Books and magazines are among the most valuable items an incarcerated person can receive. They provide an escape from the monotony of institutional life, keep the mind active, and for many inmates represent the primary source of education and information about the outside world. But facility rules about how books and magazines can be sent are strict, and getting it wrong means the item gets rejected. This section covers the rules for sending books and magazines to incarcerated loved ones, why items must typically come directly from approved publishers or retailers rather than from home, what types of publications are restricted and why, how InmateAid's magazine subscription service works and why it is one of the most reliable ways to keep a loved one supplied with reading material, and what genres and titles tend to be most popular inside. The guidance here makes sure every book and magazine you send actually arrives. See also our sections on Inmate Care Packages, Send Inmate Mail, and Prison Jobs.
Subject: Send books and magazines
First, know that what your friend is feeling is real and it is one of the hardest parts of incarceration that nobody talks about openly enough.
Being inside can feel like you have actually died while the world keeps moving without you. Watching family and friends go on with their lives through phone calls and letters while you are frozen in place carries a specific kind of loneliness that is difficult to describe to someone who has not experienced it. That...
Read moreSubject: Send books and magazines
This is one of the most common sources of confusion for families trying to send books and the inconsistency you experienced is real. Here is exactly why it happens.
Correctional facilities require that books be sent directly from the publisher or an approved retailer. The reasoning is straightforward — a book coming directly from a verified source is far less likely to contain contraband than one that has passed through unknown hands.
Amazon operates in two completely different ways depending on which...
Read moreSubject: Send books and magazines
Sending commissary funds or books to an inmate requires careful adherence to the facility's guidelines to ensure the process is smooth and hassle-free. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this process:
Sending Commissary Funds:
Check the Facility’s Policies: Before sending money, verify the jail or prison's rules regarding commissary deposits, as policies can vary. Most facilities accept funds via online payment services, phone, mail, or in person.
Use Approved Methods:
Online: Many correctional facilities partner with third-party providers such as JPay, Access...
Read moreSubject: Send books and magazines
Yes, Amazon is the best and most widely accepted method of sending books inside
Subject: Send books and magazines
You shouldn't send a book directly through the mail, the prisons and jails require all publications (ie magazines) to come directly from the publisher. Amazon is the best and most widely accepted method of sending books inside.
Subject: Send books and magazines
No need to worry. This happens occasionally and we are happy to make it right.
InmateAid monitors all transactions and we often catch duplicate orders before they become a problem. If we have not already reached out to you about the duplicate charge simply send us an email at aid@inmateaid.com and we will process a refund for the duplicate order promptly.
Please include your account email address and the name of the magazine in your message so we can locate the order...
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The corrections address is the physical address of the facility Lowell Correctional Institution for Women. In the state of Florida, the DOC has a post office address in Tampa where ALL incoming inmate mail is received.
Subject: Send books and magazines
The magazine subscriptions come directly from the publisher, a rule set by the prisons and jails. Depending on the individual publisher the first issue arrives in about 8-12 weeks and then is repeated month after month until the total amount of issues are delivered. This is similar to any magazine subscription for anyone that takes a subscription postcard from a magazine and mails it to the publisher. If you are still in the "delivery window", have no fear InmateAid has been...
Read moreSubject: Send books and magazines
8 to 12 weeks... they come direct from the publisher and just take a little time to get the first issue out
Subject: Send books and magazines
yes, but we would caution sending magazine subscriptions into any county jail unless they are serving a sentence of one year or more.
