Sheriff's Office

Rules for On-site Video Visitation

• Each visit shall be a maximum of 2 adult visitors and 1 child.  If the inmate has more than 1 child, they may all come together.
• All unauthorized items must be secured in the lockers provided in the lobby.
• If it is determined that a visitor has brought contraband into the facility, visits will be terminated, and the visitor may be prosecuted.
• Voices will be kept at a moderate level.
• Visitors and inmates must always wear proper clothing. (refer to dress code)
• Absolutely NO cell phones, computers, cameras or tape/video recordings will be permitted during the visit
• Anyone caught using a cell phone or any other electronic device during the visit will have their visit terminated and be subject to being banned
• Visitors and inmates are always to conduct themselves in an orderly manner or the visit will be terminated, and the visitor will be subject to being banned.
• No visitor is to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Visitation privileges can be revoked.  The inmate and visitor must follow all visitation rules.  The safety and security of the facility will not be jeopardized.
• No children will be left unattended on the property or in vehicles.

Rules for Off-site Video Visitation

• Visitors and inmates will always wear proper clothing.
• Any inmate or visitor who is caught exposing themselves will be banned from future visitations.
• Anyone caught using a cell phone or any other electronic device to record the visitation or to conduct 3-way calls, will have their visit terminated and be subject to being banned from future visitations.
• Visitors and inmates are always to conduct themselves in an orderly manner.  Otherwise, the visit may be terminated, and the visitor may be banned from future visitations.
• No visitor is to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Visitation privileges can be revoked.  The inmate and visitor must follow all visitation rules.  The safety and security of the facility will not be jeopardized.

Dress Code for Jail Visitation

• The following Dress Code will be enforced:
• Shirts must have sleeves
• Shirts must always cover the midriff
• Shirts must cover the chest sufficiently to prevent cleavage from being visible at any time
• Shorts must be knee length
• Pants must fit sufficiently to prevent underwear from being visible at any time
• Dresses and skirts must be knee length
• Hats and sunglasses must be removed before entering visitation
• You will be asked to secure cell phones in a locker.  Lockers are in the lobby and require a quarter to operate.  Once the key is inserted to retrieve your items, the quarter will be returned to you.

Please use common sense when dressing to visit at our Jail.  If you are dressed inappropriately, you will be denied visitation for that day.  All Jail rules are subject to change without notice at the discretion of Jail Staff.

All incoming mail will be scanned and sent to their inmate email account located on the kiosk.  The original letter will be placed in their personal property.  There are no restrictions on the number of letters you may receive, but there are size and content restrictions.  Only letter and legal-size envelopes are acceptable. 

Other than letters, the only other items you are allowed will be photographs.  All photos will also be sent to their inmate email account and the originals will be placed in their property.  All other items are considered contraband and prohibited property and will be withheld and placed in their property.  Envelopes containing letters from multiple individuals will be withheld and placed in their property. We will not provide you with paper copies of letters or photos.

You may not receive mail from any inmate from this or any jail, detention center or correctional facility without prior approval from the Jail Commander.  Letters received will be placed in their inmate property. 

You may pay for a subscription to a newspaper or periodic publication and receive a subscription paid for by a person in the community. You may also receive books that are sent direct from the publisher.  To avoid nuisance contraband in the facility an inmate may only receive two (2) publications/books under the following circumstances:

1. a) The subscription must be paid for in full

                prior to the inmate receiving the copy.

1. b) The inmate may only possess one copy of the

                publication at a time. The old copy comes out

                before the new copy goes into the cell area.

1. c) No publications may be transferred to another

                inmate or forwarded if the subscribing inmate

                leaves the jail.

1. d) All publications/books must be sent directly from the

 publisher to the inmate through the mail.

1. e) All publications/books are subject to review by the Sheriff.

Incoming books will be logged prior to you receiving them.  If you previously received books, those must be returned prior to receiving the new books.  You may either place them in their property or donate them to the Jail library.  If you decide not to return them at that time, the new books will be placed in their property and will remain there until you are released. If you would like to donate them, we will have you fill out a form showing that you choose to do so and the books then become property of the Wells County Jail.  At no time will you be allowed to have more than two (2) books in their cell.

All money orders will be removed from inmate mail and placed on the inmate's commissary account. The inmate will receive a receipt for any money deposited in their inmate account. Personal checks or traveler's checks will not be accepted for deposit, they will be placed in the inmate’s property.  Inmates are not allowed to have money in their possession while housed in the Wells County Jail. Money Orders must be made payable to:   

     Wells County Jail

                             1615 W. Western Ave.

                             Bluffton, IN  46714

                             ATTN: their name

Jail staff will remove all stickers from inmate mail.  If the number of stickers is excessive, the mail will be rejected.  All incoming mail must have a return address with the full name of the sender.  Rejected mail will be placed in their inmate property pending final disposition. 

Outgoing or incoming mail may be rejected if there is reason to believe that it may contain inappropriate materials, including but not limited to:

1. Plans for the introduction of contraband
2. Plans for criminal activity
3. Instructions for the manufacturing of weapons, drugs, drug paraphernalia,

    explosives or alcoholic beverages

4. Plans for escaping or unauthorized entry
5. Gang graffiti or tagged correspondence (i.e., language, signs, symbols,

    coded words and/or messages)

6. Drawings or artwork on the outside of outgoing envelopes
7. Items, tools or information which would create danger of violence

    or harm to person or property

8. Mail that contains potentially infectious or offensive material
9. Photographs that contain nudity or sexually explicit depictions, promote racial conflict or discrimination, gang affiliation or signs or that would

    disrupt the safe and secure operation of the Jail.

10. Printed e-mail or internet material, jokes, or song lyrics
11. Photocopies of photographs or pictures
12. Magazine or newspaper clippings
13. Any items that would be illegal to possess
14. Mail from an inmate at another facility
15. If you have any court order restricting contact with the sender