Sending Mail & Packages to Someone at Hardeman County Corrections: What Gets Delivered and What Doesn’t

Privileged mail (legal correspondence) gets handled differently from regular mail. At Hardeman County Corrections, incoming privileged mail is opened by a staff member only when the incarcerated person is present so it can be inspected for contraband. That inspection is documented. If the mailing includes papers held together with metal clips, staff will remove the clips during processing.

Packages are where most people get tripped up. Hardeman County Corrections only accepts packages sent directly from approved contract vendor(s). Even if you ship something brand new and factory-sealed yourself, it can be rejected because it didn't come through an approved vendor.

If you're on the person's approved visiting list, you may be able to purchase items or packages for them through the approved contract vendor(s), as long as the order follows institutional guidelines and TDOC Policy #504.01 (Inmate Personal Property). In plain terms: being on the visiting list matters, and the items still have to match what the facility allows inmates to have.

Once an approved package arrives at the facility, it should be delivered to the inmate within 48 hours of receipt (not counting weekends and holidays). So if a package lands right before a long weekend, the extra wait doesn't mean it was rejected.

Transfers happen, sometimes without much notice. If mail is addressed to someone who has been transferred to another TDOC facility, it gets forwarded to the receiving institution. To cut down on delays, address items as clearly as possible. Use their committed name, include their TDOC ID number if you have it, and double-check that you're using the correct facility mailing address before sending anything.

If your loved one paroles or discharges, package handling changes. Packages addressed to someone who has paroled or been discharged are held at the facility for 30 days. The person is notified by letter and has 30 days to pick the package up or arrange to have it shipped to their address.

This is different from a transfer. If the person is moved to another TDOC facility, mail addressed to them is forwarded to the receiving institution rather than held for pickup.

Rejections and Verification

• ✓ Packages that are not sent directly from approved contract vendor(s)
• ✓ Mail or enclosures that contain contraband (privileged mail is still inspected for contraband, even though it is opened in the inmate’s presence)
• ✓ Package and mail issues caused by misaddressing (a transfer can delay delivery even when forwarding applies)

1. Confirm the sender rules before you order: Make sure the order will ship directly from an approved contract vendor, not from a third-party seller or a “marketplace” shipment.
2. Use the clearest identifying info you have: Put the person’s committed name on the label, and add their TDOC ID number if you know it.
3. Keep proof of what you sent: Save the order confirmation, item list, and tracking number, so you can quickly answer questions if the package is delayed.
4. Build in extra time around weekends and holidays: Even approved packages can take longer to reach the housing unit when the 48-hour window does not include weekends or holidays.