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
If the books were returned we would not try sending them again. Amazon is the only way prisons will accept books (if they changed their policy, we were not aware). You could get the same effect sending some magazine titles that fit your inmate's interest. If you want to send some magazine ubscriptions from InmateAid, send us an email at aid@inmateaid.com and we'll send you a coupon for 1/3 off all you buy.
Subject: Send books and magazines
Malcolm Galdwell books, "Tipping Point", "Outliers" and "Blink" are recommended for business philosopy-type reading. For fiction reading, i like the authors Stuart Woods, Vince Flynn, Harlen Coben, Lee Child, John Grisham, Daniel Silva, Michael Lewis and Sandra Brown. There are tons of titles for these authors. The prison/jail rules require buying paperback books from the publisher like Amazon, don't try and send them yourself,they will definitely get returned.
Subject: Send books and magazines
We would recomend calling the facility chaplain and asking their opinion on these specifics.
Subject: Send books and magazines
Here is a list of the most popular:
Car and Driver
Easyriders (bikes and girls)
Diesel
Hot Bike (bikes and girls)
Drag Racer
Muscle Machines
Muscle and Fitness Hers (girls)
Subject: Send books and magazines
No. You cannot send any electronic devices to an inmate in any prison. However, there are some prisons that have their own special tablets that have educational programming from the facility available and they might have the ability to get books but we are dubious. Stick to paperbacks for now :)
Subject: Send books and magazines
Puzzle magazines are my favorite... they seem to last a long time and keep me busy when I'm bored, which is MOST of the time :)
Subject: Send books and magazines
YES!! We all do :)) Thanks for asking and thinking of us...
Subject: Send books and magazines
We set up InmateAid to centralize everything that can be done for an inmate by a loved one on the outside. Inmates are lonely and somewhat scared when they first go in. Having someone on the outside they can communicate with gives them the connection to hope and the prospect of a better future when they get out. Inmates who have no one, it does the opposite.
We are big fans of reading. Reading for an inmate is a virtual escape...
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Lee County Detention Center operates under a strict and specific personal property policy that limits what inmates can have in their cells at any given time. The restrictions exist for practical reasons. Cell space is limited, and allowing unlimited personal property creates clutter that encroaches on cellmates' space and generates conflicts. Keeping the allowed item list tight is a deliberate management decision rather than an arbitrary rule.
The current permitted items are clear and specific. Inmates may have up to 20...
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