Nevada County Adopts Secure Inmate Mailing System

NEVADA COUNTY — The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) recently announced the transfer of all personal mail for the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility and the Truckee Substation Jail to Pigeonly Corrections, a secure mailing platform. Officials describe the new system as a safer option for both staff members and inmates, while blocking a pathway long exploited to introduce contraband.

“This decision was made principally for safety first and foremost as an added layer of protection for our staff and the incarcerated population,” explained Captain Bob Jakobs, NCSO Jail Commander. “We’ve had incidents where contraband has made its way into our jail facilities through creative avenues, including standard mail. While we’ve had success in reducing attempts to smuggle in contraband by purchasing a body scanner in 2017 and an in-house mail scanner in 2019, it is not foolproof, and the impact of such occurrences can be severe for all involved.”

The NCSO reports that upgraded scanning technology has allowed staff to intercept and stop six suspicious packages likely containing narcotics since June at the Wayne Brown facility. Officials also note past inmate overdoses while in custody. Although jail staff carry Narcan to treat opioid overdoses, Pigeonly supports broader prevention efforts.

Personal correspondence sent through Pigeonly must first arrive at a processing center in Las Vegas. Staff there scan the mail and produce a color copy for secure delivery to the jail facility. Officials hold the originals in storage for a short period before destroying them, unless the sender requests a return

Pigeonly provides a free online service that lets people send messages to inmates via a simple form. The platform prints those messages for delivery, and senders can track status updates along the way.

Legal and official mail will continue to reach Nevada County facilities directly. Attorneys, however, must now verify their identities on the Pigeonly platform. The NCSO states this step preserves confidentiality and safeguards client-attorney privilege.

Additional details appear on pigeonly.com or the Nevada County Sheriff’s website.