Type of Mail Allowed to be Sent to Inmates in High Desert Detention Center
Postcards
The High Desert Detention Center allows inmates to receive unlimited pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature.
Envelopes
The High Desert Detention Center allows inmates to receive an unlimited amount of letters as long as they conform to the mail guidelines. Letters should arrive in standard letter-sized envelopes and must have a complete return address, including your first and last name and address.
First look up the Inmate's Booking Number. If you can't find it online, call the Inmate Locator hotline at 909-708-8371.
Inmate's Name and Booking Number
High Desert Detention Center
9438 Commerce Way
Adelanto, CA 92301
Newspapers
You can purchase a newspaper subscription for an inmate but it must be mailed to the jail directly from the publisher and must include the inmate’s full name and booking number.
Magazines
Magazines are also allowed, but must be mailed directly from the publisher and include the inmate’s full name and booking number. Any magazine containing lewd photos, nudity, pornography, or anything promoting drugs or violence will be confiscated by jail staff and discarded.
Books
If you wish to mail a book to an inmate you must have it sent from either the publisher or from a third-party vendor such as Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene.
In addition, the contents cannot present a threat to the security of the facility. Any book that does not meet the High Desert Detention Center standards will be disposed of.
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.
All book shipments must include the inmate's name and booking number. You can also call 909-708-8371 to get the number.
Magazines, Newspapers and Books are mailed to:
Inmate's Name and Booking Number
High Desert Detention Center
9438 Commerce Way
Adelanto, CA 92301
Care packages
Care packages are pre-chosen items packaged together and sent to the inmate from a third-party vendor. They include clothing, snacks, hygeine products and seasonal items.
High Desert Detention Center only allows care packages from icaregifts.
By law, every inmate is entitled to receive mail delivered through the United State Postal Service. While for years, this mail was always delivered in the form of a letter or a postcard from friends and loved ones directly to the inmate, the definition of inmate mail has changed a bit.
Inmate mail can be:
• A letter in an envelope,
• A postcard,
• A greeting card, or
• A digital letter
Because of security and contraband concerns, mainly the paper and envelope that a letter is written on or enclosed in, being soaked in a liquid form of drugs, many jails are increasingly limiting the type of mail inmates can get.
Some still allow regular mail in an envelope with a stamp, but many now have the letter sent to a third-party that opens the letter, scans it and the envelope into a computer, emails the letter to the jail where they print it out, giving the photocopies to the inmate, or they send it to a computer kiosk or tablet digitally that the inmate can access.
Others only allow postcards, specifically the white, pre-stamped postcards that you can purchase from the post office.
When greeting cards are allowed, they can’t be cards with glitter, music or other do-dads. They can only be plain paper cards.
Some jails, in fact most, require that mail be written or typed with only black or blue ink. Some allow black pencils to be used.
None allow crayons, markers, lipstick prints, etc.
All require white envelopes, white paper or lined paper such as from a pad. Very few allow paper that is card stock. It must be plain white, 20-lb. printer paper.
To see the inmate mail policies for High Desert Detention Center check out the inmate mail details above or call the jail at 760-530-9300 for specific information.
There are five different types of addresses for every jail:
1. The physical address of the jail
2. The mailing address for an inmate’s personal mail
3. The mailing address for the inmate’s legal mail
4. The mailing address for the jail’s administrative staff
5. The mailing address for sending money to the inmate’s trust or commissary fund
Visit the Inmate Money page for this information
In general, the only three addresses that friends and family of inmates need to be concerned about are:
• The inmate address for personal mail.
• The address for sending money orders to the inmate’s commissary account.
Visit the Inmate Money page for this information.
• The physical address of the jail.
Because this section is about mailing an inmate, the address for mailing an inmate is:
Inmate's Name and Booking Number
High Desert Detention Center
9438 Commerce Way
Adelanto, CA 92301
or
Inmate's Full Name
Inmate ID#
High Desert Detention Center
9438 Commerce Way
Adelanto, CA 92301
If the red address is visible, then use that address, as that is the new address the jail is using for an inmate's personal mail to combat contraband entering the facility.
To mail a letter to an inmate in the High Desert Detention Center, first completely read all the mail policies and guidelines that are on this page. Also read any updated mail guidelines that are on the official page for facility. If you still have questions, then call the jail at 760-530-9300 and ask specifics.
