It's probably considered contraband, but honestly, it usually depends on the co that is opening the mail that day. I had sent my boyfriend stamps and envelopes when he first got in and they let him have them, but they told him not to do it again. But, I've done it a couple times since and they always go thru.

The picture I sent him of our cats.... they wouldn't let him have! Goofy. You just never know, it depends on their mood that second of that day.

You could always slip a couple bucks in the envelope. it would go into his account and he could buy them...

Thanks Kristi !! Hugs

Yeah I wouldn't send them. Some church lady sent my husband stamps and they took them! So I would just put $ in his account

It's possible it varies from place to place and may be different in jail versus prison however, where my loved one is incarcerated, stamps ARE considered contraband. He can received NOTHING by mail except letters, which are read, and photos. In our particular case, we must purchase items via a 3rd party agency in order to send outside items to our loved one.

Hope this helps.

All this information is provided by the Michigan DOC.

Per policy, mail is considered any written, typed or printed communication of information, including magazines, catalogs, books and photographs. Stamps, stickers, and similar items do not communicate information and thus are not considered mail for purposes of this policy even if delivered through the mail.


Beginning February 16, 2009, family members and others will have two options for placing funds into a prisoners account.

1. Funds may be placed into a prisoner's account using JPay.

To use this method, you must establish a JPay account. Please visit www.jpay.com for information on how to open and manage your account.

Once the JPay account is established, you may deposit funds into a prisoner's account through any of the options listed below:

Online by using a credit/debit card through the www.jpay.com website.
By calling JPay at 1-800-574-5729. Agents are available 24 hours/day in English and Spanish.

In person, with cash at the nearest Moneygram Store, located inside WalMart and CVS stores. Fill out an express blue form and use receive code 6902.

2. Effective immediately, Family and others may use MDOC's Centralized Receipting Office.

Send funds to the address below. YOU MUST INCLUDE THE PRISONER'S NAME AND NUMBER.


Centralized Receipting Office
P. O. Box 700
Freeland, MI 48623-0700

Funds received through the Centralized Receipting Office shall be credited to the prisoner's account only if they are in the form of a check issued by a bank with guaranteed funds (e.g., cashier check; certified check) or money order payable in U.S. currency and made payable to the prisoner only. Under no circumstances shall cash or a personal check be accepted.

Only funds are to be sent to the Centralized Receipting Office. Anything else that is sent, such as letters or pictures, will not be forwarded to the prisoner. All funds received must comply with PD 04.02.105 "Prisoner Funds".

The prisoner will be issued a receipt of funds that were received and notified if the funds are rejected for any reason

Hi I just want you to know in Michigan you can not send envelopes or money in the mail to prisoners . you may send pictures no bigger then a 5x7 that is allowed . no polarids are allowed though. I do know this my son is in one of the prisons in Michigan. If you know what prison he is in all you have to do is go to the prison site and you can check to see what is allowed and not allowed just look at their facts and question that will answer a lot of your questions. Vicky

Hi my husbent is here in a michigan prison i was sending money orders now i do jpay he has to buy everything threw there he can only get letters and pics.Good luck Evelyn

When we were told we couldn't send a book to our loved one,we were told we could donate the book to the jail library on the chance that he might get it that way.

His gf, ripped the pages out of the book and tried to mail them bit by bit...even those didn't get through.

Nope, don't send it...I tried with my daughter in the beginning and they took it and stamps I sent too. Send money order for their commissary is probably the best thing. Take care.