HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Changes are coming to how Madison County Jail inmates receive their mail.
The goal is to reduce the possibility of inmates receiving illegal drugs and other contraband through the mail system.
According to the sheriff's office, on Thursday, October 1, 2020, the Madison County Sheriff’s Detention Facility will begin digitizing all incoming personal mail for all county inmates. All correspondence to include letters, cards, photographs, (etc.), upon being received by jail staff will be scanned into the commissary system and delivered to the inmates in digital form only. Inmates will have access to their personal mail through the Kiosk inside the housing areas. After the mail is scanned and delivered to the inmates digitally, the Madison County Detention Facility will retain all items of personal mail for a period of seven (7) days from the date it is received.
In the announcement, the sheriff's office also said, "All inmates will be given the opportunity to designate person(s) who will have the ability to respond to the jail and retrieve the original mail during this prescribed time period (if they so choose). All items of mail not retrieved during the seven-day time period will be discarded. Books and periodicals will not be affected by this change. As per current procedures, books and periodicals will be delivered to the inmates provided they are shipped directly from the publisher.
"All Inmates will be given the opportunity to designate person(s) who will have the ability to respond to the jail and retrieve the original mail during this prescribed time period (if they so choose). All items of mail not retrieved during the seven-day time period will be discarded. Books and periodicals will not be affected by this change. As per current procedures, books and periodicals will be delivered to the inmates provided they are shipped directly from the publisher."
Sheriff Kevin Turner stated, “This change to our mail system is necessary to both protecting the inmates and jail staff members from the on-going threat of exposure to Covid-19, as well as to help control the possibility of inmates receiving illegal drugs and other dangerous substances through the mail system. By offering this service, we hope to provide an extra barrier for those seeking to send illegal drugs and other contraband into our jail facility. This mail process is a proactive response to ensure the health and safety of the jail staff and inmates of the jail. We believe that this will enhance our security tremendously.”