- Purpose: This order outlines how the Denver Sheriff Department (DSD) will process mail.
- Policy: People-in-custody are permitted to send and receive mail in accordance with this policy subject to limitations or procedures necessary to maintain safety and security. <ACA-5ALDF: 6A-04; CJS: F.1.2; F.1.5>
- Cancellation: This order supersedes and cancels previous versions of Department Order 1.00.1013.
- Procedure:
- Incoming and outgoing personal mail may be opened and inspected for contraband. People-in-custody shall be notified in writing when mail is withheld in part or in full. <ACA-5ALDF: 5B-08>
- Outgoing Personal Mail:
- There is no limit on the amount of outgoing mail as long as the person-in-custody is able to pay the mailing cost. <ACA-5ALDF: 5B:05; CJS: F.1.3>
- People-in-custody shall not be permitted to send outgoing mail to other people-in-custody.
- All outgoing mail is subject to inspection and reading if there is a potential safety and security risk or reasonable cause to believe the mail is not being utilized for legitimate purposes. This shall occur at the approval of the chief of operations.
- Outgoing mail will be collected daily and delivered to the post office within forty-eight (48) hours, excluding weekends and postal holidays. <ACA-5ALDF: 5B-10; CJS: F.1.6>
- Indigent people-in-custody may request an indigent mail packet by sending a request (kite) to commissary. <ACA-5ALDF: 5B-06; 6A-09; CJS: F.1.4>
- Please see Department Order 1.00.6008 – Receipt and Disposition of Person-in-Custody Funds for more information.
- Incoming Personal Mail:
- All personal mail should be sent to and processed by a mail processing center located in Tampa, FL.
- Mail for people-in-custody must be addressed to the Denver Sheriff Department PO Box 20707, Tampa, FL 33622. Any mail not sent to this address will be returned to sender.
- Mail without the person-in-custody's CD number will be returned to sender.
- Up to 10 photos may be included with the mail as long as they are no larger than 8 x 10 inches. Additional or oversized photos will be thrown away. Polaroid photos will not be accepted.
- Packages shall not be accepted.
- Mail received at the mail processing center will be scanned and uploaded to a password protected account. The account is accessible to the person-in-custody through an assigned tablet or kiosk located in the housing units.
- If a person-in-custody does not have access to a tablet or kiosk, the mail will be printed and delivered to the them.
- Mail or items that cannot be scanned will be thrown away.
- Original mail will be returned if a self addressed stamped envelope is included.
- There is no restriction on the amount of incoming mail a person may receive.
- Incoming mail is subject to inspection and reading for contraband. Contraband includes, but is not limited to:
- Weapons or directions or depictions for the manufacturing of weapons, explosives or incendiary devices
- Illicit drugs or directions or depictions for the manufacturing of drugs, drug paraphernalia or alcohol
- Information relating to criminal activities, such as threats of blackmail, extortion, unauthorized entry, or escape, etc.
- Information advocating lawlessness, violence, anarchy, or overthrowing existing forms of government
- Sexually explicit materials, including photographs and articles, nudity, sadism, or masochism, etc.
- Offensive or derogatory statements toward others because of their protected characteristics or beliefs, such as race, color, sex, gender, political beliefs, age, disability, national origin
- Locksmith activities, lock picking, or in defeating a locking mechanism or security system
- Gang-related materials
- Items which include:
- Credit card(s) and/or account numbers
- Bank account numbers or financial statements
- Personal identification numbers or security codes for any financial transaction or device
- Social Security information
- Driver’s license, passport, or other types of identification or government documents
- Real estate or property tax documents
- Mail sent by a party that is not the original sender or third-party mailing services
- Any item that violates a departmental rule or is deemed to be a safety or security risk
- Incoming mail from another person-in-custody will be returned to sender.
- Undeliverable mail shall be returned to the sender.
- Funds:
- Postal money orders and checks should be mailed to the Denver Sheriff Department PO Box 1108, Denver, CO 80201. The person-in-custody's name and CD number must be included on the envelope.
- Postal money orders will be deposited in the person-in-custody's personal account. Accounting will issue a receipt to the person-in-custody after the funds are posted.
- Checks will be placed into the person-in-custody's property, unless it is a governmental issued check.
- Legal Mail:
- Legal mail should be mailed to the Denver Sheriff Department at PO Box 1108, Denver, CO 80201. The person-in-custody's name and CD number must be included on the envelope.
- An official envelope which identifies the name of the law firm or attorney representing the person-in-custody or the court must be used.
- The envelope must have "legal mail" clearly stated on the envelope.
- Incoming Mail:
- Legal mail will be processed and opened in front of the person-in-custody to be inspected for contraband.
- Legal mail will be stamped with a date and time of arrival.
- Legal mail shall be delivered within twenty-four hours of arrival at the facility, excluding weekends and federal holidays. <ACA-5ALDF: 5B-10>
- If the person-in-custody is unavailable to accept the legal mail, the mail will be delivered as soon as reasonably possible upon their return.
- Outgoing Mail:
- Legal mail must be placed in a sealed envelope by the person-in-custody.
- Postage shall be provided for persons-in-custody to send legal mail at no cost.
- Records shall be maintained of all postage provided for this purpose.
- Official Documents
- Government issued documents may be sent to the Denver Sheriff Department at PO Box 1108, Denver, CO 80201. The person-in-custody's name and CD number must be included on the envelope.
- The envelope must have "official documents" clearly stated on the envelope. The mail containing official documents will be opened and inspected for contraband.
- Any other items, including correspondence, will be discarded.
- The official document shall be placed into the person-in-custody's property. Written notification will be given to the person-in-custody.
- Publications
- Books, magazines, and newspapers shall be accepted if they are mailed from a publisher or regional distributor to the Denver Sheriff Department at PO Box 1108, Denver, CO 80201. <ACA-5ALDF: 5B-05; 5B-07>
- Prior to distribution, publications shall be inspected for contraband.
- Suspicious Mail:
- Suspicious mail, including legal mail, will be subject to inspection for contraband for the safety and security of the facility.
- No suspicious packages or mail will be picked up from the U.S. Post Office.
- Person-in-custody Notification:
- People-in-custody shall be notified in writing whenever any letter, package or postal item is rejected. <ACA-5ADLF: 5B-08>
- Responsibility:
- Training:
- The Training Academy will ensure that the curriculum of all currently existing classes and any newly developed classes are compliant with this order.
- Management:
- Management is responsible for ensuring:
- existing procedures and all newly developed orders are in compliance with this order;
- all affected personnel are made aware of this policy; and
- this policy is reviewed annually for compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and standards.
- Supervisors:
- All supervisors will ensure that the provisions of this policy are being followed and that deputies who they are assigned to supervise have reviewed this policy and acknowledged such review in PowerDMS.
- Staff:
- All deputies and employees will comply with the provisions of this policy.
- Effective Date: This order will become effective on July 7th, 2025.
- Approval: This document has been reviewed, approved, and electronically signed by the Sheriff of the City and County of Denver prior to its publication.
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