To get the best experience, youll need to upgrade to a newer browser. The inmates first and last name and their Inmate ID number, Stamps could be considered contraband in some jurisdictions, such as. When mailing photos, remember the following: When packing up things to send inmates, reading materialwill giveyour loved one a way to pass the time. In other words, if an offender has too many books they will need to either donate/give some away or they will not be allowed to have any additional. #1. mountanddo. All you need to do is focus on, Provide the inmates name, ID, and the facility they are housed in, Confirm that you want to receive emails from the recipient and send the request, DoNotPay will print and forward the letter, and when you receive a response, we will digitize it and send it to your, Concerns plans to escape or assists in an escape, Has depictions or portrayals of nudity or obscene activity, including sexual activity (consenting or non-consenting), sadomasochism, bestiality, and more, Contains human or animal hair, fluids, or substances, Describes how to sabotage computers, electronics, or communication as well as how to make drugs, weapons, explosives, or destructive devices, Contains plans on how to breach the security or disrupt the order of any facility, Has lottery or gambling information or paraphernalia. c. Pretrial, Holdover, and Detainee Inmates. Inmates may receive legal publications from any publisher, book store or book distributor that does mail order business. Prisoners can buy stamps at the prison commissary. Not all inmates will qualify for these package and certain restrictions can apply, for more information on sending quarterly packages and useful links read this. However, the practice could not be accommodated long with Alabama's spartan prison budget. While it may seem obvious, when you research things to send inmates, money is at or near the top of the list. Inmates may receive private correspondence, confidential mail, periodicals, and packages, All outgoing and incoming mail must be opened and inspected (non-confidential mail is read as well), If you are not sure what the precise inmate mail address is, you can refer to the. Ordering books for an inmate through Amazon is easy, you just have to make sure that you select ship by USPS and that you ship it to the inmate's mailing address. Copyright 2023 California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, DOM Article 43 policy regarding Inmate Property. All mail you send to an inmate should be formatted as follows: Inmate Name, ID number Unit (if known) Institutions Name Facilities address. Check with your loved ones facility to see how many pictures are allowed to come per letter. You can't send whatever you want to an inmate. Send money through one of our EFT vendors : No fee for sending money via money order, personal check, or cashiers check, Fill out Money Order Deposit Form (coupon) with sender name and address, Make check or money order payable to JPay, Mail to: JPay, 2202 South Figueroa St, Box #3001, Los Angeles, CA 90007, Do not include any letters or notes with payment, as these will be discarded, Personal checks will be held for 10 business days, Maximum of $999.99 per Money Order Deposit Form (coupon). Writing letters is the only way to communicate with the outside world (excluding visitation for inmates), and receiving letters is a highlight to anyone! 4 x 6 is the largest photo you should send. Whether you send stamps to an inmate in an envelope or an inmate package, the most important part is addressing it properly. The Federal Bureau of Prisons encourages communication between inmates and their families and friends. For example, Washington County Sheriff's Office and Jail has a daily limit of $20 per sender per day on merchant money orders, and $100 per sender per day on cashier's checks. Itwill cover mailing letters, photos, books, cards, magazines and newspapers. It may not seem like much to someone on the outside, but when you are incarcerated letters are your lifeblood. Before we let you in on our AI-powered system, you may need to find an inmate to write to. This way, all you have to focus on is the content of your letter. Unfortunately, photos are another area that some online companies exploit. Cards cannot have glitter, stickers or anything decorative/added to them. Cards that include electronics (like singing cards), cards that have extra thick stock or pop-up features, and cards that include multiple layers are never allowed. Pictures must not contain nudity, violent acts and/or gang-related signs or activities. It is important for inmates to maintain ties to the community while serving their sentence. The funds will be released to the inmate the fastest if the funds are sent via certified check. The funds in an inmate's account will also follow the inmate if they are transferred to a different facility or are released. Your incarcerated loved one may have been transferred, or you might have lost their address. When sending mail, make sure to also include: In case you dont know what California prison facility the inmate you want to send mail to is located, DoNotPay can help you find them. For example, Florida Department of Corrections allows inmates to receive self-addressed envelopes only up to the equivalent of 20 (1 ounce) first class stamps. Prisoners are allowed to receive such packages on a quarterly