New Restrictions on Jail Mail

Inmates at the Santa Barbara County Jail will now only be able to receive postcards in the mail, according to a new policy being put in place by Sheriff Bill Brown. Brown said security, safety, and health considerations all went into the decision, and that it took a lot of staff resources to open and examine the voluminous mail sent to jail inmates. There are many instances of mail being used to convey narcotics, he said. There will be no limit on the number of postcards inmates can receive, and it only affects incoming personal mail, not outgoing mail or privileged incoming mail.