Inmate Information

Inmates are permitted to retain the following property:

• Eyeglasses
• Legal papers
• Medic alert medallion or bracelet
• Nonmetallic religious medallion two inches or smaller
• Photographs no larger than five by seven (no Polaroid pictures)
• Plain ring (wedding band type)
• Undergarments, white short-sleeve tee shirts without pockets or decals, and socks

The Department will issue a uniform and the following items to inmates processed in:

• Cup and spoon
• Deodorant
• Identification bracelet (which must be worn at all times)
• Laundry bag
• Soap
• Toilet paper
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Two uniforms, two shorts and shoes
• Two sheets and two blankets
• Washcloth and towel

Inmates will be held strictly accountable for the return of issued items, hygiene items can be kept.

Inmates are assigned the following custody levels:

• Maximum Pretrial or Sentenced
• Medium Pretrial or Sentenced
• Minimum Pretrial or Sentenced

In most cases, inmates are placed in non-restrictive general population housing units. If special circumstances exist, an inmate may be placed in more restrictive or special housing units such as:

• Administrative Segregation
• Protective Custody
• Youthful Offenders
• Psychiatric Housing
• Medical Housing

An inmate will be placed in one of these units to maintain the safety and security of the inmate and the institution. During the initial interview, the Classification Officer will address the inmate’s questions regarding programs, services, court dates, etc. Information obtained during the initial interview will determine housing, job assignments, program placements, and referrals for additional services.

Once an inmate has been classified and transferred from the diagnostic unit, they will be assigned a Classification Officer who will provide direct case management services during his/her incarceration. An inmate may access the services of the Classification Unit by submitting an inmate request form to their Classification Officer. Designated Classification Officers will visit each housing unit at least three times per week. Classification Officers will assist inmates with referrals to the Social Worker, Substance Abuse Counselor, the Public Defender’s Office, GED Program, and other services offered at the Detention Center.

The Classification Unit is staffed Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m., except holidays. If you have any questions or concerns regarding an inmate you may contact the Classification Unit at the number below. The Classification Unit will provide limited information to the public concerning an inmate’s status. However, it will not disclose an inmate’s court dates, release date, or charges.

While being processed into the facility, inmates are given the opportunity to make telephone calls to family and bondsmen. Inmates are not allowed to receive any incoming phone calls.

ABOUT OUTGOING COLLECT CALLS

When an inmate is assigned to a regular housing unit, he/she will be allowed to make outgoing calls on a collect call basis from 8 a.m. until 10:45 p.m., with the exception of meal times, institutional counts, lockdowns, and cleaning details. Inmates will be allotted 30 minutes per phone call; the telephone system will notify inmates when they have one minute remaining and will automatically shut off after 30 minutes have elapsed. Telephone calls made from the housing units are collect calls only. If you do not have Verizon as your phone service carrier, you must contact IC Solutions to set up an account to receive collect calls. The telephone number to IC Solutions is: 1-888-506-8407, or you may visit www.icsolutions.com and follow the link to Prepaid Collect Calling for more information.

BLOCK CALLS FROM INMATES

To block calls from inmates, you must also call 1-866-228-4031.

EMERGENCY CALLS

In the event there is an emergency in the family, such as a death or severe illness or injury to a family member, a relative of the inmate should contact the Shift Commander’s Office at 410-512-3305.

BILLING AND COMPLAINTS

If you have questions regarding billing fees, please contact IC Solutions at 1-888-506-8407.

If you have complaints and or continued problems with the phone service such as bad reception, phone cutoff, or phone out-of-service, contact IC Solutions at 1-888-506-8407 or our Building Operations Unit at 410-512-3301. The inmate is also encouraged to notify the Housing Unit Officer.

Funds must be deposited into an inmate's account by using a method listed below. 

Commissary is a service in which inmates can purchase clothing, food, and personal hygiene products with the funds they have in their inmate accounts. Commissary orders are collected by the Housing Unit Officers the evening before the delivery date on the posted schedule in the housing unit. Commissary purchases may not exceed $75 in a given week. All items available for purchase are subject to limitations imposed by the escrow vendor. Orders received from inmates with insufficient funds will not be processed.

