How Do I Send a Book From Amazon to an Inmate?

Yes, you ship directly to the facility address. When you order on Amazon, use the facility's mailing address as the shipping destination, and include your sister's full name and inmate ID number in the address field so the mailroom can route it to her correctly.

There is one critical rule with Amazon book orders for inmates: you must buy new paperback books sold directly by Amazon, not used books or books sold by third-party sellers through the Amazon marketplace. Facilities require books to come from an approved retailer to verify they have not been tampered with, and many specifically require new books from a primary retailer. Used books sold by third-party affiliates on Amazon will almost certainly be rejected at the mailroom.

When you add the book to your cart, check the seller before purchasing. If it says Sold by Amazon or Fulfilled by Amazon as a new copy, you are fine. If it shows a third-party seller name, skip it and find a new copy sold directly by Amazon. That one detail is the most common reason book shipments get turned away.

The rest is straightforward. Checkout, use the facility address, include her name and ID number, and choose standard shipping.