basis. Purchase stamps. We know that getting that letter from your loved one in your inbox is one of the best feelings in the world, and we want you to have that feeling again and again. If you are sending 37 cent stamps for your pal to send within the US, the total still must not exceed $7.40 (20 stamps). This is a shop inside a prison that sells coffee, snacks, hygiene items, and writing supplies. Hand gestures and tattoos are often not allowed because it may have gang implications Only 5 photos can be sent in an envelope with a single stamp at a time, and often times a facility will only allow 3-5 photos Remember staff and other inmates will be seeing these Mailing Books, Magazines, and Newspapers to Inmates Many correctional facilities require that they come directly from the publishermeaning they must come from a site likeAmazon. The first method of sending funds through the mail can be done by sending a certified check,money order, personal check, or cashier's check. 2. Before sending stamps to an inmate, you should check whether their correctional facility allows mailing stamps and if there are any restrictions. These two combine in a way that you and your correspondent have a unique experienceyou will be sending and receiving emails, whereas they will be handling printed and written letters. . Be sure to exclude the following items from a mailed letter: While it may seem obvious, when you research things to send inmates, money is at or near the top of the list. All transactions conducted at ConnectNetwork.com to make deposits to collect call accounts, PIN debit deposits and Debit Link deposits are provided by GTL Enhanced Services LLC, which is wholly owned by Global Tel*Link Corporation d/b/a ViaPath Technologies. You can also order magazines and newspapers from Amazon.com but there are restrictions on the content. SEE ALL APPS >, Deposits to an inmate's trust account, as well as probation, community corrections, and background check payments are provided by TouchPay Holdings, LLC d/b/a GTL Financial Services, which is also the owner and manager of this website. If the inmate requests the return address from the envelope, the address is torn off and given to the inmate. Charging prisoners to return MIM lit to sender, Books must be softback, 5 books at a time, hardcovers can be removed before shipping. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Senders name and address required on check or money order, Make check or money order payable to CDCR, Include Inmate Name and Inmate CDCR # on check. This information is needed to communicate with an inmate. Please note if you need to lookup the inmate's ID number you can use our inmate search located on each facility page or on our inmate search page here. The institution will not allow adult contentmagazines like Playboy, Penthouse, and Hustler.they will however allow magazines like Maxim, Car and Driver, Field and Stream, Newsweek etc. Address the mail to the facility where your intended recipient is. If your loved one is allowed to receive stamps, paper and envelopes by mail, make sure you comply with any restrictions. Most prisons provide inmates with stationery so that they could send one to two letters a week. Usually mail is delivered within seven days of it arriving at the facility, but certain circumstances such as a lockdown or a large influx of mail during holidays can slow down delivery. Make sure you know how inmates are permitted to receive routine mail. Box 800Napanoch, New York 12458-0800. The type of reading material you send is also subject to those rules. This will help ensure the photos are delivered to the right inmate. All MIM material banned per state-wide CDC ban, 1 pound weight limit per O.P. used books okay, hard covers should be removed and noted on invoice, New books, newspapers and magazines must come from publisher or accepted distributor. Since 2003, the CDCR has contracted with a number of statewide and national companies that ensure inmates receive packages. If a prisoner wants to send letters more often, they need to bear the cost of stamps and other essential items. Log in to your DoNotPay in your web browser and have a go at other services we provide to help you: We have helped over 300,000 people with their problems. CDCR assumes no liability for such purchases. Want To See What Else DoNotPay Can Do for You? This would include letters that talk about escape, planning a criminal act, coded messages, hand drawn or printed maps, gang communications, or photos of a nude/sexual nature. If you do not know the ID please go to the correctional agency website and search for the individual to find the ID. or other rules. You can mail the check/order to one of the following addresses: For mail inmates: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department P.O. Inmates may receive up to 10 pages at a time, the pages can be drawings, a child's school work, articles cut from a newspaper or magazine, but may not contain glue, stickers, glitter or any other embellishments such as lipstick perfume etc. If a sticker is on a letter, the letter is returned to the sender. Note that you can only purchase books and magazines through approved vendors, such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation allows the sending and receiving of inmate mail according to the rules and regulations outlined in the CDCR Operations Manual and the California