Gem County Jail Inmate Mail

Gem County Jail Inmate Mail

When mailing a letter or postcard to an inmate, please address your mail as follows:

Gem County Jail
Inmate's First and Last Name
Gem County Jail
410 E. First
Emmet, ID 83617

All mail sent to an inmate at the Gem County Jail must include the sender's name and mailing address in the top left corner of the envelope or postcard.
Failure to include your return address will most likely result in your mail NOT being delivered and your letter destroyed.

The information below provides complete instructions regarding:

  • Gem County Jail Inmate Mail Policies,
  • Mail Instructions,
  • What type of mail is NOT allowed,
  • Rules for Mailing Letters and Photos and Postcards
  • Emailing an inmate,
  • Policies for Sending Magazines, Newspapers, Books and Packages to Gem County Jail in Emmet, Idaho.

Follow these instructions exactly to help ensure that your inmate receives his/her mail and not have it thrown away.
The Gem County Jail has a zero-tolerance policy regarding mail violations.

Gem County Jail Inmate Mail Announcement

Staff at the Gem County Jail has increasingly been finding letters that are being mailed to inmates being dipped into illegal drugs in liquid form. Because of this crime they may be eliminating all direct mail from families and friends and moving to a system where all personal mail (not legal) is sent to a third party who will either provide photocopies of your letters or will forward them in a digital form to be read by inmates on terminals in their unit.

Instructions on this service are listed below, or will be outlined in detail when this new policy takes affect. If you have any questions, call the Gem County Jail at 208-365-4484.

Mail Policies regarding letters, postcards, greeting cards, digital mail, newspapers, magazines and books are listed below. Scroll down for instructions. Failure to adhere to them will result in your inmate and you losing certain privileges.

Gem County Jail Physical Address

410 E. First
Emmet, ID 83617


Gem County Jail Mailing Address
410 E. First
Emmet, ID 83617

TextBehind Digital & Letter Writing Service


TextBehind enables you to communicate with your incarcerated loved ones located inside the United States from anywhere in the world using text letters, kids' drawings, and custom greeting cards. Unlimited inmate reply letters are processed for electronic delivery to your smartphone and email at no extra charge.
The cost to send an electronic letter is approximately $1.00.

Here’s how it works:
1.    All offender mail (paper and electronic) is addressed and delivered to TextBehind. Electronic mail is sent through the apps (iphone, Google Play). Paper mail is sent to the address below:

Inmate Name and Inmate Number
Gem County Jail Idaho
(note: please do not abbreviate the name)
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131

2.    If it was sent via TextBehind's app (iphone, Google Play), TextBehind can process it within one business day.
3.    An additional step is involved in processing mail that is sent using the U.S. Postal Service. TextBehind will  use a scanner to make digital files of the contents of the mailing—including cards, photos or artwork.
4.    All digital files are then forwarded to the offender’s assigned prison.
5.    The jail or prison's mailroom staff print approved pages and then delivers them to the inmate.


IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • TextBehind does not deliver any mail to the inmate directly, nor do they guarantee delivery of your letters to the inmates by the courier, jail or prison staff. Once they process your mail and ship them out on your behalf, they are out of the loop entirely. However, at times they may offer to resend your letters under certain strict conditions as a courtesy. 
  • Inmates do not receive any invites when you add them, and neither do they need to accept the use of TextBehind service. Once you add the inmate, you can create letters for them. 
  • There is NO guarantee that Gem County Jail will cooperate and process TextBehind 'mail', and then deliver it to your inmate. Only when jails enroll directly with TextBehind, is your inmate most likely to get your TextBhind communications.

Here’s what happens when TextBehind receives a letter from an inmate:

  • Upon receiving, TextBehind staff open their letters, scan, and upload high-quality images to your TextBehind account as a complimentary service. You are not required to have any money or credits balance in your TextBehind account to receive inmate letters.
  • Next, you will receive a text and email alert to notify you of any new incoming reply letters. At that time, you can log into the TextBehind website or mobile app and view letters in your CONTACTS >> Click on Conversation Icon. 

YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS...

  • Inmates do require a stamp to send out their letters to TextBehind using Postal Service.
  • The cash or credit balance from your TextBehind account will not be shared with inmates as a substitute for the stamps. 
  • All letters printed and shipped by TextBehind nationwide to virtually any jail or prison facility are delivered to the jails/prisons by couriers such as the USPS or FedEx as their standard process.
  • After the shipments, TextBehind has no control over the process.
  • The delivery of your letters depends on couriers and prison staff taking the necessary action, and on time.

