How an Inmate Can Get the Physical Copy of a Letter at Rock Island County Jail

At Rock Island County Jail, inmates can request the actual physical piece of incoming personal mail - but they have to act fast. The inmate must submit an inmate request to jail staff no later than 21 days after the electronic mail delivery (when the scanned mail shows up on the tablet). Miss that 21-day window, and the original paper letter could be destroyed before they ever get a chance to hold it.

• ✓ Check electronic mail delivery as soon as it arrives so you know when the 21-day clock starts
• ✓ Write down the electronic delivery date for each letter you may want in original form
• ✓ Submit an inmate request to staff for the physical piece of mail before day 21

Once the inmate submits the request, there's another step: staff approval. Facility staff must approve and submit the request for the physical mail, and this also has to happen within 21 days of electronic delivery. So even if your loved one asks for the original right away, it won't move forward unless staff approves it within that same deadline.

1. Ask your loved one to watch for the electronic delivery - the 21-day deadline is tied to when the scanned mail is delivered electronically.
2. Have them request the physical letter right away - the inmate must submit an inmate request to staff within 21 days of that electronic delivery.
3. Follow up on whether staff approved it - the request still needs staff approval and submission within the same 21-day window.
4. If timing matters, consider sending a second copy through USPS - inmates can still correspond through traditional USPS mail in addition to the electronic scanning program.

Don't assume unclaimed letters will sit around forever. Physical copies of incoming mail held at the P.O. Box are shredded and destroyed after 30 days onsite. Once it's gone, it's gone - the only version left will be the electronic copy delivered digitally.

Already missed the 21-day window? Focus on what you can control going forward. Rock Island County Jail allows inmates to receive correspondence through traditional USPS mail in addition to the electronic scanning program. If you need your loved one to have something in original form, send a duplicate through USPS next time to avoid the deadline problem.