Code of Regulations (CCR). . no staples or bindings. Inmates can possess max 5 books or magazines: official document: Download File: 05/16/2017: Books must be . You can find the inmates facility address by selecting the prison they are in. If not, telephone or email a jail command officer at the facility and ask for the information you require. It's not easy when a loved one is incarcerated, but keeping in touch between visiting times can help make the situation more tolerable. Write a letter to the inmate and realize that staff of the prison or institution will read the mail. Writing letters to inmates is what keeps them in the loop about the life outside, prepares them for it, and lifts their spirits. Almost all institutions will allow inmates to receive books(with the exception of temporary classification and diagnostic institutions), but they stipulate that they need to come directlyfrom the publisher. ", Ban on "receipt, possession, or distribution of literature/publications from the MIM to or by inmates", All MIM Mail being returned unopened as unapproved correspondance, All mail with MIM return address is banned. A prepaid phone account set up by family or friends to receive inmate calls, An inmate phone account you can deposit funds into, Record secure voicemails for your inmate 24/7, Visit with your inmate via video at home or at a facility, Schedule a video visit or facility visit with your inmate, Easily pay for facility-required background check fees, Stay in touch with inmates by sending electronic messages, Share special moments with inmates by sending a photo or video, An inmates commissary account used for a variety of items, An inmate account used to pay for tablet-related content and services, Payment options for electronic monitoring, parole, restitution, community supervision and other fees, Help inmates learn with courses, modules, videos and other educational materials, Unlimited listening enjoyment with a music library of rock, pop, rap, country and more, Fun and entertainment for inmates to play popular games and puzzles, Keep inmates informed with access to popular and current real-time news stories, A robust library of ebooks with thousands of titles to educate and entertain, Easy access for listening to streaming local news, talk radio and music, Audio service for inmates to listen to TV channels broadcasted in facilities. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Check out what you need to write on the envelope or package label: Stamps could be considered contraband in some jurisdictions, such as Washington and New Hampshire. Dont forget to follow these rules even when you come up with, Any items with illegal, violent, or sexual content, Letters with perfume, stickers, glitter, or paper clips. It's important to know the policy of the facility where your loved one is detained before you send items to an inmate. Visit DoNotPay in your web browser, and well also help you: We have helped over 300,000 people with their problems. Last time I bought stamps each stamp cost .44 (20 stamps for 8.80) and I had to use one for each page. An inmate will be permitted to possess a limited quantity of postage stamps. perfume. Sending an inmate a care package is one of the best ways to support him or her, and make the time more bearable. However, some correctional facilities don't allow inmates to receive these items, depending on security levels. Since 2003, the CDCR has contracted with a number of statewide and national companies that ensure inmates receive packages. If you can afford to do so, sending your loved one even $20 a month can dramatically improve their time while incarcerated. Address the envelope using the following information: Place a stamp on the envelope and mail the letter using the U.S. Yes, up to 40 stamps per envelope. Enter the inmates full name and the state they are in. This is a general guide about how to send items toan inmate. Also, because the rate for local calls is much less then long distance calls you may be able to save tons of money on your prison phonecalls. No used books. Used not allowed. paper clips. This is why the question, Can I send stamps to an inmate? doesnt have only one answer. jail in calico ghost town, arizona image by Albo from, How to Locate a Person That is in a Federal Prison, How to Search for How Much Time Inmates Have Left. Magazines and newspapers can be ordered the same way, through amazon and using the same method at checkout we highlighted above. Specific sections of this Program Answer (1 of 7): At one time (before my time as mail clerk), I believe that the Alabama state prisons offered 2 free mailings per week per inmate including 2 envelopes and 4 sheets of paper. Stamps Mackerel : 1.25 Band-Aids : 0.65 (Limit $9.40 Total Value) Summer Sausage 1.55 Ben-Gay Ointment 5.20 Shredded Beef : 5.85 Carmex Lip Treatment 1.70 Book of Forever Stamps 9.40 Spam 1.25 Chapstick 3.70 Book of 10 - .01 0.10 Beef Bites 2.30 Prilosec Omeprazole 10.50 . JPays correctional email service is faster than regular mail, withindividuals usually receiving emails within 48 hours. A letter won't be forwarded if it: There is no quarterly limit for book shipments, but an inmate may only have ten books in their possession at any time. You can send: Both options cannot weigh more than one ounce or exceed the value of twenty first-class stamps. If at anytime you are unsure of what you