How Inmates Request Services at Marysville: Understanding the Kite System
If your loved one is at Marysville, you'll hear the word
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Kites matter because they create a clear, trackable way to ask for help - no relying on informal messages or hoping someone remembers. Whether your loved one needs a service, has a question for staff, or wants to sign up for a program, the kite system is how it gets done.
Inmates at Marysville can submit Service Kites two ways: through the terminals in the pods, or on a paper form from custody staff. Which method they choose usually depends on what's available at the moment. Either way, the request goes through the same system.
Note: Both pod terminals and paper forms are valid ways to submit a Service Kite. If your loved one can't access the terminal, they can ask custody staff for a paper kite instead.
Medical requests work a little differently. Before being seen by medical staff, your loved one must submit a written medical kite. Feeling sick? Need to report symptoms? It has to go in writing first so it can be routed to the right people.
- ✓ Describe the issue clearly (what’s happening, where it hurts, and how long it’s been going on).
- ✓ Include any key details that help staff understand urgency (for example, worsening symptoms or trouble breathing).
- ✓ Make sure the request is submitted as a medical kite so it goes to the right place.
- ✓ If it’s a follow-up to an earlier issue, say that directly so it’s not treated like a brand-new complaint.
Note: A written medical kite is required before medical staff will see your loved one. Encourage them to submit one rather than waiting for the issue to resolve on its own.
Common Requests and Family Tips
- ✓ Requests for specific needs or help from staff (submitted as a Service Kite)
- ✓ Requests to participate in available programs (submitted as a Service Kite)
- ✓ Notary services (requested by sending a kite to custody staff)
- ✓ Photocopies of legal paperwork only (requested by sending a kite to custody staff; non-legal copying isn’t covered)
- Encourage them to put it in a kite - If they’re asking you for help with something inside the jail, the fastest path is usually for them to submit a Service Kite (or a medical kite for health issues).
- Have them be specific - Short, clear details (what they’re requesting and why) help staff route the request.
- Remind them to keep it focused - One request per kite is often easier to understand than a long, mixed list.
- If it’s medical, don’t rely on verbal messages - Tell them to submit the written medical kite so they can be seen.
- Document what you can on your end - If you’re planning to follow up later, write down the date they say they submitted the kite and what it was for.
For general Service Kites, your loved one can use either the pod terminal or a paper form - both work. Medical concerns require a written medical kite specifically. For notary or photocopy requests, the process is the same: send a kite to custody staff. One thing to keep in mind - photocopying is limited to legal paperwork only.
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