BANNED ITEMS

To keep drugs and other contraband out of the South West Detention Centre and other provincial jails, the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General has a strict list of items that cannot be sent to inmates in the mail. The Star encountered this list when it tried to mail a typed and printed letter to an inmate — anything “printed off on a home printer” is prohibited, as are the following:

Stickers, labels, glitter, sparkles, anything that is glued or taped;

Home-made items including arts and crafts, jewelry, cards that are purchased (musical or textured), cards of any kind;

Items that are painted by the use of paint, crayons, pencil crayons, markers, gel pens, white out, etc.;

Stamps, envelopes, writing paper, anything with a monetary value;

Polaroid photographs; Address books, books, newspapers, magazines, internet clippings, anything that is photocopied, crossword puzzles, calendars, book markers, etc.;

Paper clips, pins, staples, pens, pencils or other sharp objects;

Feathers, dried flowers, etc.;

Telephone calling cards, credit cards, plastic cards;

Articles that violate copyright laws (photocopy or recorded items);

Anything that the inmate can purchase through the canteen;

Magnets;

Tattoo paraphernalia;

Any item or photograph containing gang related material, symbols, obscene gestures, etc.;

Scents of perfume, body fluids, unknown substances, stains, lipstick marks;

Inappropriate contents: sexual, violent, alcohol, drugs, weapons, obscene gestures, material that promotes hatred of any identifiable group.