Items That Cannot Be Mailed To An Individual in Custody

The items listed below CAN NOT be sent to an individual in custody:

• ADHESIVE TAPE
• AEROSOL CANS
• BAR SOAP
• BATTERIES
• CANDY
• CIGARETTES OR CIGARS
• CIGARETTE LIGHTER OR MATCHES
• CLOTHING OF ANY SORT (INCL. BUT NOT LIMITED TO: UNDERWEAR, T-SHIRTS, SOCKS, AND GYM SHOES)
• COSMETICS
• CREDIT CARDS
• DENTAL FLOSS, PASTE OR POWDER
• FOOD
• FOREIGN OR ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES
• GLASS, WOOD OR METAL OBJECTS
• GLUE
• HAIR BRUSHES, COMBS OR PICKS
• HAIR ROLLERS, BOBBY PINS, CLIPS OR PLASTIC CAPS
• IDENTIFICATION CARDS
• JEWELRY
• KEYS
• MAPS
• MARKING PENS
• MEDICINE OR MEDICAL SUPPLIES
• MONEY ORDERS IN EXCESS OF $100.00
• MONEY ORDERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY FILLED IN OR HAVE BEEN ALTERED
• NAIL FILES OR CLIPPERS
• DAILY NEWSPAPERS (EXCLUDING CLIPPINGS OR ARTICLES OR OTHER MATERIAL PRINTED ON NEWSPRINT)
• PAINT, BRUSHES OR SOLVENTS
• MORE THAN 3 PAPERBACK BOOKS OR MAGAZINES PER MAILING
• PENCILS, PENS OR SHARPENERS
• PICTURES SHOWING WEAPONS, MONEY OR GANG SIGNS
• PLAYING CARDS OR PUZZLES
• PLASTIC SENTIMENT CARDS, MUSICAL CARDS OR VERY LARGE CARDS
• POLAROID INSTANT PICTURES WITH DOUBLE BACKING
• POSTAGE STAMPS
• POSTERS
• RADIOS, TAPE PLAYERS OR TELEVISION SETS
• STICKERS, DECALS OR PATCHES
• TOWELS
• TWINE, WIRE OR OTHER BINDING MATERIAL
• INDIVIDUALS IN CUSTODY ARE NOT PERMITTED TO CORRESPOND WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN CUSTODY OF OTHER CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL FROM BOTH WARDENS

This list will be used as a guideline and does not limit a staff member’s authority to confiscate any item which could be considered a threat to the security or safety of the institution.

Additionally, the Cook County Department of Corrections reserves the right to prohibit any other items that could be considered contraband or which could threaten the safety and security of the institution, its employees or its visitors.

Mail that is found to be covered, saturated, or sprayed with any foreign substance will be removed from circulation as contraband and not returned to the sender. This includes perfume, cologne or other substance that permits any odor, discolors or shrinks the paper or makes the paper sticky, wet, greasy, oily or crinkled.

Repeated attempts to send an individual in custody unauthorized items may constitute disciplinary action against the individual in custody, and may cause the matter to be referred to the Cook County State’s Attorney for possible criminal charges against the sender and / or the individual in custody involved.