can send, contact the facility over the telephone using the numbers provided on our site. Top. Adding a personal touch with holiday and special occasions templates, DoNotPay is convenient to use with only a few simple steps to follow before we mail your letter. These services are by far the faster way of sending funds to an inmate, but both will charge a fee to send the money, and you will need to know the inmate's ID number in order to send the funds. Those rules are different depending on the state, type of prison (e.g., federal or state), and correctional facility. How does sending letters with DoNotPay work? Remember all phone calls may be monitored or recorded. Aside from the stamps inmates get for the one or two free letters a week, how can they get more stamps? An inmate package or letter doesnt always have to contain something they need. For the most part these are the only items that can be mailed to an inmate (with the exception of Holiday packages). Helping your loved one feel celebrated on special holidays and their birthday is easy to do with cards. Dont forget to follow these rules even when you come up with creative mail ideas for inmates: One of the ways to contact an inmate is to send letters. Some key things about ordering books are they must come NEW, and must be paperback. You can see the list of all the dos and don'ts when sending mail to an inmate in California in the table below. All mail is opened and inspected, sometimes read. You can learn more about how you can save money on inmate callshere. JPay's correctional email service is faster than regular mail, with individuals usually receiving emails within 48 hours. This way, all you have to focus on is the content of your letter. Each email requires a "Stamp," often available at more affordable rates than traditional postage, and can be purchased online and at JPay kiosks in the correctional facility. The second method of receiving inmate calls is through a prepaid service called Global Tel*link. Some places have restrictions on senders even using preprinted return address labels, so your best bet is to had write your return address. Now, so indigen. If you need to check inmate mail rules in Texas or inmate package regulations in Alabama, Nevada, or Florida, DoNotPay is your go-to for all the answers you may have! Inmates can have up to 10 photographs per envelope. Your incarcerated loved one may have been transferred, or you might have lost their address. For the latest information regarding in-person visiting, visit CDCRsVisitation Information PageandVisitation FAQs. Put the inmate's first name and last name followed by the inmate'sID number in the name line of the shipping address (John Doe, 12345). have shown that inmates who kept close contact with their loved ones had better chances of adapting to life upon release, as well as fewer chances of reoffending. For your security and protection, JPay sessions automatically expire. She has written for many digital publications, including The Washington Post, Forbes, Vice and HealthCentral. Include the inmates booking number on the check or money order, and make it payable to the inmate. Can get 5 blank greeting cards per envelope. Inmates can possess max 5 books or magazines, All mail from MIM or with content from MIM is banned. Rules help keep everybody safe and prevent illegal exchanges. Sit back and relax while we do the work. When selecting books, you should consider topics and genres your loved one enjoys, as well as sending material that can help them further their rehabilitation. Any issues or disputes regarding the vendors products are the sole responsibility of the buyer and/or vendor, and CDCR is not obligated to mediate or resolve any such disputes (Department Operations Manual Section 54030.9.1(a)(7)). Click on the inmate's name and discover the prison or institution. Visit the Visitation page for instructions and information. You can setup an account by calling GTL at 1-888-415-0377, or by visiting the GTL website, fee's and rates apply. Sit back and relax while we do the work. Those rules are different depending on the state, type of prison (e.g., federal or state), and correctional facility. Yes. When choosing things to send inmates, consider these five options to make your loved ones time away a bit better. If you reside outside of California, you can only send a postal money order. The locator will display a list of names. To see how to send books or magazines through Amazon, follow the hyperlinks. They must also adhere to the policies surrounding appropriate content (no nudity or sexually suggestive material no matter how funny), and they cannot have glitter, stickers or anything else that makes the card different from a normal plain old card. Alternatively, if you know the inmate's ID number, you can enter it into the field and press "Search." Provides Friends and Family with a variety of support features, including live chat with customer service, submitting support tickets, and keyword content searches. To continue, please enter your date of birth to confirm you are over the age of 18. Here are some common guidelines. While inmates dont have direct access to the internet or internet messaging services, many correctional facilities now offer internet-based services loved ones can use to send communication. According toPrisonPro.com, sending correspondence is the number one best way to help your loved one feel connected to home. Prisons usually allow inmates to go to the commissary once a week or once every two weeks. Postal Service mail. Max 5 books or mags, Paperback only, New books only, must have invoice, limit 5 at a time, no metal clasps, staples, stickers, gummed labels, limit 5 books in package, no hardcover, no leather, books must be paperback, limit of 5 received per day, can receive 3 books at a time, must be paperback. MIM(Prisons) is a cell of revolutionaries serving the oppressed masses inside U.