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FlyHigh

Hey everyone,

I've really found a penpal I've connected with and I want to send him a picture. I don't have any regular pictures I like, so I was just thinking of printing out a picture from my saved pictures on regular printing paper and folding it, and then putting in my envelope along with my letter. He's says that's fine with them.

Do most prisons have any rules against that? Just curious.

Thanks.


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Anonymous

Yeah. I don’t know either and I tend to question a lot of the data on the internet. I would feel more comfortable looking up information of that nature in a law library. From the website I was looking at, it reported Texas as having the highest incident of reported sexual assault/rape in prison. However, just because something goes unreported, does not mean it didn’t occur. Unless a man is severely injured during the attack, he would be mindful of telling anyone and trying to keep that information from as many inmates as possible. Although I would assume news like that travels pretty quickly throughout the yards as humilation/control is a big factor.

 
Cherokee89

In USP 25-26% of inmate population are sex offenders. I am not sure how that compares to other state prisons. When I was in jail alot of guys were there for meth the sex drug, and they had some really weird ideas. It seem like an overabundance of bisexual men. I have nothing against it, but something I will have to get use to, as I feel to eachs own is best policy and I am 100% hetro.

 
Anonymous

I don’t think JD is going to Texas anyway, but I might be wrong. I think it was Utah or someplace else. I would imagine the regulation can be affected by crime and situation as everything else in prison. No big deal. I wonder if Utah state pens have a lot of inmates convicted of polygamy or those kinds of issues. Especially now in light of the FDLS.

 
lulu

No reason to be sorry. :)

 
Anonymous

Well Its not an argument, I was only trying to assure Cherokee its not EVERY prison across the board....lol sorry.

 
lulu

This was in Texas where I was referring too. It also depends on what " level " in seg they are.

 
Anonymous

Well the guy I write was in seg. He was actually on the same block where DR inmates were housed and never a problem with his photos including how many he could have in his cell. Thats what makes me think it may be dependant on other factors as it clearly is not an across the board rule or enforced regulation. I can ask him about it again on the next letter to make sure I didnt miss understand him but its been like this over 2 years now...

 
lulu

I know if a person is in seg. they have only a limited amount they can have. This also can be true in GP as well. you will have to ask him/her about the rules they require there.

 
Anonymous

I dont think they always limit the amount of photos an inmate can have in his cell. That regulation must vary because my pen pal can have as many as he wants. They dont seem to mind with him. Im not sure how that regulation is enforced or why. Maybe its based on crime or if photos have been sold/traded or abused in some manner. I dont know.

 
Cherokee89

I guess time will tell but I hope I am not at a prison who limits number of photos I can have because I am taking a bunch so when I am down I can look at them and dream.

 
MattelMade

I also have never had pictures sent back, and I never put my boyfriend's DOC number on pictures. I guess it depends on the prison and state, but I'm sure they'll send it back if there is any problem.

 
Cherokee89

Some places like Washington DOC require name and number on photos, but like Asha said it is a good idea so if it drops out of envelope then they know who it goes to.

 
Anonymous

I always place that on there just as a precaution. What if someone in the mail room dropped the photo and then another person picked it up and then it was just so confusing to them that they decide to throw away the photo? What a nuisance/hassle. But say you forget, chances are the inmate will still receive it. Also, I always make copies of the original photos and send that. That way I can always make more if there is a problem.

 
lulu

I never place the number on my pictures i send them. Never had a problem myself.

IF they require the number to be on there, there is a good chance you will get it back.

 
whiterose

hmmmmmmmmmm i'm not sure about every prison some will send it back but i never had problems with not puting their name and gdc# on the back of the pic.
if it's your first pic i would put everything on it so you will be sure he will get the picture.

btw.......welcom on wap.
hugs from over holland.