DELIVERY

Inmates must check to see that they have received all ordered items in the presence of the issuing staff member at the time of delivery. Any discrepancies must be reported immediately. Inmates will sign a form acknowledging receipt of their order. The Department of Corrections is not responsible for lost or stolen items after the inmate acknowledges receipt. Any commissary discrepancies must be submitted by the inmate on an Inmate Request Form to the Commissary Manager for review and investigation.

ICARE PACKAGES

As an alternative to depositing funds for commissary into an inmate's account, family and friends may choose to place online orders of selected packages through the iCare website. Orders processed will be delivered to the inmate according to their regularly scheduled commissary delivery date.

EMERGENCY ORDERS

New inmates can submit a one time only emergency order within the first five days of admission to the facility. Emergency orders will be delivered on the next available food and hygiene commissary day.

Inmates who have $2 or less in their escrow account for seven consecutive days, qualify as an indigent inmate and can request an indigent package by submitting an Inmate Request Form number 118 to the Housing Unit Officer. Upon approval, inmates may receive the following items every seven days:

• One deodorant
• One toothbrush and one toothpaste
• One pencil
• Two stamped-envelopes
• Writing paper

• Health screening and physical upon admission.
• A contractual medical staff of over 50 full-time qualified health care professionals.
• A medical observation unit to keep a close watch on anyone with serious medical conditions.
• Chronic Care clinics operated by our physician and physician assistants for inmates with chronic conditions such as diabetes, AIDS, asthma, etc.
• A team of psychiatrists and other mental health staff to address the mental health needs of the inmates.
• In-house specialty clinics include:
  • Dentistry
  • Oral surgery
  • Optometry
  • X-ray services
  • OB-GYN care.
• If hospitalization or outpatient care is needed, inmates are sent to area hospitals or to specialized outpatient treatment facilities.
• Sick Call is provided six days per week. Sick call boxes are located on every housing unit. Inmates may submit Sick Call slips when needed. They are picked up daily and medical staff will see the inmate within 24 hours. There is a $4 charge for sick call for all inmates who have money in their accounts. However, nobody is ever denied medical care because they are unable to pay.

• At intake screening, the inmate must carefully report all medications that he or she is taking.
• The medical staff will try to obtain a list of medications from an inmate’s previous medical provider.
• A relative can help ensure continuation of medications when possible by having the inmate’s medical provider fax the medical information to the Medical Records Department. The fax number is 410-823-0453.
• Medications that an inmate brings to the Detention Center are not used and are placed in his property envelope and returned upon release, because there is a full pharmacy service for the provision of all medications needed, and the department’s medical contractor will provide all medications to the inmate.
• Medications are provided daily at various times, as prescribed.

• Privileges—Mail privileges will be denied only if restricted by court order.
• Volume—There is no restriction on the volume of mail an inmate may receive. However, inmates may retain only the mail that can be neatly stored in their property container. Mail that will not fit in the inmate’s property container shall be placed in excess property.
• Legal mail—Will be opened and inspected by correctional staff in the presence of the inmate.
• Incoming non-legal mail—Will be opened and inspected for contraband.
• Incoming or outgoing mail—Will not be read or rejected unless there is probable cause to believe the contents are a threat to the order and security of the facility or that the mail is being used for illegal activity. The Director or designee may order the mail to be opened and inspected.
• Mail for released or transferred inmates—Will be returned to sender.
• Inmates May Not
  • Correspond with each other without the approval of the Director.
  • Engage in contracts by mail on a delayed billing basis.
  • Engage in criminal activities via the mail. These will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

ACCEPTABLE ITEMS

• Photographs (no Polaroids) and written or typed letters
• Books sent through the mail directly from the publisher will be accepted, inspected, and delivered to the inmate if appropriate.
• Religious reading materials from the Chaplain or designee or through the mail when they are sent directly from the publisher.

