Vermont Doc– Mail Guidelines

[SIZE=2][B][COLOR=blue]The Department of Corrections recognizes there is need for, and encourages positive, constructive correspondence between inmates and their families, friends, and other associates.[/COLOR][/B]
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[COLOR=blue][B]The Department further recognizes the need for inmates to communicate in writing with legal counsel, courts, the Parole Board, and [/B][B]other public officials.[/B][/COLOR]
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[SIZE=2][B][COLOR=blue]The Department will supply each inmate, housed within Vermont, postage for the equivalent of seven outgoing, first class letters a week. Any postage due above this will be paid for by the inmate. At a [/COLOR][/B][B][COLOR=blue]minimum, the Department will supply indigent inmates with necessary materials, such as paper, envelopes, and writing instruments, to deal with their legal affairs through the mails. [/COLOR][/B]
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[B][COLOR=blue]The Department will not supply postage for other than the equivalent of seven first class letters per week, with the exception of indigent inmates mailing personal effects out (refer to Directive 321.01- Disposition of Personal Property and Offender Claims).[/COLOR][/B]
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[SIZE=2][B][COLOR=blue]Each Superintendent shall insure that out-going mail is removed from each living unit at least once each week day. Such mail shall be logged and have postage applied.[/COLOR][/B]
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[B][COLOR=darkorchid]Out-going mail will be delivered to postal authorities at least once each week day (Monday through Friday). No more than 24 hours, not including weekends and holidays, shall pass from the time mail is removed from the living unit until it is delivered to postal authorities. [/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=blue]Out-going mail, with the exception of inmate-to-inmate mail, shall not be inspected except if the Superintendent (or other designated employee) has reasonable suspicion to believe that the mail may pose a threat to [/COLOR][/B][B][COLOR=blue]the security and safety of the facility, its employees or residents, or that the mail may contain contraband.[/COLOR] [/B]

[B][COLOR=darkorchid]These reasons shall be documented in writing with a copy placed in the inmate’s file. Such inspections shall not delay the mail more than an additional 24 hours beyond the time limits set forth under number 4.3.1. [/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=blue]The Superintendent (or any designated employee) has the right to withhold and prevent the transmission of out-going mail only if the material constitutes a clear and present danger to the security of the [/COLOR][/B][B][COLOR=blue]facility or if it contains contraband as defined by the rules of the facility.[/COLOR] [/B]

[B][COLOR=darkorchid]If mail is withheld, the Superintendent shall return it to the sending inmate, unless such return would constitute a threat to the security and safety of the facility, and provide the sending inmate with a written reason for the refusal to transmit. Any inmate whose mail is withheld or returned as above shall have the right to grieve such action through the normal grievance procedure, as provided in Directive 320.01 – Offender Grievance. [/COLOR][/B]

[COLOR=blue][B]Out-Going Inmate-to-Inmate Mail – All mail from an inmate of the facility to another inmate, either within the same facility or at another facility either State or Federal, shall be inspected and read for the purposes of [/B][B]determining whether the mail contains contraband and to determine whether it poses a threat to the security of the facility, its employees or residents. The inspection of inmate-to-inmate mail shall not delay the mail more than an additional 24 hours beyond the time limits set forth under [/B][/COLOR]

[B][COLOR=darkorchid]This inspection shall not occur in the presence of the inmate. [/COLOR][/B]
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[B][COLOR=blue]All out-going packages will be inspected for contraband, security and property control prior to their being sealed and delivered to postal authorities.[/COLOR] [/B]

[B][COLOR=darkorchid]All out-going letters and packages from inmates will be stamped indicating they were mailed from the correctional facility. The stamp will indicate, at a minimum: (A) Inmate Correspondence; (B) Full name of the [/COLOR][/B][B][COLOR=darkorchid]facility; (C) Full address of the facility. These letters will be stamped as close to the front, upper left hand corner of the correspondence as is practical.[/COLOR] [/B]

