Offender Mail
U.S. Postal Service, ASM, Sec. 274.96
“Authorized personnel of prisons, jails, or other correctional institutions, under lawful rules and regulations, may open, examine and censor mail addressed to an inmate of the institution, if the inmate-addressee consents to receive his or her mail at the institution through the institutional authorities. If the inmate does not consent, the personnel may return it to the post office unopened, marked “Refused”. An inmate may designate in writing an agent outside the institution to receive his or her mail, either through an authorized address of the agent if the mail is so addressed, or at the delivery post office serving the institution, if the mail is addressed to the inmate at the institution.”
Correspondence from inmates does not become U.S. Mail until it comes into the actual custody and control of the Postal Service, either when given to a postal employee or when deposited into a receptacle authorized by the Postmaster General for the receipt of mail: (i.e a street collection box, lobby drop in a U.S. Post Office, etc.). Therefore, unless items are considered actual mail matter as referenced above, the federal laws pertaining to the protection of mail matter do not apply.
Outgoing Mail
- All general mail will be placed in the mail collection box unsealed.
- All legal mail will be properly marked “Legal Mail” on the front of the envelope, and will be legitimately addressed to a Congressman, Judge, Attorney or other official who qualifies for confidential communication.
- Legal Mail will be taken to the Pod Officer before it is sealed. The offender will show the Pod Officer that there is no contraband contained in the envelope before it is sealed. The offender will be allowed to seal the letter at that time. The witnessing officer will then initial the back of the envelope and the front “Legal Mail”. The envelope can then be placed in to the mail collection box. Legal Mail that is received by the Mail Officer without the Officer’s initials will be returned to the offender.
- All Mail will be the proper postage applied. Mail with bleached postage stamps applied to them will not be mailed.
- Mail addressed between two offenders currently incarcerated in the Greene County Jail will not be mailed.
- Mail that has drawings on the face of the envelope or postcard will not be accepted in the mail. The Postal Service indicates that such drawings cause problems with their sorting equipment.
- Outgoing mail will not be accepted without a return address. The return address will have the offenders name, 1199 N Haseltine RD Springfield, MO 65802 and inmate’s jacket number.
- Sending mail by any method other than stated above is a violation of the facility rules. Underground mail (passing of notes to anyone) is forbidden.
- Mail that is to be delivered to a Judge or Public Defender from Greene County may be given to the Pod Officer for forwarding to their individual offices.
Incoming Mail
- All personal mail such as letters, pictures, and drawings will now be digitally delivered to your loved one or friend via tablet.
- The address to send personal mail is:
Greene County Jail
Inmate Name
Jacket/CFN Number
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
- No personal mail will be accepted at the Greene County Jail address.
- You should still send legal mail or approved packages to the facility.
- All incoming personal mail can be on a postcard, 2-page letter (front and back) or greeting card.
- Mail received from another Jail and/or Penal Institution will be rejected.
- Mail and correspondence from Attorneys, Judges, or Congressmen (Legal Mail) will be opened, copied, and shredded in the presence of the offender.
- No Monetary items in any form will be accepted through the mail for deposit in the inmate trust fund account and will be rejected. All funds must be deposited using the Access Corrections Kiosk in our jail lobby, their website or telephone number.
- Due to limited storage areas, packages will not be accepted into the Jail. Instead, the packages will be refused and returned to the sender. No Christmas or birthday packages will be accepted.
- Mail received for offenders who have been released from custody will be rejected. The Jail will not hold mail for offenders after they have been released.
- No mail depicting nudity, weapons, drug use or gang references
- All mail must be addressed with complete names and clearly legible
- Incoming mail must contain the sender’s complete first and last name, complete return address, and the intended recipient’s complete name and jacket number.
- To determine an inmate's CFN or Jacket number, you can find it on our Active Greene County Jail Population search page or by calling (417) 868-4040.
Mail Limitation
- Mail will not be approved on the weekends.
- Magazines: we do not allow individual magazine or newspaper subscriptions
- Books: All books must be pre-approved by our Programs Coordinator. Any inquiries can be directed by calling at (417) 829-6606 or email [email protected]