How do I send books to an inmate at vanceboro county prison?

Sending books to someone in prison is one of the most meaningful things you can do, but there is an important rule that trips up a lot of people. Most correctional facilities, including county prisons, require that all books and magazines come directly from the publisher or an approved vendor. You cannot simply grab a book off your shelf, wrap it up, and mail it. It will get rejected at the mailroom.

The reason behind the rule is contraband prevention. Books that pass through outside hands before arriving at the facility cannot be verified as unaltered. Facilities require publisher direct shipments because it eliminates that risk and give the mailroom a clear chain of custody.

The most practical way to handle this is through Amazon.com. Amazon ships directly from their warehouse, which most facilities accept as an approved vendor equivalent to publisher direct. You order the book, enter the inmate's name and facility address as the shipping destination, and Amazon sends it straight there.

InmateAid has partnered with Amazon specifically to make this process easier. You can order books and magazines through that connection and have them sent directly to your loved one without having to navigate the facility's rules on your own.