- March 28, 2024
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In an attempt to reduce staff time, only postcards will be accepted at the Flagler County Inmate Facility.
Beginning Jan. 15, inmates at the Flagler County Inmate Facility won’t be reading long letters anymore, according to FCIF Director Becky Quintieri.
In a Jan. 6 press release, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office highlighted the new changes, which are designed to help reduce staff time.
“The change will free up staff time that otherwise would be used to screen the incoming and outgoing mail,” Quintieri said. “It also makes the mail more secure.”
Quintieri said letters will no longer be acceptable correspondence to inmates — only postcards will be accepted.
Under the new guidelines, postcards sent to inmates must be no larger than 4 1/4-by-6 inches. Only metered-postage postcards will be accepted.
Mail postmarked before Jan. 14 and delivered after the new policy takes effect will be accepted and delivered to the inmates, the release states.
Picture postcards won’t be delivered.
All incoming postcards must be clearly addressed with the inmate’s name and booking number and must also be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service or a commercially licensed mail carrier.
Inmates may send and receive and unlimited number of postcards, and metered-postage postcards will be available for purchase in the FCIF Commissary; two postcards per week will be provided to inmates who have no funds in their trust accounts.
Debra Johnson, spokeswoman for the FCSO, said the inmate facility staff processes 700 incoming letters week on average.
“The new postcard system will be monitored to track its efficiency and security as well as the cost-savings effect on staff time,” she said.
The new policy will not affect legal mail, religious publications, books, magazines or newspapers mailed to the facility.
Governmental documents mailed or sent from an official government agency will be accepted through the mail.
NEW GUIDELINES
Under the new mail guidelines at the Flagler County Inmate Facility, which take effect Jan. 15, require that postcards sent to inmates be no smaller than 3½-by-5½ inches and no larger than larger than 4¼-by-6.