How to Send Mail and Books to Someone at Stanislaus County Jail Without It Getting Rejected
Mail rules at Stanislaus County Jail are strict. Follow the exact address format, include the booking number, and avoid the common prohibited items—your mail is much more likely to get through.
Send all mail to the Sheriff's Detention Center at 200 E. Hackett Rd, Modesto, CA 95358. Your return address goes in the top left corner. In the bottom center, write the incarcerated person's name, their booking number, and the facility address. This format makes it easy for staff to route mail quickly.
Booking number required: Every piece of mail needs the booking number. Write it directly under the person's name so staff can spot it immediately.
Rejected Items
- ✓ Polaroid pictures
- ✓ Nude or partially nude pictures or drawings
- ✓ Raised decorative stickers
- ✓ Letters in envelopes that could conceal contraband
- ✓ Personal checks
- ✓ Cards
- ✓ Items that can be obtained on commissary
- ✓ Mail containing substances such as powder, stains, liquids, etc.
- ✓ Any material deemed unacceptable by the Facility Commander
All mail gets screened for contraband and security concerns. Anything that could hide substances or raise red flags will be rejected and sent back to you. Your best bet? Keep it simple - a straightforward letter on clean paper, nothing altered, bulky, sticky, or suspicious. One more thing: the Facility Commander has final say. Even if something isn't explicitly banned, staff can still reject it during review.
The rule on reading material is straightforward: magazines, periodicals, and books must ship directly from the publisher. No third-party sellers, no hardcovers. Stick with softcover formats that publishers send directly.
There's also a quantity limit: each person can have five books in their cell at any time. If they're already at the limit, new deliveries get refused. Coordinate before you order, and keep shipments small.
- Confirm it ships from the publisher - the jail only accepts magazines, periodicals, and books mailed directly from the publisher (no third-party sellers).
- Choose an allowed format - do not order hardcover books.
- Keep the five-book limit in mind - the person can only have a total of five books in their cell.
- Use the correct delivery address and include the booking number - address it to Sheriff’s Detention Center, 200 E. Hackett Rd, Modesto, CA 95358, and make sure the booking number is on the mailing.
If your loved one has $2.00 or less in their cash account, they qualify as indigent and get some mail assistance. The jail provides four free postage-paid letters per week for personal correspondence. Legal mail has no limit.
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