Why Kentucky DOC Created the Legal Mail Portal (what it means for Lee Adjustment Center cases)
Kentucky DOC created the Legal Mail Portal to address a real safety problem: people have been smuggling drugs into facilities by soaking paper in chemicals, then mailing it inside. Once it arrives, the recipient can tear the paper into smaller pieces to sell or use. So why does legal mail get special attention? Mail from attorneys has historically faced less scrutiny - which makes it a prime target for smugglers. The portal's verification requirements aim to close that gap without blocking legitimate attorney-client communication.
When an attorney registers for the Kentucky Department of Corrections Legal Mail Portal, they agree to the portal's notice and rules. This isn't just a formality - it sets clear expectations for how legal mail must be prepared and handled. Registration also requires proof of licensure in good standing. Attorneys upload an image or PDF from their Bar Association as part of the process.
Attorney Rules
- ✓ Don’t send documents you didn’t generate yourself, unless they’re official documents from another trusted source (for example: a birth certificate, death certificate, affidavit, or something similar).
- ✓ Don’t hand an envelope to a third party (including a client’s family) to mail.
- ✓ Make sure any envelope going into a prison is sealed by the attorney or trusted staff.
- ✓ Put it directly into the mail stream without delay.
The proof-of-licensure upload helps Kentucky DOC verify who's actually using the portal. By tying access to an attorney's good standing - confirmed through a Bar Association document - the system supports stricter handling rules for what gets sent and how.
Why these rules exist: Drugs can enter facilities through chemically treated paper, and legal mail has historically faced less scrutiny - making it an attractive smuggling route. Requiring attorney verification, limiting outside documents, and banning third-party handling all reduce the chances that contraband slips in with legitimate correspondence.
If your loved one is at Lee Adjustment Center with an active legal matter, here's what matters: Kentucky DOC wants legal mail to be easier to verify and harder to exploit. The portal confirms senders are licensed attorneys in good standing, and the rules control where documents come from and who touches the envelope before it's mailed. For families, this means don't try to help by playing go-between with attorney mail. The rules specifically prohibit attorneys from handing envelopes to third parties - including family - to mail. Attorneys also can't send documents they didn't create themselves, unless those documents are official trusted materials. If you have paperwork you think the lawyer needs to get to your loved one, coordinate directly with the attorney. Let them decide how to handle it under these rules.
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