WRITE TO CILITA
Mail rules
Every letter is screened before printing so it meets the mail rules at its destination. Here is what that means in practice.
How we format letters
You design your message in color. We format and prepare it to comply with the facility's mail standards before printing. The printed version is what gets mailed — we handle everything in between.
What facility staff do with incoming mail
- All incoming general correspondence is opened and inspected before delivery (28 CFR § 540.14). This is standard at every federal facility — not specific to this service.
- Mail that violates facility rules is not delivered. This includes threats, harassment, sexual content involving minors, and material that violates facility conduct rules. We screen every message before printing; a message that fails the check is not printed and you are notified.
- There is no delivery signature for incoming general mail. Certified and signature tracking under federal rules apply to mail an inmate sends out, not to mail the public sends in.
What you can track
Your private status link shows when your letter was printed and handed to the carrier, and any carrier scans we receive. What happens inside the facility after that is outside any tracking system we can access.
Content guidelines
Write knowing that facility staff read incoming mail: no threats, no illegal instructions, no harassment, no contact information for third parties who did not agree to be included.
Questions
Can I include a photo? Yes — it prints on the letter sheet itself. Nothing separate goes in the envelope.
Is this an official channel? No. This is an independent printing-and-mailing service, not affiliated with any government, court, facility, or the person named.
Can I get proof the letter was delivered? We can confirm printing and hand-off to the carrier, plus any carrier scans. Delivery inside the facility is not trackable from outside.