Telephone

Resident phones are located in the dayroom area and equipped for outgoing calls only. The hours of use are from 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Family and/or friends must accept the charges in order for a resident to speak to them. Residents will be provided with a PIN number in order to make a phone call on resident phones. When making an initial phone call the resident will be prompted to record their name, which will be used for all calls out. If family or friends have a block on their phone, they can call Encartele at 800-562-7062 to have the block removed. Pre-paid calling cards can be purchased through commissary for $10.00. This will allow a resident to call anyone, whether there is a block on their phone or not, and the charges will be paid through the phone card. NO other type of calling card works with this system.

Family and/or friends may also contact Encartel to set up an account for the MinuteMizer Service at 866-476-6723 or at minutemizer.encartele.net. The MinuteMizer Service is an efficient way to save money on calls from Lorain/Medina CBCF resident telephones. Family or friends whom the resident will be calling can set up their account by making a deposit into their MinuteMizer account by paying with a money order, check, cashier’s check, check by phone, Visa and MasterCard. If paid by credit card the account will be available for use within 30 minutes after the transaction is approved. If paid by money order or checks, the account will not be activated for at least 7 days. Calls are “pre-paid” and are associated with the phone number that is called so the cost of the call will be deducted from that account only.

 

Mail

Residents may send unlimited amounts of first class mail provided they have the stamps to do so. Residents may receive unlimited amounts of incoming mail; however, only 5 letters are permitted in their personal property at any time. All incoming mail is date stamped and hand inspected for contraband by CBCF staff before delivery to the resident. Pictures will be looked at for compliance with the facility standards. Pornographic or sexually suggestive photos are not permitted, as well as photographs that depict alcohol, drugs, gang material, or other material deemed objectionable by the staff. Polaroid photographs are not accepted. A resident will be notified if their incoming mail is returned or outgoing mail is withheld. If a resident received items that do not comply with facility standards, the items will be sent out at their expense. Residents will be given the option of having items destroyed if they choose not to send them out.
Money orders that are received in the mail will be removed and the resident will receive a receipt. The money order will be placed in the resident's account for their use.

Any incoming correspondence from the courts, attorney of record, or public officials will be opened and inspected in the resident's presence by an appointed staff member.

Residents who cannot afford writing supplies may obtain writing paper, envelopes and stamps (one stamp per letter) for two first class letters per week. Writing materials may be requested through CBCF staff. Stamps will be placed on outgoing mail by CBCF staff.

Outgoing mail must be addressed with the complete name and address of the recipient. The return address must include the resident's full name and the address of the CBCF Envelopes cannot contain artwork, symbols or stickers.

Residents are not permitted to send or receive mail from any other correctional facilities or from individuals subject protection orders.