It is important to understand that if even one thing is done incorrectly when sending a letter to the jail, even if everything else is done correctly, then your letter will not be delivered to the inmate. In fact, even though the jail claims they will mail your letter back to you so that you will know it was not delivered, there is always the chance it will be disposed of.
So here you are at home, wondering why your inmate is not responding to your letter, when in fact, they may not have even received it.
All mail to the inmate must be addressed as follows:
A full return address, which includes your full name and full address. Without this the mail will not be delivered to the inmate.
A complete address to the inmate, including:
Full Name (name that they were booked under)
Inmate ID# (booking #, SO #, etc.)
Inmate’s Housing location (if you know it)
High Desert Detention Center
Mailing Address
City, State, Zip code
Inmate's Name and Booking Number
High Desert Detention Center
9438 Commerce Way
Adelanto, CA 92301
A letter that is not addressed completely may not get delivered. Keep in mind that often there is more than one inmate in a jail with the same name. You certainly don’t want the wrong inmate getting your private mail, do you?
Sometimes. There are some jails that will deliver you a notification that a letter which was intended for you was returned because it was either improperly addressed, did not have return address, contained contraband of some sort, had things written in it that were against mail and jail policies, or were sent by someone you were not allowed contact with such as co-defendant or someone the court had forbidden contact with such as a spouse in a domestic violence case.
Most of the time though, the letter is either returned or destroyed, and if there are illegal substances in the letter, it will be turned over to the San Bernardino County Sheriff or District Attorney for possible criminal investigation and/or indictment.
Generally nothing but a letter, printouts from a computer printer or photographs can be sent to an inmate in the mail. If there is anything else enclosed, the entire letter and the contents will be returned to you or destroyed.
There are a few exceptions to this, such as several county jails in New York, including the infamous Riker’s Island. Riker’s allows all kinds of things to be mailed to an inmate, including a box of items every month.
Every jail has their own policy regarding allowing inmates to receive photographs in the mail, if at all. For High Desert Detention Center’s policy, review the information on this page.
In general, most jails allow an inmate to have anywhere from four to six photographs in their possession at any one time. These cannot be polaroids, and the photos cannot be construed as even mildly sexual (such as a woman or child in a bathing suit), gang related, drug related or violent.
Some jails allow only photocopied photos.
Some jails only allow photos that are sent digitally and must remain digital.
There are only a few jails that do not allow any photos of any kind.
If you are still uncertain as the policy regarding photographs at this facility, call them at 760-530-9300.
Most jails allow newspapers, magazines and books to be sent to an inmate, if they come directly from the publisher, such as directly from the newspaper or magazine themselves, or from the specific book publisher or trusted mail order source such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
There is often a limit of the quantity of books and magazines an inmate can either receive at one time, receive each month, or have in their possession at any one time.
Hardcover books, or books with wire spiral binders are never allowed.
Any publications that portray or discuss violence, sex, gang activity, drugs, jail escapes or anything else against jail policies are not allowed and will be returned.
The policy of the High Desert Detention Center should be detailed on this page. However, if it is not, then call the jail at 760-530-9300 and ask.
Keep in mind that the address the publications should be mailed to is not always the mailing address of where the inmate gets their regular mail, the mail that is scanned and forwarded digitally to them.
The mailing address for publications is:
Inmate's Name and Booking Number
High Desert Detention Center
9438 Commerce Way
Adelanto, CA 92301
or
Inmate's Full Name
Inmate ID#
High Desert Detention Center
9438 Commerce Way
Adelanto, CA 92301
Use the address in red if it is visible to you.
NOTE: There are a few New York jails that allow publications to be sent directly to them as opposed to having it sent through the publisher. One of the most notable exceptions is Riker’s Island in New York City.
There is no limit to how often you can send letters or cards to an inmate. You are only limited to the types of letters and cards that you can send, considering High Desert Detention Center’s policies, which are outlined on this page.
An inmate can mail letters as often as they like. There is no limit to the number of letters that an inmate can write and send. They are only limited by the number of stamps they can afford to purchase through commissary, and the amount of commissary spend that the High Desert Detention Center allows.
Contraband is defined as anything that the jail does not allow to be mailed to an inmate, which is just about everything. The list would fill ten sets of encyclopedias.
It easier to say what is allowed to be sent through the mail:
• When allowed, a certain number of photographs.
• When allowed, newspapers, magazines and books, if they are sent from a publisher.
• When allowed, a care package of snacks, hygiene products or clothing from a commissary company that has contracted with the jail.
