Mail, photos, and digital mail: what can be sent and how it is handled

Mail rules vary significantly depending on whether your loved one is in a county jail, a Massachusetts state prison, or a federal facility. Always verify with the specific location. Worcester County Jail & House of Corrections, for example, requires mail to include the person's name and MSA number. Correspondence must be written in black or blue ink (or non-colored pencil) on white-lined paper that is free of stains or discolorations. Worcester County also photocopies incoming non-privileged correspondence for security, forwards the photocopy to the inmate, and holds the original for 30 days before destroying it.

Some Massachusetts jails have moved personal mail to digital delivery. Middlesex Sheriff's Office states that, effective August 1, 2024, personal (non-privileged) mail will switch to a digital delivery system run by Securus Technologies. Securus will receive, open, and scan mail into digital files, then keep the original for 60 days before destroying it. This digital switch applies only to personal, non-privileged mail. Privileged/legal correspondence and publications sent directly from a publisher or authorized retailer will still be accepted through the postal service.

Privileged and legal mail often gets extra handling, but it is still screened for contraband. Bristol County Sheriff's Office opens and copies legal/privileged mail in the presence of the inmate recipient, only to check that the mail is free from contraband. Originals are secured and provided upon discharge or when authorized. For federal custody, the Bureau of Prisons states that people generally cannot receive packages from home without prior written approval, with limited exceptions (such as release clothing and authorized medical devices). Magazines and books may be received directly from the publisher.