Modoc County Sheriff's Dept.

Sending Mail To Inmates:

Mailing Address:

Inmate John Smith

c/o Modoc County Jail

102 South Court Street

Alturas, CA 96101

There is no limit to the volume of mail an imate may send or receive and there is no restrictions to the number of pages or to the amount of writing on either side of the paper.

The only things accepted in the mail are:
  1. The paper the correspondence is written on
  2. The envelope
  3. Money orders for the inmate commissary.

Photographs - No more than three
  1. No Polaroid
  2. No photos larger than 3 1/2" X 5"
  3. Photos must not be pornographic in nature.
  4. If an inmate receives photographs in the mail, a maximum of three will be given to him/her. If the inmate already has photographs, any number in excess of three will be placed in his/her property.

No newspapers, magazines, books, etc. will be accepted for inmates in this jail unless the inmate is going to be here for thirty days or more, and then only if the newspaper, magazines, books, etc. are mailed directly from the publisher.

Books, newspapers, correspondence/mail and periodicals will not be accepted into the jail if they are obscene publications or writings. Mail containing information concerning where, how, or from whom obscene matter may be obtained, and any matter of a character tending to incite murder, arson, riot, violent racism, or any other form of violence, and any matter concerning unlawful gambling or an unlawful lottery will not be accepted. No hard cover books will be accepted.

NOTE: All incoming and outgoing correspondence will be checked for contraband as a matter of jail security.

The jail facility has an Inmate Commissary to sell such items as candy, toilet articles, etc. The facility manager will set the selling prices of these items, so that the inmate store remains financially self-sufficient. An added margin of profit may be levied on the items to provide for an Inmate Welfare Fund.
Money deposited in the Inmate Welfare Fund is spent by the facility manager solely for the benefit and welfare of the inmates confined in this jail. Such expenditures may include television sets, radios, recreation equipment, etc.
When an Inmate is received during the week for a commitment, he/she will be given toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, soap and comb. While an Inmate is incarcerated, they will be supplied with hygiene items for the duration of their stay as long as they have no money to purchase these items from the commissary store themselves.
Money can be placed in an inmates account by:

Mailing a money order to the inmate at 102 S. Court St. Alturas, CA 96101
We currently only accept Money Orders or Cashier's Checks

NOTE: You may not place funds in an inmates account if you have been incarcerated in the Modoc County Jail in the last 90 days.

Phones are located in most inmate dorms. Inmates have access to the phones seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The phone system will not connect to caller ID blocked numbers or cell phones.
Phone or calling cards will not work with the phone system; all phone calls will be billed collect or funds can be placed on account by calling or using the web link www.correctionalbillingservices.com.
Inmate access to phones may be denied at anytime if it is deemed a safety issue for jail staff.
Use of the phone is a privilege not a right. Jail staff can deny phone use if it is deemed appropriate for the situation.
Phones are not operated or maintained by jail staff.

Please do not call the jail staff and ask them to deliver messages to inmates in custody. Due to inmate privacy, all messages between inmates and family/friends must be done via the mail or inmate phones.