Sherburne County Jail Inmate Mail

Type of Mail Allowed for Sherburne County Jail

Sherburne County Jail Inmate Mail Guidelines

Postcards
The Sherburne 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. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.

Envelopes
The Sherburne County Jail also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.

  • Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope. 
  • Limit of 4 photographs per mailing (no larger than 4” x 6”)
  • No piece of the correspondence may be larger than 8 ½” x 11” 
  • Each mailing may contain no more than 5 pieces/items to be copied/scanned (Example: 1 card, 2 pictures and 2 pieces of paper = 5)
  • Inmate/detainee’s name and SPN must be on the front of the envelope (Use name on record at this facility)
  • Sender’s name and address must be on the front of the envelope (top left corner)
  • No boxes, padded envelopes, plastic bags, multi-layer packaging, envelopes that include metal parts, any package containing bubble wrap or packing peanuts, or card stock type envelopes (i.e. U.S. Mail Priority or U.S. Mail Express cardboard type)
  • Contents of the mailing will not encourage or instruct inmates/detainees in the commission of violating facility rules or gang/illegal activity, contain sexually explicit material, or be written in code. Contents that could be considered a threat to the safety/security, or the peaceful operation of the facility, will not be accepted. 

PROHIBITED ITEMS: (Please note: Items unable to be copied/scanned due to equipment limitations, will result in the entire mailing being returned to sender.)

  • NO newspapers, magazines, or catalogs. No advertisements, solicitations or other 3rd class bulk mail. Other incoming publications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine if they will be deemed contraband. 
  • NO foreign substance(s) may be stuck to, spilled or sprayed on any part of the mailing. Items may not be stained or discolored.
  • NO blank sheets of paper or envelopes, pre-stamped/addressed envelopes, address labels, postage stamps or other correspondence materials.
  • NO CASH, personal checks, payroll checks, money orders, phone cards or gift cards. (Tribal checks and checks from other detention facilities or the United States Treasury will be accepted) 
  • NO photographs depicting gang or illegal activity, showing full or partial nudity, containing lewd or sexually suggestive content, or exposing undergarments (this include lingerie). 
  • NO cards that are musical, pop-up, larger than 8 ½” x 11” when fully opened or contain glitter.
  • NO books, to include photobooks. Books must be ordered through Jail Programs by filling out a book order form.
  • NO staples, paperclips, strings, ribbons, magnets, or any other objects attached to, or used to secure mail items together.

Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate SPN#
Sherburne County Jail
13880 Business Center Drive
Elk River, MN 55330



Legal Mail

Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate SPN#
Sherburne County Jail
13880 Business Center Drive
Elk River, MN 55330



Newspapers
No newspapers.

Magazines
No magazines.

Books

No books.


 

What is Inmate mail?

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 Sherburne County Jail check out the inmate mail details above or call the jail at 763-241-4500 for specific information.

What is my inmate’s mailing address?

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 Full Name & Inmate SPN#
Sherburne County Jail
13880 Business Center Drive
Elk River, MN 55330

or 
Inmate's Full Name
Inmate ID#
Sherburne County Jail
Sherburne County Jail
13880 Business Center Drive
Elk River, MN 55330-4601

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.

How do I mail a letter to an inmate in jail?

To mail a letter to an inmate in the Sherburne County Jail, 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 763-241-4500 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.

How do I address an inmate?

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)
Sherburne County Jail
Mailing Address
City, State, Zip code

Inmate's Full Name & Inmate SPN#
Sherburne County Jail
13880 Business Center Drive
Elk River, MN 55330



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?

If a letter is not delivered to an inmate, will they be notified?

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 Sherburne County Sheriff or District Attorney for possible criminal investigation and/or indictment.

What can I send to an inmate by mail?

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.

Can I send pictures to an inmate?

Every jail has their own policy regarding allowing inmates to receive photographs in the mail, if at all. For Sherburne County Jail’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 763-241-4500.

Can I send newspapers, magazines and books to an inmate in the Sherburne County Jail?

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 Sherburne County Jail should be detailed on this page. However, if it is not, then call the jail at 763-241-4500 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 Full Name & Inmate SPN#
Sherburne County Jail
13880 Business Center Drive
Elk River, MN 55330

or 
Inmate's Full Name
Inmate ID#
Sherburne County Jail
Sherburne County Jail
13880 Business Center Drive
Elk River, MN 55330-4601

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.

How often can I send letters or cards to an inmate?

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 Sherburne County Jail’s policies, which are outlined on this page.

How often can the inmate mail letters?

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 Sherburne County Jail allows.

What is considered contraband in the mail?

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.

Can I send printouts from my computer to an inmate?

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 763-241-4500.

Can I send an inmate a package?

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 763-241-4500 to see which one that the Sherburne County Jail 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

Can I send an inmate a gift?

The only gifts you can send an inmate must come from one of the stores above, and Sherburne County Jail must contract with them.

If I send something to an inmate that is not allowed, can the inmate or I get in trouble?

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.

Can I send an inmate postage stamps?

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.

How can an inmate get stamps while in jail or prison?

Stamps can be purchased in the jail commissary be the inmate.

If an inmate has no money, will the Sherburne County Jail give them stamps?

Yes. If an inmate is indigent, the jail will provide them 2-3 stamps, and an equal amount of envelopes and stationery each week. 

What happens if I send the inmate drugs or something that can be a weapon, will I get in trouble?

Yes. If you send the inmate drugs, a weapon or anything illegal, it will be turned over to the Sherburne County Sheriff or District Attorney and it is most likely that you will be prosecuted. 

