What type of correspondence generally contains personal and confidential documents?

The correct choice is legal mail, which is specifically designed to facilitate communication between inmates and their legal representatives. This type of correspondence often includes personal and confidential documents such as legal briefs, court filings, and other sensitive materials related to an inmate's legal matters.

Legal mail is treated with a higher degree of confidentiality than other types of correspondence, as it is essential for protecting inmates’ rights to legal counsel and ensuring that they can prepare an adequate defense. This privilege is particularly significant as it safeguards the private nature of the communication, thereby maintaining the integrity of the attorney-client relationship.

While privileged mail and routine mail may include personal information, they do not have the same level of confidentiality and legal protections associated with legal mail. Privileged mail might pertain to other confidential communications, but it is not exclusively related to legal matters. Routine mail generally consists of standard correspondence without special confidentiality. Commercial mail refers to advertisements and business correspondence, which is typically not personal or confidential.

In summary, legal mail stands out in this context as it unequivocally contains personal and confidential documents necessary for legal representation.