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.
Related InmateAid Services
Subject: Send books and magazines
You can send your inmate books through [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_lc?node=283155&tag=inmatecom-20&camp=15329&creative=394453&linkCode=ur1&adid=1NK4T3Z8XDKYJ0S12D53&&ref-refURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.inmateaid.com%2Fpages%2Fdetails%2Fsend-books-to-an-inmate-in-prison-or-jail). They are one of the only companies that may deliver books to inmates. You cannot buy hardback or used books of any kind. Books that are sold by third party affiliates will get rejected. After you sleect the paperbacks you want to send, enter the inmate's name, ID number and the correct address of the facility.
Subject: Send books and magazines
Amazon is the best way to send a bible. Make sure thagt you are buying it directly from Amazon and not a reseller of their books, which are usually lower priced and used. They will not make it to your inmate. Whatever your selection is, it should be paperback only. [Click InmateAid Services - Send Books](https://www.inmateaid.com/shop)
Subject: Send books and magazines
Amazon works and is the standard solution for this exact requirement. You do not need to contact publishers directly or navigate any complicated ordering process.
Here is why Amazon satisfies the publisher direct requirement. When correctional facilities require books to come directly from the publisher they are trying to ensure that the book has not passed through outside hands where it could be tampered with or used to conceal contraband. Amazon ships from their own warehouses and fulfillment centers, which facilities...
Read moreSubject: Send books and magazines
Yes, you can send magazines to an inmate, and it is one of the most appreciated things you can do for someone serving time. Reading material makes a real difference in how slowly or quickly the days pass by.
The main restriction across virtually every correctional facility in the country is nudity. Magazines containing explicit or nude content are prohibited and will be rejected at the mailroom before they ever reach your loved one. That means publications like Playboy are off...
Read moreSubject: Send books and magazines
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...
Read moreSubject: Send books and magazines
Most correctional facilities only accept packages shipped via the United States Postal Service. FedEx and UPS deliveries are routinely rejected at prison mail rooms, and Amazon does not give customers the option to choose their shipping carrier directly.
There is a practical workaround that solves this problem. If a facility has a PO Box address, use that as the shipping address instead of the street address. FedEx and UPS do not deliver to PO Boxes, which means Amazon's fulfillment system will...
Read moreSubject: Send books and magazines
Books shipped from Amazon must go to the facility's physical address, not the PO box used for regular mail. Include the inmate full name and ID number in the address field. Always confirm with the facility first that they accept direct vendor shipments before ordering.
Subject: Send books and magazines
Use the Amazon link on our site. Select the books that you'd like to send - when checking out, make sure that the address of the inmate's facility is correct along with their ID number. All customer service questions about delivery must be direct through our partner Amazon.com
Subject: Send books and magazines
Most correctional facilities maintain a clear policy on what reading material is permitted inside. The three categories that are almost universally prohibited are magazines featuring nudity, firearms or weapons content, and anything associated with gang culture or activity. The reasoning is consistent across facilities; these materials are considered either a security risk or a threat to the order and rehabilitation environment the facility is trying to maintain.
Beyond those restrictions, the range of approved publications is fairly broad. Sports, news, entertainment,...
Read moreSubject: Send books and magazines
No. eBay is not an approved vendor for sending books to inmates and orders placed through it will almost certainly be rejected at the mail room.
The rule at virtually every correctional facility is that books must be sent directly from a publisher or an approved retailer. The reasoning is security: a book coming from a verified commercial source has a traceable chain of custody that a used book from an individual eBay seller does not. Facilities cannot verify where a...
Read more