When can inmates start receiving and sending letters after entering a correctional facility?

Except for inmates who are denied correspondence, inmates held at correctional facilities may send and receive letters right after they have completed the admission process and assigned a ward.

What can inmates do if for some reasons they cannot write letters?

1. Prisons with visual, hearing or speech disability can use sign language, Braille or other appropriate aids to help them draft letters.
2. If an inmate is illiterate or cannot write letters for some reason, he or she can solicit the help of other inmates or somebody appropriate to draft a letter. The letter will be sent out according to rules after it is confirmed and signed or fingerprinted by the inmate.

Whom can inmates have correspondence with?

1. Level 4 prisoners can have correspondence (communication by letters) with relatives. Prisoners at other levels are allowed to have correspondence with non-relatives, provided the correspondence does not adversely affect the prisoner’s edification. For prisoners to whom progressive treatment does not apply, the prison will not limit or deny inmates correspondence with anybody in principle, except where it is otherwise stipulated by law or where the prisoner voluntarily refuses correspondence.
2. Defendants and civil detainees can have correspondence with anybody. However with special reasons, the court or the prosecutor may restrict who can have correspondence with the defendant.
3. Delinquents under rehab and observation may have correspondence with spouse and lineal relatives only, but exceptions may be allowed if there are special reasons and head of the rehab center has given permission. However an inmate’s correspondence with any person may be denied or restricted if it interferes with inmate’s rehabilitation or disbenefits the inmate.
4. Juvenile inmates may have correspondence with friends and relatives.

Can the live-in companion or same-sex partner of inmates have correspondence with inmates as a family member?

1. Pursuant to Article 1123 of the Civil Code, persons belong to the same house are, except the head of the house, the members of the house. Persons who are not relatives but who live in the same household with the object of maintaining the common living permanently are deemed to be the members of the house.
2. To show family member relationship with an inmate, the person must present viable supporting documents or be accepted as family member by the correctional facility following investigation.
3. When a person applies to obtain permission to correspond with an inmate as inmate’s family member, the person should present an affidavit signed by the parents of both the person and the inmate, household registry (or household registration transcript) that show the person and the inmate live in the same household, certificate issued by the chief of village or other documents that suffice to show their relationship. The person can then have correspondence with the inmate as a family member after the correctional facility has determined their relationship.