Avoid sensitive details in submissions. Information sent through the site is not privileged or confidential, and it may be forwarded to the appropriate government employee.
4. Switch channels if confidentiality matters. Before sharing anything sensitive, confirm what communication method the facility considers appropriate for private or privileged topics.

What-to-verify

• ✓ Whether web form, chatbot, and email submissions are considered confidential (they may not be)
• ✓ Whether your message can be forwarded to other government employees for a response
• ✓ What channel the facility recommends if you need a confidential or privileged communication option

• ✓ What website visit data is collected (for example, pages visited and timestamps)
• ✓ Whether additional technical details are logged (for example, IP address, device, browser, or search terms)
• ✓ How long website logs are retained and who can access them