Section 481.07 - Collection and Distribution of Mail(1) Outgoing mail shall be collected directly from a locked mail box by a Department employee, in accordance with an established schedule, at least once each day, except Sundays and postal holidays. Prior to outgoing mail being placed in the locked mailbox, staff shall verify that the inmate depositing mail into the box is in fact the inmate whose name and return address appear on the envelope and that the envelope is sealed. All outgoing mail shall be stamped on the reverse side of the envelope with language indicating that the correspondence is sent from a correctional institution. Mail shall be stamped in blue ink only; the stamp shall read as follows:
"This correspondence is forwarded from a Massachusetts Correctional Institution. The contents may not have been evaluated and the Department is not responsible for the substance or content of the enclosed material. If you have received unwanted correspondence from this inmate, call 1-866-684-2846 to stop future correspondence."
At no time shall outgoing mail be collected or otherwise handled by an inmate. All outgoing mail, including inter and intra-office mail, shall be processed through the institutional mailroom.
(2) Incoming mail shall be distributed to the receiving inmate by a DOC employee or electonically in accordance with an established schedule, at least once every day except Sundays and postal holidays, unless an article of mail is held pursuant to the provisions of 103 CMR 481.15 and 481.16. At no time shall incoming mail be distributed or otherwise handled by an inmate nor shall mail be left by the distributing employee in a commonly accessible place. Nothing in 103 CMR 481.00 shall limit the right of a Superintendent to withhold delivery of Publications from an inmate serving disciplinary detention.(3) Outgoing mail shall be collected from the inmates and delivered to the post office, and incoming mail shall be picked up from the post office and processed in accordance with 103 CMR 481.07(2), except when an article of mail is held pursuant to the provisions of 103 CMR 481.16 and 481.17.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1338, eff. 5/5/2017.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1440, eff. 4/2/2021.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1483, eff. 11/25/2022.