FAQs
Will I still need to use only white envelopes?
No. You will once again be able to send envelopes of any color.
Will I still need to use only white paper?
No. You will once again be allowed to use colored paper, paper with watermarks, and other paper more interesting than "plain white".
Can I send photographs?
Yes. You can send photographs, either from home or directly from a distributor. All photographs will be scanned, and viewable on the tablets as part of the mail item.
No physical photographs will be delivered to the AIC.
Can I send books, magazines, and newspapers?
Yes. Books, magazines, and newspapers will still be sent directly to the local facility -- not to the central scanning facility for general correspondence.
What will the mail look like when the AIC sees it?
The AIC will see a scanned image of the mail -- basically a series of photographs of the mail itself. These will be accessible on the tablets.
What address do I send mail to?
There will be a central processing facility. We will publish that new address as we get closer to implementation.
What happens to the physical mail after it is scanned?
The vendor will keep the originals for a retention period, likely between 30–90 days, before destruction. Exact timelines are still being finalized. This allows a window for the AIC to notice if any pages were missing in the scan and notify the vendor.
Will it cost me more?
There is no charge. DOC does not charge a fee and the vendor does not charge a fee. Senders will still use the same amount of postage. Neither the sender nor the AIC will need to pay to send or receive physical mail.
Can AICs respond to mail on the tablets?
No. This mail is simply scanned images of the mail. There is no "email" or method to reply via the tablet to these images.
The current electronic mail system is different than scanned mail. Electronic mail will continue as normal, which is more of an email/text system that allows conversations back and forth on the tablets.
Can AICs send out mail?
Outgoing mail does not change. AICs can still send out regular mail, using the Canteen envelopes, just like they do now.
Will scanned mail be monitored like other communications?
Yes. All communications, included scanned mail, are subject to security review under existing DOC policy.
What happens to scanned mail for AICs after they are released?
Released AICs will be able to request access to their scanned mail from the vendor. Details will be provided once the process is finalized.
Can an AIC request and pay for a printed copy of the scanned mail?
No. DOC is not able to print scanned mail.