IMPORTANT TextBehind LINKS:
Register / Log in with TextBehind
Contact TextBehind with Questions
Add an Inmate to your list of Contacts
TextBehind Volume Discount packages

** Address to Mail letters using TextBehind **
Inmate Name and Inmate Number
Gem County Jail Idaho (note: please do not abbreviate the name)
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131

RATES (subject to change):

TextBehind is a digital texting and letter writing service used by jail and prison inmates and inmate’s friends and families all across America. Due to the problem of letters and postcards containing, or soaked in contraband (drugs), TextBehind electronic and physical letters replaced the former policy of allowing mail to be sent directly from inmate’s friends and family members, and vice versa.

Type of Mail Allowed for Gem County Jail

Postcards
The Gem County Jail allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may 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 Gem County Jail may also allow regular postcards and envelopes to be mailed to inmates as well, however more and more jails are no longer allowing envelopes or paper letters due to concern about paper being dipped into liquefied drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine and then mailed into secure facilities.
To confirm that the Gem County Jail still allows letters in envelopes call 208-365-4484 or view the Inmate Mail Instructions.
Newspapers
Local or national newspapers may also be mailed to the inmate as long as they are mailed directly from the newspaper publisher.
Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.
Books
Most jails allow books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as AmazonBarnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address above.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Gem County Jail 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.
To confirm that the Gem County Jail continues to allow books to be mailed by a third party publisher or bookseller, call 208-365-4484.
Care packages
Care packages are pre-chosen items packaged together and sent to the inmate from a third-party vendor. They can include clothing, snacks and seasonal items.
When a jail allows the inmate to receive Care Packages they must come directly from an approved company that specializes in serving the inmates of jails.
Call 208-365-4484 to see if the Gem County Jail participates in a Care Package program and if so, how to purchase one.

Emailing (Texting) your Inmate

Gem County Jail uses the services of Inmate Sales to allow text messaging communication between inmates and their friends and family.

Chirping is the product name for inmate texting.  
This product allows inmates to send chirps (texts) to friends and family members.


Here's how it works:

  • First you must register, and then funds are added to the inmate's account. If you want to pay by phone, call 877-998-5678.
  • When an inmate gets the device they may send 5 free automated messages each day for the first three days of possession of the chirping device.  
  • These automated messages will inform the person the inmate Chirped who is sending the Chirps and the facility they are Chirping from.
  • It will then ask them to go to a direct link to the inmate's account on the Inmate Sales website.
  • The website will then instruct them to use a credit card to put money on the inmate's account.  

Cost of Chirping:  

  • Inmates will be charged a monthly service fee of $4.00.  Inbound and Outbound Chirps are $0.10 each.
  • If an inmate has available funds on their chirping device they will be able to chirp any cell phone and that chirp will appear to be a normal text. 
  • If you wish to stop receiving Chirps from an inmate, reply to the Chirp with STOP.

iphone app
Google Play app

How to address your Inmate's Postcard or Envelope

Gem County Jail
Inmate's First and Last Name
Gem County Jail
410 E. First
Emmet, ID 83617

  • All mail sent to an inmate at the Gem County Jail must include the senders name and mailing address in the top left corner of the envelope or postcard.
  • Failure to include your return address will most likely result in your mail NOT being delivered and discarded.

Mailed Items NOT Allowed

If your inmate is mailed anything other than a letter or postcard (or sometimes) greeting cards it won't get through.
However as stated above, because of the increased smuggling of drugs, more and more jails are only allowing pre-stamped or metered, solid color or white postcards to be received by inmates, or even using a third-party service that scans the letters and delivers paper or digital copies.
Examples of prohibited items include:

  • Stamps and stickers.
  • Musical greeting cards.
  • Altered mail such as perfumed or lipstick covered.
  • Paper with any type of stains such as grease.
  • News clippings.
  • Crayon, felt tip or hand painted drawings.

POLICIES REGARDING MAILING PHOTOS TO Gem County Jail

  • Photos should not exceed 4 inches high x 6 inches wide.
  • Send no more than five photos at one time.
  • Polaroid Photos are prohibited.
  • Photos of weapons are prohibited.
  • Photos of drugs, the consuming of drugs or alcohol is prohibited.
  • Photos of lewd behavior or people exhibiting too much skin is prohibited.

Important Mail Tips

  • 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.

How to Send a Secure Email Message to an Inmate in Gem County

To send a secure email message to an inmate in Gem County Jail follow these steps:

  • Register with Inmate Sales, the company that handles inmate messaging in Gem County, by creating an account.
  • Select Idaho, then select Gem County Jail, and then the inmate you want to send your message to.
  • Choose the amount of money you want to spend, and input your payment method. The funds can also be used by the inmate to send a message back to you.
  • If you want to pay by phone, call 877-998-5678.
  • NOTE: All messages between you and your inmate will be permanently recorded and seen by the staff and could be used against your inmate in court.

