How to Send Books to Prison

Books are ideal for helping prisoners pass time.

Prisoners have countless hours of free time to pass. Sending books to a prison inmate can help occupy that time. Prisons have many rules and regulations regarding publications that you can send to an inmate and how to do so.

Things You'll Need

• Prison Address

Instructions

1. Find out the requirements and rules of the prison in which you are sending the books. There are numerous and strict rules to send publications to a prison. According to the Florida Department of Corrections, inmates at Florida State Prison Main Unit or death row are not allowed to receive hard-bound books. Certain genres and topics in books are forbidden, such as any depictions of violence. Contact the prison directly or find the information on their website.

2. Send any books or other reading materials through a publisher, mail order distributor or bookstore. Online bookstores that ship to prisons include Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Do not try and send books to a prisoner directly as they will be rejected. Any books sent to a prison must be sent through the United States Postal Service.

3. Include the inmates full name. If you know the inmates middle name and booking number, include those along with the address of the prison.

References

• FAQ: Writing to an Inmate
• Inmate Mail