Mail processing and delivery within a controlled-environment facility

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by one or more computer systems, cause the one or more computer systems to:

• convert, by a processor controlled digital imaging device, an incoming physical mail item addressed to a resident of a controlled-environment facility to a digital format mail item;
• associate the digital format mail item with the resident;
• archive a copy of the digital format mail item, associated with the resident, in an electronic database;
• determine whether the resident is allowed to receive the physical mail item;
• apply controlled-environment facility policy and/or procedures to the digital format mail item and/or the physical mail item in response to a determination that the resident is not allowed to receive the physical mail item;
• determine whether an electronic message service is available to the resident;
• deliver the digital format mail item to the resident as an electronic message directed to the resident in response to a determination that the resident is allowed to receive the physical mail item, if an electronic message service is available to the resident;
• and
• print the digital format mail item for distribution within the controlled-environment facility, in response to a determination that the resident is allowed to receive the physical mail item, if an electronic message service is not available to the resident.

A system for delivery of mail to a resident of a controlled-environment facility comprising:

• an imaging device operatively coupled to a computer system;
• the computer system comprising:
• at least one processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory configured to store program instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the system to:
• image each physical mail item using the imaging device to provide corresponding digital format mail items;
• associate each digital format mail item with a controlled-environment facility resident the item is addressed to;
• archive a copy of each digital format mail item;
• determine whether a resident the physical mail item is addressed to is allowed to receive the physical mail item;
• and
• deliver each digital format mail item to the resident it is addressed to as an electronic message in response to a determination that the resident is allowed to receive the physical mail item, if an electronic message service is available to the resident;
• and
• means for printing the digital format mail item for provision to the resident, in response to a determination that the resident is allowed to receive the mail item, if an electronic message service is not available to the resident.