Hampden County Sheriff's Office Attorney Verification Process for Privileged Mail
To Whom It May Concern:
In an effort to enhance the security and integrity of privileged attorney-client communications while maintaining proper access to legal counsel, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) is adopting a new Attorney Verification System (AVS) protocol. This new procedure was developed with input from members of the legal community to ensure continued and reliable access for attorneys corresponding with incarcerated individuals in our custody.
Effective August 4, 2025, all attorneys who wish to send privileged legal mail to individuals housed in any Hampden County correctional facility must do so using a unique Attorney Control Number (ACN) and accompanying AVS barcode labels issued by the HCSO.
How to Apply for an ACN and AVS Barcodes:
Attorneys must complete an ACN Request Form and submit it to the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office via email at [email protected] or by mail to:
Hampden County Sheriff’s Office
Office of Legal Services – Attorney Verification System
627 Randall Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
The form must include the attorney’s full name, telephone number, email address, and valid Board of Bar Overseers (BBO) number (or equivalent for out-of-state attorneys). ACNs are issued to individual attorneys only—law firms or organizations will not be issued group ACNs. Each attorney must apply separately.
Once approved, the attorney will receive their personal ACN along with a set of 100 AVS barcode labels via U.S. Mail, sent to the address listed with the BBO or the address provided on the form. These AVS barcode labels must be affixed to the outside of all envelopes containing privileged mail sent to individuals incarcerated in HCSO facilities.
These barcodes are unique to each attorney and are tracked internally by the Sheriff’s Office. If additional barcode labels are needed in the future, attorneys may request more by contacting the Office of Legal Services using the same email or mailing address listed above. Please note: stockpiling or misuse of barcode labels is prohibited, and no more than 100 labels will be issued per mailing.
Lost or Damaged Barcodes:
If barcode labels are lost or destroyed, please notify the HCSO Office of Legal Services immediately using the contact information above. Barcodes previously issued remain valid unless reported lost or replaced.
Important Notes:
Privileged mail sent without an AVS barcode after August 4, 2025, will still be treated as privileged; however, it will require verification via a phone call and will be opened in the presence of the incarcerated recipient. The new barcode system is intended to streamline this process and reduce the need for verification delays.
We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring that legal correspondence remains secure, confidential, and accessible under this new system. If you have any questions about the AVS procedure, ACN application, or barcode use, please do not hesitate to contact our team via email at [email protected] or by phone at (413) 858-0007
Sincerely,
Office of Legal Services
Hampden County Sheriff’s Office