 
DebMar

HI,New to the site! What if I sent a pic in the letter but didnt know to put his name and GDC # on back of the pic? Someone told me they would send it back to me at the inmates expense! Is that true. It went to Baldwin State !!!

 
larrysbabygirl

sure, why not? Ive done the same thing many times too. he likes when I print them out online also on paper. he can hang them on his wall better. I can send him more, because theres no limits on paper//hehe, but with pics, their is

 
FromDusk

I suppose I still can't understand properly what pictures must mean to inmates.
My penpal always wants pictures of me, not even landscapes I photograph or anything. So I just send regular pics, though I certainly don't think I'm anything special, so can't understand why they are a big deal! :dunno:

 
whiterose

at first i always printed because it's cheeper,but my palls asked for real polorids.
i think one of my palls got more than hundred pictures from me ,the kids and loved ones from me haha.
i even send once a huge one from myself no problem at all but i think it depends from prison to prison.

 
skye

There is a paper by hammer-mill called Lazer #80 Cover. You can buy it at a local office supply store or any kinko's. It is slick , and not too thick. It works fine on inkjet printers and the photos look good on them. It is not as expensive as photo paper, and not as thin as paper. So it has a little weight to it.

My pal Juan goes through so many of his pictures that he will ask me to print him some, yes of himself, and send to him.

He was once on a documentary and each time MSNBC airs it.... he gets a lot of mail, and he always sends them a picture of him.

It's a less expensive way to give them something nice.

 
FromDusk

I've mostly printed mine out walletsize too, easier to fit into the envelope! Although I never really thought of printing them on paper before! Will be sure to ask if that counts as an "extra page" at my pals places.

I was never sure what type to send either at first. I've sent a few now though, just face and top half shots pretty much.

I was just told to imagine that many people would see them, so make sure I was comfortable with whatever I sent being seen! Though, it strikes me that what is perfectly regular to me on the outside may also be seen differently in there.

I wish I could be a fly on the wall though sometimes when they get these photos! Especially if they pass them around! :crazy:

 
GypsyRose

Actually, I've done it this way alot and never had any problems. Go ahead and give it a try. I've never heard of them sending any back like that.

 
pennylane

Because i send many pictures, i mostly print them out on a walletsize. Then i glue them on coloured thick paper and write a nice story below every picture.

 
MattelMade

I always print my pics of my computer onto photo paper, or shutterfly.com is good to, you upload your computer pics onto their site and they can ship them directly to the inmate. It's cheaper than buying ink for your printer and gets there pretty fast. It's also cheaper to send lots of pictures that way too than ordering from a store.

 
whitediamonds

[COLOR=blue]Some prisons have a limit on how many photos can be in one envelope at a time also. Check with your pp on that or the facility. [/COLOR]

 
skye

Polorids are a no no b/c drugs can easily be put side them.

 
Capribou

yea haha! I understand! ;D thanks for answering<3 .but i only have a digital camera and i have all my photos on my PC so it's easy just to print whatever i want to send, and i will still have them for myself too. yea, i'd definitely make copies if I had only one of each photo! ..and i'd never even send photos if i wanted them back ;P i understand if they are hard to get back XD if i were in prison i'd keep everything ;D

 
Anonymous

No I was referring to PRINTS and not digital photos. I have both but even the digital I will keep in files on the computer to make as many copies as I need or to keep track of what I have already sent out in the mail. I’m saying if you have film prints, you NEVER want to send out those originals as it’s very likely you will never get them back. Simply make copies and send those instead. You can also make copies of any photos they send to you.

 
Capribou

aah okay , ok , i get it ;D haha...yea I have them on computer ^^ .not that i need them anyways...

 
Anonymous

Yes I only meant you might not want to send originals if that is all you have. You are not likely to ever get them back. That way you don’t need to ask to retrieve them and you can make more copies later if required. If your photos are digital, than no worries and just save them in a file on your computer. I’m saying don’t send out your original photos if that is all you have. Make copies and send those only.

 
Capribou

asha, what do you mean copies?? ;D i cant send the original ones?? i ..um...maybe you ment that i should send copies so that i will still have the photos too?? ;D or what?..i have a digital camera and i just had them made and sent for him. i have te originals still on my computer ;o

 
whitediamonds

[COLOR=blue]Many prisons only allow so much of personal items, it is statewide in many states, Some of the reasons are inmates get tranfered alot, shake down of cells, cells are small, easy to find contraband with less personal items, the list goes on.. [/COLOR]
[COLOR=blue][/COLOR]
[COLOR=blue] [/COLOR]

 
Anonymous

Yep, it’s mainly because of the backing on them. All it takes is an exacto-blade, a little precision cutting and you are all set to party. I’m sure your pal will be fine. It seems if he had a photo limit for his cell, he would have been certain to mention it to you. Also, be sure you only send copies of course, no originals!

