What You Can and Can't Send to McHenry County Jail: Photos, Books, Cards, and More
Sending mail to someone at McHenry County Jail is doable, but the details matter. Follow the rules below to avoid having your letter or items sent back.
Mailing photos to someone at McHenry County Jail? Start with the biggest rule: all mail has to go through the U.S. Postal Service. You cannot drop off mail for detainees or inmates, even if it's just a letter and a few pictures.
- ✓ Keep it to 10 photos max per envelope if the photos are printed on photo paper.
- ✓ Stick to 4x6 or smaller for photo prints. Larger than 4x6 is only allowed if it is printed on a standard sheet of paper.
- ✓ Do not send Polaroid photos.
Do not send: Photos that depict alcohol, drugs, gang affiliation, weapons (real or fake), nudity, or sexual content.
Even if something similar has made it through before, the jail can still reject items based on content at any time. If you're unsure whether a picture could be seen as breaking the rules, pick a different one.
Books, magazines, and periodicals need pre-approval from the Mail Officer before they're mailed in. If the title isn't pre-approved, it gets sent back.
Publications also have to ship directly from the publisher. Anything coming from another source won't meet the jail's requirements.
- ✓ No hardcover books.
- ✓ No staples.
- ✓ No other fasteners.
Pre-approval isn't permanent. The jail can reject items at any time based on content, even if they were previously approved.
When unauthorized items show up in the mail, the jail doesn't just pull out the problem item. The entire letter, along with everything inside it, gets returned to the sender.
Need to arrange a return for unauthorized books or other items? You can email return shipping labels to MCJBooks@mchenrycountyil.gov.
- Pick up unauthorized items during the allowed window. Pickup is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays.
Time limit: Unauthorized items that are not returned to the publisher or picked up within 60 days will be destroyed.
Cards Envelopes
- ✓ Do not add glitter, perfume, or lipstick to cards or envelopes.
- ✓ Do not include blank paper in the envelope.
- ✓ Do not send extra stamps or extra envelopes inside your letter.
Like letters and photos, cards and envelopes must go through the U.S. Postal Service. The jail does not accept mail dropped off in person.
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