PROHIBITED ITEMS

Mail containing unauthorized items will be returned to sender in its entirety. The following mail is prohibited and will not be accepted:

• Items larger than 11.5 by 14 inches
• Packages arriving in the mail without prior approval
• Polaroid photographs
• Pages from coloring books, crossword books, activity books, etc.
• Magazines, newspapers and photocopies of publications
• Greeting cards or cardstock of any nature
• Calling cards, bank cards, prepaid phone cards, money cards, identification cards or playing cards
• Books that are not received directly from the publisher, i.e. bookstores or other sources
• Mail containing tape, stickers, watercolors, wax, crayons, correctional fluid, or other foreign substances
• Sexually graphic material
• Publications promoting violent acts, gang activities, or detailing security-threatening information, i.e., manufacturing weapons or intoxicants, organizing disturbances, etc.
• Mail with incomplete information such as name, return address, etc.
• Packages not approved will be returned to sender

Postal mail remains an access point to introduce contraband and illicit drugs into correctional facilities, which poses a significant health and safety risk. This new process will go into effect  increase safety, while allowing incarcerated individuals to continue corresponding with loved ones in a timely manner.

About the New Process

Within 24 hours of receipt, Pigeonly will open and scan incoming mail, share the electronic scan with the Baltimore County DOC for further screening, then print and prepare the mail for shipment.

1. Incoming, nonprivileged inmate mail must be sent via P.O. Box to Pigeonly Corrections’ central mail processing center:
   Inmate Name—Booking Number
   Baltimore County DOC—1600
   P.O. Box 96777 
   Las Vegas, Nevada 89193
2. Pigeonly will open all nonlegal, nonprivileged postal mail, screen it for contraband, then scan the mail into an electronic document that closely resembles the original hardcopy, and includes color.
3. The scanned mail is:
   1. Shared electronically with Baltimore County DOC through a secure dashboard for further screening and review.
   2. Printed at Pigeonly’s processing facility and shipped to Baltimore County DOC via priority mail. 
4. Mail will be received at the DOC within one to three days of shipment.
5. Original copies of postal mail will not be returned to the sender. These are temporarily stored for 45 days. After this period, these are securely destroyed.

After release, formerly incarcerated individuals can email support@pigeon.ly with their name and ID number to download their scanned mail items for free.

Accepted Mail Requirements

Pigeonly will process the following nonprivileged mail. All mail must have a return address.

Prohibited Mail Materials

All received mail will be inspected for prohibited materials. Mail will be returned if it violates the mail policy. Mail that contains the following will be flagged and is subject to being marked as undeliverable:

• Contraband, such as but not limited to: weapons, drugs or items of an unknown substance or odor
• Nudity or explicit sexual material
• Obscene material
• Promotion of violence
• Violent language

Other Prohibited Items

• Artwork items, glitter, glued items, rhinestones or stickers
• Books, booklets, magazines or anything with a spine. The following should continue to be sent directly to the Baltimore County DOC:

  • Magazines

  • Periodicals

  • Printed materials sent directly from the publisher

  • Soft covered books

• Cash, credit cards, gift cards, etc. Pigeonly Corrections does not accept money in any form.
• Coins, crystals, key chains, religious tokens or toys
• Documents:
  • Official documents or any documents that you do not want destroyed (such as birth certificates, driver's licenses, social security cards, etc.)
  • Any type of legal mail
  • Bulk mail
  • Newspaper clippings
  • Shaped-cut photos or papers
  • Unused/blank envelopes, paper, stationary and stamps
• Envelopes:
  • Envelopes written in light or colored ink
  • Express or priority/hard mail/bubble type/large, thin paper envelopes
  • Illegible envelopes
• Greeting cards—Can not be oversized, overly thick, electronic, fold-out, 3D or have pop-ups
• Letters:
  • Wax paper letters
  • Letters written on tiny papers or sticky notes
• Photos—Polaroid photos and photographs from third-party vendors (i.e. Shutterfly)
• Stapled items

Send Mail Online for Free

Sign up online for Pigeonly to send mail from any cell phone, tablet or computer. With Pigeonly’s free plan, friends and family can send a limited amount of mail. Paid, unlimited mail plans are also available.