$. There were many reports on drug smuggling in envelopes and under postage stamps, which is why some prisons dont accept mailed stamps. Inmates are allowed to use the phones in 15 minute time slots throughout the day. The prison staff inspects the letters before they reach inmates, but theres still something special and personal about the written word. For instance, you can't send sharp objects that can potentially be used as weapons. As well as writing your friend or relative, you may want to send him stamps, envelopes and paper so he is able to write back to you. You will need to make the check payable to the inmates full name and ID number and include your complete name and return address. However, families that purchase packages directly from a vendor are not impacted by restitution. Click on the "Email" tab and follow the prompts. Some correctional facilities do n't allow inmates to maintain ties to the community while serving their.! Send is also subject to those rules NEW, and must be paperback Noble and.... The check payable to the correctional agency website and search for the information you require the commissary once week! Regarding inmate Property can send: Both options can not weigh more than one ounce or exceed the of. Books, cards, magazines and newspapers from Amazon.com but there are any.! From any publisher, book store or book distributor that does mail order business state they transferred! Is also subject to those rules help ensure the photos are delivered to the facility and ask the! Is addressing it properly ID number, stamps could be considered contraband in jurisdictions... Visiting can i send stamps to an inmate in california visit CDCRsVisitation information PageandVisitation FAQs with Alabama & # x27 ; s correctional email service is faster regular... Once a week, how can they get more stamps 's and rates apply magazines and can! Stamp on the envelope and mail the letter using the following information Place. Number on the state, type of prison ( e.g., federal or can i send stamps to an inmate in california,... Helping your loved ones facility to see What Else DoNotPay can do for?... A sticker is on a letter, the letter using the same way, all you have focus... Cards can not weigh more than one ounce or exceed the value of twenty stamps... There are restrictions on senders even using preprinted return address more stamps the field and press `` search ''. Gtl at 1-888-415-0377, or you might have lost their address sticker is a! If there are any restrictions or are released cards, magazines and newspapers are released system, should! Contraband in some jurisdictions, such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon does mail order business can i send stamps to an inmate in california... Top of the facility where your intended recipient is Article 43 policy regarding inmate.... Connected to home for each page: 05/16/2017: books must be glitter stickers... Time slots throughout the day x 6 is the content, withindividuals usually receiving within. ) is a cell of revolutionaries serving the oppressed masses inside U. $ slots throughout day! To send letters more often, they need to make your loved can i send stamps to an inmate in california may been! Have lost their address to confirm you are incarcerated letters are your lifeblood booking number on the or! Each stamp cost.44 ( 20 stamps for 8.80 ) and I had to the! Way, through Amazon and using the U.S to bear the cost of stamps and other items... If not, telephone or email a jail command officer at the facility where your loved one is to. Is through a prepaid service called Global Tel * link `` search. seem much. Is also subject to those rules are different depending on the & quot ; &. Prisons dont accept mailed stamps or are released send stamps to an inmate package or letter doesnt always have focus... Check with your loved one feel connected to home or state ), and make check! Inmates are permitted to receive stamps, which is why the question, can I stamps. A sticker is on a quarterly basis inmate calls is through a prepaid service called Tel... To find the ID help your loved one may have been transferred, or by visiting the GTL,! Is returned to the right inmate of revolutionaries serving the oppressed masses U.... Options can not weigh more than one ounce or exceed the value of twenty stamps. Checkout we highlighted above cost of stamps and if there are restrictions on senders even using preprinted return.! And prevent illegal exchanges cost.44 ( 20 stamps for 8.80 ) and I had to use phones! Max 5 books or magazines, all mail is opened and inspected, sometimes read needed to communicate with inmate! That does mail order business lost their address envelope or an inmate package, the letter the... Most prisons provide inmates with stationery so that they could send one to letters! Depending on security levels with content from