Emailing an Inmate at Sherburne County Jail

Sherburne County Jail uses the services of NCIC for you to deposit funds into your inmate’s account so that you and they can purchase secure email messaging services from this jail’s e-messaging service.



You can deposit money three different ways:
•    Deposit online at NCIC.com
•    Deposit at the kiosk in the Sherburne County Jail lobby, if available.
•    Deposit over the phone 24/7 at 800-943-2189 or 903-247-0069 (Note: if you deposit money using a live agent the fee is $5.95).

NCIC Customer Service
Phone - 800-943-2189 or 903-247-0069
Email – [email protected]

How to address your Inmate's Postcard or Envelope

Inmate's Full Name & Inmate SPN#
Sherburne County Jail

13880 Business Center Drive
Elk River, MN 55330-4601

  • All mail sent to an inmate at the Sherburne 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 Sherburne 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 Sherburne County

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

Sherburne County Jail uses the services of NCIC for you to deposit funds into your {Sherburne County inmate’s account so that you and they can purchase secure email messaging services from this jail’s e-messaging service.

You can deposit money three different ways:

•    Deposit online at NCIC.com
•    Deposit at the kiosk in the Sherburne County Jail lobby, if available.
•    Deposit over the phone 24/7 at 800-943-2189 or 903-247-0069 (Note: if you deposit money using a live agent the fee is $5.95).
Email – [email protected]

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


 

How Do I put Money on an Inmate's Commissary Account in the Sherburne County Jail to Purchase Phone Cards?

There are FOUR options for putting money on an inmate's books:

Option 1 - Dropping Money at the Sherburne County Jail
Bring money to the jail in person. 
Either the jail personnel will process the Inmate Account payment or you will use the NCIC self-serve kiosk in the lobbies that accepts cash, debit or credit cards.

Option 2 - Deposit Inmate Money Online
Sherburne County Jail uses NCIC to process all online deposits to an inmate's account. NCIC charges you a small fee for doing so, but the fee probably isn't as much as gas and parking would cost to take it to the jail in person.



Option 3 - Mail the Inmate Deposit to the Jail
Mailing a deposit takes more time to process than the other methods but can be done if you live too far away to bring it in person and you don't have a debit/credit card for online deposits. Never send cash. Always send a Money Order from the US Post Office, a reputable bank or Western Union.
Make the Money Order out to the inmate's name and put their Inmate ID# in memo section of the Money Order.  Mail it to the Sherburne County Jail address on this page, or to the address below if it is different than the facility address.
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate SPN#
Sherburne County Jail
13880 Business Center Drive
Elk River, MN 55330

Option 4 - Make an Inmate Deposit over the Phone by calling 800-943-2189

For more information about sending an inmate money for phone cards or other commissary sundries, check out our Inmate Money Page.


 

How to Rent a Tablet for an Inmate at the Sherburne County Jail

Sherburne County Jail offers NCIC tablets to rent to inmates that they can use for video visitation and calls, phone calls, instant messaging, education and entertainment.

They can also be used for commissary ordering.

To find out more bout how much tablets cost to rent, and what programs, entertainment, education and other things it can be used for, check out our Tablet Page.


 

How to deposit money in an inmate's account in the Sherburne County Jail

  • To deposit money online go the NCIC website
  • To deposit money over the phone call 800-943-2189
  • To deposit money at the jail use the NCIC Kiosk in the Sherburne County Jail lobby.
  • Call the jail at 763-241-4500 to confirm lobby hours for depositing inmate funds.

For complete information on depositing money in an inmate's account, check out our Inmate Money page.


 

How Do Visit an Inmate in Sherburne County Jail?

To visit an inmate in Sherburne County you need to do the following:

Sherburne County Jail uses the services of NCIC for remote video visitation. In other words, you can visit your inmate in jail by using your home computer, as long as it is equipped with a microphone and camera that supports video.

When available, the jail also provides use of ‘video visit kiosks’ in the Sherburne County Jail lobby if you do not have a computer at home. These ’on-site’ video visits are FREE.

Costs
NCIC Video Visitation fees are subject to change, but the cost to you is roughly $7.50 ($0.25 per minute) for a 30-minute visit + an additional fee of $2.00 for the connection.
On-site (at the jail) video visits are FREE.

How to set up your Video Visit

  • Register here.  
  • Select Sherburne County Jail
  • Select your inmate.
  • Choose your date and time.

Your inmate will be notified by the Sherburne County Jail staff of the date and time for the visit. Be sure to be in front of your computer and connected to NCIC at least 15 minutes before the start of the visit.

NCIC Customer Service
Phone - 800-943-2189 or 903-247-0069
Email – [email protected]

For all the information you need to know, whether it be 'in person' at-the-jail visitation or remote video visitation with your Sherburne County inmate, go to our Visit Inmate Page.


 

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

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

Sherburne 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 Minnesota.
  • Choose Sherburne 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 Sherburne 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. Minnesota to a different state) phone call NOT Prepaid - $0.25 per minute
  • Cost of an intrastate (ex. Minnesota to Minnesota) 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 Sherburne County inmates; rules, policies, phone calling times, fees, limits and more visit our Inmate Phone Page.


 

How to Send Money to an Inmate in Sherburne County

To send commissary money to an inmate in Sherburne County Jail follow these steps:

  • Register with Access Corrections by creating an account.
  • Select Minnesota, then select Sherburne County Jail, and then the inmate you want to send money to.
  • Choose the amount of money you want to send, and input your payment method.

For all information on how to Send Money to an inmate's account check out our full money and commissary guide for Sherburne County Jail.


 

Photos of this facility
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