Snail Mail

Snail Mail is just what is says..slow. All mail is sent to the Smart Communications Center in Florida. Takes 5-7 days (if not more to reach Florida) Once the processing center receives the mail, the turn around to send it to the institution your loved one is located at is usually within 24-48 hours. You can also use the service called MailGuard to track your mail sent. This service is free of charge and provided by Smart Communications. TIP: Sign up - it is free and using this you have a complete record of what you send (email notifications sent by MailGuard have scanned images attached), this way if your loved one doesn't receive it at their location, you have proof of what and when it was sent to the institution. When you sign up you will be assigned a MailGuard number. Place this number beside your name on everything you send. Below is what an envelope should look like with the correct information and your mail guard number. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT IT IS ADDRESSED JUST LIKE THIS. EVEN IF SMART COMMUNICATIONS SCANS AND SENDS TO THE INSTITUTION, THE INSTITUTION MAY REJECT IT BASED ON WHAT THEY CONSIDER AN ERROR. DON'T GIVE THEM A REASON TO REJECT IT.

Snail Mail is for general correspondence as listed below - THIS IS NOT THE ADDRESS FOR LEGAL MAIL, PHOTO BOOKS, PUBLICATIONS OR ANY BOUND MATERIAL

• Written Letters (Keep to 25 pages or less in one envelope)

• Cards (keep in mind, they will be scanned and reprinted, pop up or musical cards are wasting your money)

• Photo's (again, they will be scanned and reprinted, depending on the institution, sometimes color, sometimes in black and white) Only 25 permitted per mailing

• Drawings

• Basically anything that you can print on a 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper or smaller. All reprints will be on 8 1/2 by 11 paper

• Must follow DOC Guidelines - No copied books, nudity or anything they deem inappropriate. If you have questions on appropriate, check the DOC website.