 
Capribou

he's in maximum security prison (not in canada though ;D nooo..) but he didn t mention anything! ..hmm u ey ;Dwy can't we send polaroids?? i must be relaly stupid or someting but i don't get it!! ..though i don't ave any polaroids ;PP just curious

edit: weee...no need for an answer to that anymore! I user search and found several explanations ;D.

 
LawDog

Ok, new rule. All photos must be sent to LawDog for cursory review before being sent to the inmates. :lol:

:saythat:

....and this means ALL photos.

:akidd:

 
Anonymous

I don’t think they would do that. I once sent a Polaroid photo to a maximum security prison in Canada and they returned it. They even paid for the postage with a polite, handwritten note explaining the rules! Of course, that was Canada and they are always polite it seems heheh. They won’t throw out your photos. If he can’t pay for them to be returned, I’m guessing they will hold onto them until he can or hopefully there is no limit if he has not mentioned one prior to this.

 
Capribou

asha, ok, i hope he can at least pick the ones he wants to have ;D ...but yea, it would be crazy if they just tossed them into trash. ..well, we'll see :)

 
Anonymous

Capribou,

Hopefully not. If there is any limitation on the amount of photos he can have in his cell at any given time, most likely they will hold on to any excess. They will probably give him the option of paying to return what he can not have. Honestly, I have only heard of that rule pertaining to certain circumstances which have to do with the inmate's crime. It’s not across the board. Chances are he can receive all of them if he didn’t mention to you that there was a limit.

 
wolfdreamer

Fly that's a great picture to send most inmates just need a picture to write to like us on the Internet we can correspond with people online and sometimes send pictures so we can place a face with a screen name they do the same a face with a letter sort of speaking. Just make sure its not a Polaroid picture.

 
Capribou

flyhigh you're sooo cute ;DDD your pp will be very happy to get a pic like that ;DD haha..offtopic sorry. i just had to say it. x) ...i myself just sent 8 photos for my pp! 2 of myself and others were pictures of finland ;D..im so stupid, i never though that they may not be allowed to keep more than 5 pics or so!!...but he asked for pictures of finland..so maybe there arent any regulations.. if there are will my pics be just tossed into a trashcan?? ;'D

 
Q80

Your picture should be just fine.. :)

 
FlyHigh

Thanks so much everyone. I really love this site, you people are so helpful. :yup:

Oh here's an extra question, my PP said a picture of my face would be fine. And since I'm a little wary of sending full length pictures I thought maybe I'd print out and send him this one of me...

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff71/BethyBeth88/gfdfgfsdgds.jpg

Would that be okay for a prisoner? I sound so dumb lol but I've never done this before, I don't want to break any rules!

 
horsewithnoname

Have a couple of pps in Florida, the pic on regular paper is considered "an extra" page which they are only allowed 5 and they are only allowed 10 pics in their cells. Got around it by sending it in the body of my letter as an "insert picture" with Word and discussing my hair cut etc. Other states have different regs, TX is pretty okay with as many pages as you want to send outside a letter and the Fed facilities really don't seem to care as long as you're not trying to bust them out LOL. Just my experience but it might be best to call the mailroom, make nice and ask, never hurts and may help. A max sec mailroom in CA is awesome in answering numerous questions, I was just nice, respectful and asked, they've been great.

 
whitediamonds

[COLOR=blue]Paper pics are accepted at any prison, makes it better for the inmate due to each prison has its own rule on how many pics allowed to keep with them. [/COLOR]
[COLOR=blue]That only applys to regular pics" not paper pictures. A good thing !!! [/COLOR]

 
lulu

not that i know of . Most units will not allow like Polaroids of that nature.

I have myself have sent paper pics before. I was like you didnt have no recent one so I sent one off the puter.

Good luck :)