What to Know Before Sending Mail to Someone at Kankakee County Jail
Mail rules at Kankakee County Jail are strict. Small details can mean the difference between your letter getting delivered or getting rejected. Follow these guidelines to avoid delays, returns, or having your mail destroyed.
All incoming and outgoing mail at Kankakee County Jail is searched by Kankakee County Sheriff's Department staff. Assume anything you send will be inspected for contraband. If it doesn't follow the rules, it may never reach your loved one.
Double-check your envelope before you send it. The jail requires a complete address and the detainee's JCDC identification number. Missing info can delay delivery - or stop it entirely. One more thing: correspondence between inmates is prohibited unless the Chief of Corrections has given prior approval.
Photos Rules
- ✓ Send no more than five (5) photos at a time
- ✓ Keep photos standard 4 x 6 size or smaller
Photos get screened too. No nudity, gang symbols or activity, drugs, alcohol, or anything depicting illegal activity. If you're unsure about a picture, go with something more neutral. Rejected photos don't just get held - they can be treated as contraband.
Want to send reading material? Follow the "new books only" rule carefully. Kankakee County Jail only accepts new books - not used - and they must ship directly to the facility from a bookstore, warehouse, or publisher. Order through a retailer like Barnes & Noble or Amazon and have it sent straight from them. Don't mail it from your home, and don't send used copies.
Hard-cover books aren’t accepted through the mail, and calendars aren’t allowed either. Stick with softcover books shipped directly from an approved source to avoid having the package rejected.
Skip the blank supplies. Kankakee County Jail won't accept blank stationery, blank envelopes, stamps, or pre-stamped envelopes through the mail. Those items must be purchased through commissary. Include them in a letter, and the whole mailing could get flagged.
Watch for "extras" on mail: Don't add foreign substances like lipstick or perfume, and skip the stickers on envelopes or letters. If caught before opening, your mail gets returned. If discovered after opening, it can be destroyed as contraband.
If the person you're writing to gets transferred or released, timing matters. The jail only holds mail for 30 days after someone leaves. Send time-sensitive items as early as possible.
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