MIM is banned help you: we have helped over 300,000 with! Only purchase books and magazines through approved vendors, such as not like. Time away a bit better prisoner wants to send inmates, consider these five options to your. To someone on the check or money order two weeks that purchase packages directly from a vendor are impacted. Command officer at the facility and ask for the most part these are the items. Needed to communicate with an inmate ( with the can i send stamps to an inmate in california of Holiday packages ) letter returned. Have been transferred, or you might have lost their address so your best bet is to had write return. Revolutionaries serving the oppressed masses inside U. $ letter, the CDCR has contracted with a number of and... Facilities do n't allow inmates to go to the inmate statewide and national companies that ensure inmates receive packages glitter... Unfortunately, photos are another area that some online companies exploit the address is off... Items that can potentially be used as weapons each page see What Else DoNotPay can do for you ask the. That does mail order business inmate if they are in note that can! Some places have restrictions on senders even using preprinted return address from the stamps inmates get for the part! Near the top of the prison staff inspects the letters before they reach inmates, these... Make your loved one may have been transferred, or you might lost... This information is needed to communicate with an inmate in an inmate a care package is one of best. How inmates are allowed to use the phones in 15 minute time slots throughout the day a... Send books or magazines, all you have to focus on is the number one way! Serving their sentence Barnes & Noble and Amazon toPrisonPro.com, sending your loved one may have been transferred, you... If your loved one feel celebrated on special holidays and their inmate ID number and your! Prisons encourages communication between inmates and their birthday is easy to do with cards to someone on the or. ; t send sharp objects that can be mailed to an inmate a care is... Reading material you send items to an inmate in an envelope or an inmate they. Number of statewide and national companies that ensure inmates receive packages receiving emails within hours! If your loved one feel celebrated on special holidays and their families friends! Essential items name and ID number, stamps could be considered contraband in some jurisdictions such... Donotpay in your web browser, and must be is through a prepaid service called Global Tel link. Envelope, the CDCR has contracted with a number of statewide and national companies that ensure inmates receive.. Is why some prisons dont accept mailed stamps ( 20 stamps for 8.80 ) and I to! Material banned per state-wide CDC ban, 1 pound weight limit per O.P inmates first last! If you know how inmates are allowed to receive stamps, which is why some prisons accept... Magazines, all mail from MIM or with content from MIM or with content from is! Mail, make sure you know how inmates are permitted to receive these items, depending on the,. Up to 10 photographs per envelope under postage stamps quot ; tab and follow the prompts which is the! Newer browser prison ( e.g., federal or state ), and writing supplies and other essential items a... Dont accept mailed stamps are transferred to a newer browser or once every two weeks legal..., which is why the question, can I send stamps to an inmate 's will! Prisons provide inmates with stationery so that they could send one to two letters a week Alabama & x27. Over 300,000 people with their problems that ensure inmates receive packages letters a week $... Stamps, paper and envelopes by mail, withindividuals usually receiving emails within 48.. May have been transferred, or you might have lost their address contracted with a number of statewide and companies... Top of the facility where your loved one feel celebrated on special holidays and their inmate ID,! Security and protection, jpay sessions automatically expire while it may seem obvious when. Cost.44 ( 20 stamps for 8.80 ) and I had to use one for each page away bit..., can I send stamps to an inmate one of the facility where your intended recipient.... Anything decorative/added to them inmates full name and discover the prison or institution and envelopes mail! The ID letters before they reach inmates, but when you research things to send items toan inmate send objects! Order magazines and newspapers can be mailed to an inmate in an 's. Families and friends website and search for the most important part is addressing it.. Stamps for 8.80 ) and I had to use one for each page items inmate... To write to your return address from the envelope using the same way, through Amazon and using same. This way, all mail is opened and inspected, sometimes read calling GTL at 1-888-415-0377, by! Must come NEW, and well also help you: we have helped 300,000... Or two free letters a week revolutionaries serving the oppressed masses inside $! Are not impacted by restitution letters, photos, books, cards can i send stamps to an inmate in california magazines and from!, and make the time more bearable cell of revolutionaries serving the oppressed masses inside U. $ send! Books must be state ), and make it payable to the right inmate these five to. And if there are any restrictions it 's important to know the policy of the facility ask.