Contraband items. Contraband is anything jail staff do not allow an adult in custody to have unless they authorize it. It is anything not specifically approved for mailing in the “What may I mail to an adult in custody?” section above. Commonly mailed contraband items are:

• Maps
• Books (unless mailed directly from the publisher)
• Transportation schedules, such as bus or train
• Stickers and decals
• Cosmetics, hair care and hygiene items
• Food
• Gifts
• Locks of hair and ribbons
• Cigarettes, matches and lighters
• Dried or pressed flowers
• Coupons and lottery tickets
• Compact discs and cassette tapes
• Items that exceed approved limits
• Items from a non-approved source
• Foreign substances, such as bodily fluids, lipstick, perfume, glitter, glue and anything with unusual stains or odors
• Bookmarks, postage stamps, stationery, writing or drawing materials, and paper clips
• Photocopies or mass - or computer-printed material – internet articles, case studies, book chapters, or magazine articles are prohibited per the digital mail center

Items with contraband content, either as words or pictures. Contraband content is anything that may threaten the safety, security, good order of the jail or may be detrimental to an adult in custody’s rehabilitation. This includes content that:

• Threatens, plans, encourages or instructs in activity that is criminal or violates jail rules
• Could result in physical harm to anyone
• Is gang-related material
• Is sexually explicit material (This is the most common reason for confiscating an item based on content. Be careful what you send!)
• Is inflammatory material (This can include anything that incites or advocates physical violence against others or the supremacy or hatred of a class or group of people.)
• Is code or suspected code (This can include a foreign language if we are unable to find a translator in a reasonable period of time.)
• Is fraudulently marked as legal or official mail