Return to sender

Thursday July 7, 2011 5:07 p.m. CDT

Starting on July 25th you will be seeing “Return to sender” on letters you send to inmates in our county jail. The Detention Center inmates will only be allowed to receive postcards from the outside world. Again, this is only for incoming mail and will not apply to legal mail. All inmates will still be able to receive legal mail and will be able to mail regular letters to their family or friends.

This change is for two reasons, first it will assist the Garland County Sheriff's Office with people trying to smuggle in contraband such as tobacco products and inappropriate photos or drawings. Second, it will allow my staff to focus on more important issues in the jail which includes inmate safety. Currently we have to open approximately 100 letters a day in front of the inmates and inspect for contraband which is staff intensive. Due to being overcrowded and understaffed we should see immediate benefits.