Creating an account allows you to:

• Create and send letters, photos, greeting cards, postcards and web articles
• Receive mail delivery status and related notifications

For those who still want to send physical mail through the USPS, senders can track their mail delivery status by creating a Pigeonly account, at no cost. 

Inmates arriving at the facility with excess property that is not allowed are required to release the property within 30 days. Inmates may release property to anyone except other inmates. To release property, an inmate must complete and sign an Inmate Property Release Form. Property may be released during normal visiting hours while the inmate is still incarcerated.

The Detention Center does not accept court clothing for inmates who are scheduled to appear in Circuit Court. Court clothing for inmates scheduled for District Court is accepted:

GUIDELINES

• Court clothing will be exchanged item for item within one month of the inmate's scheduled court appearance. The Shift Captain may authorize additional court clothing exchanges for inmates who have multiple appearances scheduled for the same court.
• Clothing must follow the rules for Court Clothes.
• Clothing for "sentenced" inmates may be exchanged prior to release.
• Jackets will be accepted during the winter months for inmates incarcerated during the summer months.
• Persons delivering court clothing must have valid identification.
• Inmates will be required to sign for items received and released.

UNACCEPTABLE ATTIRE

The following items will not be accepted from visitors as court clothing for inmates:

• Jeans/denim jackets/pants
• Athletic shoes
• Garments with holes or stains
• Bulky coats with filling
• Items that appear to have been tampered with or altered

• For Transfers—Fill out a Property Control Transfer Form and have 30 days for someone to pick up the property before it is disposed of.
• For Releases—Inmates will receive their property as they leave the Detention Center. Inmates that have already been released have 30 days to pick up their property during normal visiting hours at the front lobby with a valid proper ID.
• For Confiscated or Unaccepted Property—Contact the Baltimore County Police Department HQ located at 700 East Joppa Road Towson, Maryland 21286 to retrieve their property. The Property Room can be reached at 410-887-2276.

• Time Served—An inmate’s sentence has expired and he/she has no outstanding charges or detainers.
• Court Release—While at court, an inmate is released by order of the judge.
• Bail Release—An inmate who has a bail or fine with no other outstanding charges, warrants, sentences, or detainers may have someone pay the bail, which is an amount of money that must be posted to the court to “secure” the defendant’s return to court, and be released. Persons who have been arrested and are committed to the Detention Center by a District Court Commissioner will have a bail review hearing before a judge on the next day the Court is in session. District Court bail reviews are conducted electronically in the Detention Center via closed circuit television at noon each business day the court is in session. At bail review, the judge will decide whether to release the inmate pending trial and on what conditions. To assist the judge in making that decision, a Pretrial Investigator will present a report summarizing information provided by the inmate and verified by references, and his or her criminal history. If he or she appears in court as required, the bail is refunded when the case is over. If the defendant fails to appear, the bail is forfeited and a warrant is issued for his or her arrest.
• Other Agencies—An inmate is released to another agency that has lodged a detainer, charge, or warrant for that inmate.
• DOC—An inmate has been sentenced to the Maryland Division of Correction and is awaiting transfer there.

Former inmates must follow the below process:

1. Report to the Baltimore County Department of Corrections in person. Bring the following with you. mate.
   1. Temporary Baltimore County Department of Corrections issued ID (these are only valid for 15 days from the issue date), or a valid photo ID issued by a government or state agency
   2. Their current address
   3. Telephone number
2. The information will be reviewed and verified.
3. The pertinent document will be generated and given to the former inmate.

Inmates who are incarcerated, may also have an individual retrieve this information. That person will:

1. Complete a waiver form.
2. Provide a valid photo ID issued by a government or state agency, as well as a current address and telephone number. Photo IDs will be accepted or denied at the discretion of the facility.
3. The waiver will be taken to the inmate for their signature and approval.
4. If the inmate denies the request, it will not be granted.