[B][COLOR=gray]· EXCEPTION – Privileged mail and mail addressed to a licensed attorney shall not be impeded in its transmission, nor shall it be inspected, opened, copied, duplicated, photographed, or examined in any way. [/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR=blue]If there is doubt as to whether or not an addressee is a licensed attorney, then the mail may be held pending verification. If the verification is going to take longer than one work day, the inmate shall be advised, in [/COLOR][/B][B][COLOR=blue]writing, and be allowed to hold the letter pending verification if he/she so wishes.[/COLOR] [/B]

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[B]Incoming Correspondence[/B]

[COLOR=blue][B]General Letters – All letters will be opened and inspected in the presence of the inmate to whom it is addressed. Normally this process will include opening the envelope, inspection of the envelope and the opening [/B][B]of any folded material from within the envelope. Under no circumstances shall the contents be read. Both the [/B][B]envelope and contents will be given to the inmate to whom it was addressed. [/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR=darkorchid][B]Letters From Inmate In Other Facilities – Letters addressed to an inmate that is determined to have [/B][B]come from an inmate in another correctional facility shall be opened, inspected and read to determine if the [/B][B]correspondence poses a threat to the security of any correctional facility, any employee of a correctional facility, [/B][/COLOR]
[B][COLOR=darkorchid]or to another inmate.[/COLOR][/B]

[COLOR=blue][B]If it is determined that the correspondence poses a clear and present danger to the safety of the [/B][B]facility, it may be withheld from the addressee and returned to the sender with a written reason for the refusal [/B][B]to transmit. The inmate to whom the letter is addressed shall also be advised of the refusal to transmit. [/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR=darkorchid][B]Sexually Explicit Material – The facility may submit to Central Office for approval a procedural [/B][B]directive restricting possession of sexually explicit materials for inmates who are participating in treatment [/B][/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkorchid][B]programs addressing sexual offenses. The procedure should define what sexually explicit material will be [/B][B]considered contraband, and specify that complaints concerning the application of the procedure are to be [/B][B]processed through the grievance system[/B][/COLOR]

[SIZE=2][B]Packages [/B]

[B][COLOR=blue]All packages will be opened and the contents inspected and inventoried for the purpose of security and [/COLOR][/B]
[B][COLOR=blue]contraband control, as well as ensuring compliance with Directive 409.07 "Safe Mail Handling" 321.01.[/COLOR] [/B]

[COLOR=darkorchid][B]Each Superintendent in his/her facility may establish a correspondence procedure that can include the [/B][B]package either being opened and inventoried by two staff members, or allowing the inmate to whom it was [/B][B]addressed to observe, in a strictly controlled setting.[/B][/COLOR]
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[SIZE=2][B]Forwarding of Mail [/B]

[B][COLOR=blue]The Department of Corrections believes that, as individuals, inmates have the responsibility to advise [/COLOR][/B][B][COLOR=blue]those who they correspond with or receive material from through the mails of any change in address.[/COLOR] [/B]

[B][COLOR=darkorchid]Therefore, [/COLOR][/B][B][COLOR=darkorchid]all inmates are expected to make the appropriate notification of such.[/COLOR] [/B]

[COLOR=blue][B]However, the Department of Corrections recognizes that transfers and releases may occur [/B][B]unexpectedly. The Department of Corrections will forward all first class mail for a period of 90 days following [/B][B]the release or transfer of an inmate. For a released inmate, mail will be forwarded to an address he/she provides [/B][/COLOR]
[B][COLOR=blue]or to the address obtained on his/her face sheet. [/COLOR][/B]

[COLOR=darkorchid][B]All other mail will be stamped "Addressee Unknown – Return to Sender," and will be returned to the [/B][B]postal authorities at the next pick-up/delivery of facility mail. [/B][/COLOR]
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The above information came directly from the PDF document located on the Vermont DOC website.

http://www.doc.state.vt.us/about/policies/rpd/409.05

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