Sending Mail, Books, and What’s Prohibited to Inmates at Tehama County Jail
Mail for inmates goes to: P.O. Box 490 Red Bluff, CA 96080
Include your full name and return address on the envelope. Missing or incomplete return information means your mail gets sent back.
- ✓ Return address (you): Your Full Name; Your Street Address; Your City, State ZIP
- ✓ Inmate mail address: Inmate’s Name; P.O. Box 490; Red Bluff, CA 96080
Since July 1, 2019, legal mail can no longer be dropped off at the jail window. It must be mailed to the inmate, with "Legal Mail" written clearly on the front of the envelope.
- Write “Legal Mail” on the front of the envelope - put it where it’s easy to see.
- Add a complete return name and address - don’t leave the sender information blank.
- Mail it to the inmate at the jail’s mailing address - P.O. Box 490, Red Bluff, CA 96080.
Prohibited Items
- ✓ Any contraband (including drugs)
- ✓ Weapons
- ✓ Hazardous materials
- ✓ Spills/unknown substances (including lipstick/perfume)
- ✓ Stationery and certain paper types (including construction, drawing, cardstock, tracing, hobby, craft, or felt paper)
- ✓ Paperclips
- ✓ Metal items
- ✓ Plastic items
- ✓ Laminations
- ✓ Balloons
- ✓ Jewelry
- ✓ String
- ✓ Feathers
- ✓ CD/DVD/tapes
- ✓ Food
- ✓ Clothing
Common mistakes: Lipstick, perfume, certain stationery, and food often get included without thinking - but all of these are prohibited. Including them means your mail gets returned or confiscated.
Books, newspapers, and magazines must ship directly from the publisher or an online retailer like Amazon or Barnes & Noble. The jail needs to verify the sender, so items mailed from individuals won't be accepted.
Hardcovers won’t be accepted: Only paperback books and magazines are allowed.
- Choose paperback (not hardcover) - the jail does not accept hardcover books.
- Order through the publisher or an online retailer - personal shipments aren’t accepted for books/periodicals.
- Ship directly to the facility for the inmate - don’t have it sent to you first and then re-mail it.
Send something prohibited and the jail will either return it or confiscate it. For legal mail, remember: it must be mailed (not dropped off) and marked "Legal Mail" on the envelope, or it won't be treated as legal correspondence.
No clear appeals process: The jail doesn't spell out how to retrieve returned or confiscated items. If something gets rejected, call them directly to find out your options.
Find an Inmate at Tehama County Jail, CA
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