-  Chirping is the product name for inmate texting.  
-  This product allows Gem County inmates to send chirps (texts) to friends and family members.
-  Inmates will be charged a monthly service fee of $4.00.
-  Inbound and Outbound Chirps are $0.10 each.

Inmate Sales Apps

iphone app
Google Play app

For all information on how to Text/Email an Inmate in Gem County Jail check out our Secure Messaging Guide for Gem County.


 

How Do Inmates in Gem County Jail Make Phone Calls?

To receive phone calls from inmates in Gem County, or to assist them in making phone calls to other people, follow these steps:

  • Gem County Jail uses the services of a company named Inmate Sales.
  • Register with them online or call them at 877-998-5678
  • Agents are available M-F from 8:00 AM - 12:00 midnight EST, Saturdays from 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM, and speak both English & Spanish.
  • Services for Gem County inmates and their families and friends include: Collect Calling, PIN Debit, Purchasing Calling Cards, Deposits, Messaging & Video Visitation.

iphone app
Google Play app

For all the information regarding phone calls with Gem County inmates; rules, policies, phone calling times, limits and more visit our Inmate Phone Page.


 

How Do You Visit an Inmate in Gem County Jail?

Other than 'at the jail' visits between you and your inmate at Gem County Jail, which is explained and outlined in detail on our Visit Inmate Page, Gem County remote video inmate visitation can be done using the services of Inmate Sales utilizing the following instructions:

In order to have a successful video visit with an inmate in Gem County, these are the steps to follow:

  • Make sure you have a device a speaker, a camera and a connection to the internet.
  • Register with Inmate Sales.
  • Find Gem County Jail
  • Select 'New Purchase'
  • Choose Gem County Jail and a product (either 'Remote' or 'Onsite' Visit)
  • Enter your personal information and purchase minutes.
  • Schedule a visit.
  • Call 877-998-5678 if you have any questions.

* All the information you need to have complete knowledge about inmate visitation; policies, rules, fees, schedules, tips, dress codes, and children, lawyers and clergy visitation in Gem County, can be found on our Visit Inmate Page.

Gem County Jail Phone: 208-365-4484


 

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Gem County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Gem County Jail follow these steps:

  • Go to JailATM, choose Idaho, then choose Gem County Jail
  • Type in your inmate's last name or their Inmate ID.
  • Select your inmate, and then you will be prompted to Register with them to open an account.
  • Select the products you want shipped to them at Gem County Jail, and then input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much product you can send your inmate in Gem County at any one time.
  • If you need to phone customer support, call 877-810-0914

For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages or sending money to an inmate in Gem County Jail check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Gem County.


 

How Does an Inmate Make Phone Calls in Gem County Jail?

To receive phone calls from an inmate in Gem County follow these instructions:

Gem County Jail uses the services of NCIC for inmate phone calling. It is called a ‘friends & family account”.

In order to receive phone calls from your inmate, you need to do the following:

  • Register here, or by phone 800-943-2189
  • Choose Idaho.
  • Choose Gem County Jail
  • Select your Inmate.
  • Enter the phone number your Inmate will be calling.
  • Fund your Account. ($10-$100 at a time)

NOTE:
1.   You cannot receive any calls to your phone number from your inmate until both you and your phone number are registered.
2.  When you do receive a call, the number you will view on your phone from the incoming call is: 800-943-2189.
3.  When allowed by Gem County Jail, families can also leave secure voicemails for inmates to listen to.

Fees

  • Adding funds to your account - $3.00 
  • Cost of phone call of a Prepaid Collect Account - $0.21 per minute
  • Cost of an interstate (ex. Idaho to a different state) phone call NOT Prepaid - $0.25 per minute
  • Cost of an intrastate (ex. Idaho to Idaho) phone call NOT Prepaid - $0.25 per minute
  • Cost if you set up your account (or fund it) by phone using a live agent, you will be charged a one-time fee of $5.95.

NCIC Customer Service
Phone - 800-943-2189 or 903-247-0069
Email – [email protected]
Full list of participating jails.

For all the information regarding phone calls with Gem County inmates; rules, policies, phone calling times, fees, limits and more visit our Inmate Phone Page.


 

How to Deposit Money Online for an Inmate in Gem County

To deposit money online for an inmate in Gem County Jail follow these steps:

  • Register to open an account, or Sign In to JailATM, a service that acts as a bank for inmates in Gem County.
  • After registering and signing in, select 'Send Money Now'.
  • Choose Idaho, then choose Gem County Jail
  • Type in your inmate's last name or their Inmate ID.
  • Select your inmate.
  • Input an amount to deposit to your inmate in Gem County Jail, and then input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much money you can send your inmate in Gem County at any one time.
  • If you need to phone customer support, call 877-810-0914.

For all information, tips and procedures for sending money to an inmate in Gem County Jail, or depositing money at the jail, over the phone or by mail, check out our Send Money Page for Gem County.