Ill. Admin. Code tit. 20, § 2525.130 - Outgoing Mail
This Section applies to all youth centers within the Department.
a) Youth shall be permitted
to send privileged and non-privileged letters at their own expense. Youth with
insufficient money in their trust fund accounts to purchase postage shall be
permitted to send reasonable amounts of legal mail and mail to clerks of any
court or the Illinois Court of Claims, to certified court reporters, to the
Administrative Review Board, and to the Prisoner Review Board at State expense
if they attach signed money vouchers authorizing deductions of future funds to
cover the cost of the postage. The youth's trust fund account shall be
restricted for the cost of such postage until paid or the youth is released or
discharged, whichever is soonest.
b) Youth must clearly mark all outgoing mail
with their name. Mail that is not properly marked, including privileged mail,
shall be opened and returned to the sender if the sender's identity can be
determined. If the sender's identity cannot be determined, the mail shall be
destroyed.
c) Outgoing privileged
mail must be clearly marked as "privileged" and sealed by the youth. Outgoing
mail which is clearly marked as privileged and addressed to a privileged party
may not be opened for inspection except as provided in subsection (d) of this
Section.
d) Outgoing privileged
mail may be examined for dangerous contraband, using an x-ray, fluoroscope, or
other similar device. Outgoing privileged mail may also be inspected for
dangerous contraband by other means which do not damage the mail and which do
not permit the mail to be read. Except in an emergency, outgoing privileged
mail shall not be opened, unless there is reasonable suspicion that dangerous
contraband is contained therein, legal services is consulted, and the mail is
opened in the youth's presence.
e)
With the exception of privileged mail, all mail shall be unsealed when
collected or placed in housing unit mailboxes. Sealed mail that is not
privileged will be opened and returned to the sender if the sender's identity
can be determined. If the sender's identity cannot be determined, the mail
shall be destroyed.
f) Each youth
center shall establish procedures for the collection of outgoing mail.
Collections shall be made daily, Monday through Friday, except on State
holidays. Every effort shall be made to ensure that mail is delivered to the
U.S. Postal Service on the same day.
g) Outgoing non-privileged mail shall be
inspected for contraband. If a letter from a youth is confiscated because it
contains contraband, the youth shall be notified promptly in writing.
h) Department employees may spot check and
read outgoing non-privileged mail. Outgoing non-privileged mail or portions
thereof may be reproduced or withheld from delivery if it presents a threat to
security or safety, including the following:
1) The letter contains threats of physical
harm against any person or threats of criminal activity;
2) The letter contains threats of blackmail
or extortion;
3) The letter
contains information regarding sending contraband into or out of the youth
center, plans to escape, or plans to engage in criminal activity;
4) The letter is in code and its contents
cannot be understood by youth facility staff;
5) The letter violates any departmental rules
or contains plans to engage in activities in violation of departmental or
institutional rules;
6) The letter
solicits gifts, goods, or money from other than family members;
7) The letter contains information which, if
communicated, might result in physical harm to another;
8) The letter contains unauthorized
correspondence with another youth; or
9) The letter or contents thereof constitute
a violation of State or federal law.
i) Any outgoing letter may be stopped and
returned to the sender if the person to whom it is addressed (or a parent or
guardian, if the addressee is a minor or incompetent) has notified the Chief
Administrative Officer in writing that the person does not wish to receive mail
from the youth. This rule shall not be construed to prevent youth from
corresponding with their children unless their parental rights have been
terminated.
j) If a youth is
prohibited from sending a letter or portions thereof, the youth shall be
informed in writing of the decision.
k) Material from a letter which violates
subsection (h) of this Section may be placed in a youth's master
file.
l) Youth may not send
packages without approval of the Chief Administrative Officer, whose decision
shall be based on administrative, safety, and security
considerations.
Notes
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