Some jails allow printouts of photographs and information to be sent to an inmate through the mail. Refer to the mail policy on this page or by calling the jail directly at 760-530-9300.
Many jails contract with companies that send food, hygiene products and/or clothing to inmates. These can be purchased and sent by friends and family on a weekly or monthly basis.
You can only send items from the one that your jail has a contract with.
Check this page, the Money Page or the Commissary Page for further information, or call the jail at 760-530-9300 to see which one that the High Desert Detention Center works with.
Here are the commissary package companies, in alphabetical order, that provide this service to jails in the United States:
Access Securepak
Care A Cell
Commissary order
Correct Pay
Express Account
icare
Inmate Canteen
Jail ATM
Jail Pack Store (McDaniel Supply)
My Care Pack
Oasis (jailcanteen)
Prodigy Solutions
Tiger
Union Supply Direct
The only gifts you can send an inmate must come from one of the stores above, and High Desert Detention Center must contract with them.
If the item that you send an inmate is illegal, then you and/or your inmate can get in trouble, otherwise if it is not illegal, it will just be destroyed or in some cases, returned to you.
Note that if you continue to send items that are considered contraband, some of your communication privileges with your inmate, such as visitation or phone calls, may be suspended.
No, you cannot send postage stamps. Stamps must be purchased by the inmate through commissary. You can send them the money for stamps, but not the stamps.
Stamps can be purchased in the jail commissary be the inmate.
Yes. If an inmate is indigent, the jail will provide them 2-3 stamps, and an equal amount of envelopes and stationery each week.
Yes. If you send the inmate drugs, a weapon or anything illegal, it will be turned over to the San Bernardino County Sheriff or District Attorney and it is most likely that you will be prosecuted.
Mail Items Not Allowed to be Sent to High Desert Detention Center Inmates
Examples of prohibited items include:
High Desert Detention Center Policy Regarding Mailing Photos to an Inmate
Inmate Mail Tips to Follow
Failure to follow the jail’s guidelines can get the inmate in trouble.
Repeated failure to follow guidelines can get future mail from you banned.
Mail is always scanned and inspected for contraband, obscenity and other rule infractions.
Assume that everything you write will be read by jail staff and can and will be used against you or your inmate in court.
Never write anything about the inmate's court case you wouldn't want read aloud in court.
Mail is considered by the jail to be a privilege. Any violations of the mail policies can result in the inmate's mail privileges being suspended.
The introduction of contraband by you into the jail through the mail could result in criminal charges being filed against both you and the inmate.
Inmates at High Desert Detention Center are allowed to make collect calls or direct calls paid for with prepaid phone cards they can purchase from commissary. The typical cost for a direct call using a phone card is approximately $0.21 per minute.
Family and friends cannot call an inmate, leave messages, send a text, send an email, or leave a voicemail. The only way you are going to communicate with an inmate is either by them calling you, or you visiting them. If they have cash on them when they are arrested it will be credited to their commissary account.
You can deposit money for the inmate to purchase phone cards in several ways. You must have the inmate's Booking Number to have any of these deposits credited to their account.
For complete information on communicating with an inmate using the phone, how much time they can spend on the phone, how much it costs, and more... check out our Inmate Phone page.
Envelopes
The High Desert Detention Center allows regular envelopes to be mailed to inmates. You can send up to 10 photos at a time. There are a large number of restictions that are oulined on the Inmate Mail page. Read all these restrictions completely or it is likely your inmate will never receive your letter.
Envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Name and Booking Number
High Desert Detention Center
9438 Commerce Way
Adelanto, CA 92301
Newspapers, Magazines & Books
Local or national newspapers, news, special interest or sports magazines, and soft cover books may also be mailed to the inmate as long as they are mailed directly from the publisher or a third party service such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Name and Booking Number
High Desert Detention Center
9438 Commerce Way
Adelanto, CA 92301
Care Packages
You can only send a care package of commissary items from icaregifts.
For complete mail policies of what is allowed and what is NOT allowed, pertaining to inmate mail, newspapers, magazines, books or anything else mailed or shipped to an inmate, check out out Inmate Mail Page.
To deposit money into the account of an inmate in San Bernardino County, follow these instructions:
For all the information you need regarding making an inmate deposit, what it costs, how much you can send, how long it takes for your inmate to receive funds and more, and to get the Facility Locator Number, check out our Send Money Page.
To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in High Desert Detention Center follow these steps:
For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in High Desert Detention Center, as well as sending money to the inmate so that they can purchase their own items, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for San Bernardino County.
