Sending Books to Carteret County Detention Center: The Complete Shipping Checklist
Getting a book through intake at Carteret County Detention Center comes down to the details — who ships it, how it arrives, the format, and even the package size.
Books must ship directly from a major national distributor or publisher. The facility accepts orders from established sellers like Amazon, Books-A-Million, and Barnes & Noble. If a book doesn't come straight from the distributor, expect it to be refused.
Don't order books to your home and then re-ship them. Forwarded packages from friends or family aren't accepted, and items from individuals or local bookstores get returned to sender. Religious materials follow the same rule. The detention center no longer accepts religious items as lobby drop-offs - they need to come directly from a major publisher or religious organization.
Skip hardcovers. Carteret County Detention Center doesn't accept them - paperbacks only.
Size matters. Paperbacks must be no larger than 6 in × 9 in × 2 in.
Monthly limit (and a common snag): Inmates can receive no more than 3 books per month. The facility also mentions a "no more than two paperback books" limit in its mail rules. To avoid a rejected package, check with the inmate about what they've already received and how the mailroom is applying the limit before placing another order.
Coordinate with the inmate before shipping. The stated cap is 3 books per month, and anything beyond that may be rejected. If they've received books recently, wait until next month rather than risk a return. Keep orders small. Since the jail also mentions a "no more than two paperback books" rule, ordering one or two at a time is the safer bet if you're unsure how intake is handling things.
Use USPS. The detention center only accepts book parcels delivered by the United States Postal Service - UPS and FedEx deliveries are typically rejected. When ordering, confirm the seller will ship via USPS, not a courier.
Address the package using the inmate’s name and inmate ID, and use the facility’s PO box: Carteret County Detention Center Inmate Name, Inmate ID PO Box 239 Beaufort, NC 28516
Common Rejection Reasons
- ✓ The package is shipped or delivered by UPS/FedEx (USPS is required for book parcels)
- ✓ The books are hardcover
- ✓ The books are oversized (over 6 in × 9 in × 2 in)
- ✓ The inmate is over the book limit for the month (or the shipment exceeds the facility’s stated “no more than two paperback books” rule)
- ✓ The content includes obscene pictures, sexual content, racist/hate material, or anything that incites violence or threatens facility safety/order
- ✓ The order was forwarded by a friend/family member or came from an individual/walk-in bookstore instead of a major distributor
Pre Shipment Checklist
- ✓ Order from a major national distributor/publisher and ship directly to the jail (don’t forward it yourself)
- ✓ Make sure the seller will ship USPS (avoid UPS/FedEx)
- ✓ Choose paperback/softcover only (no hardcovers)
- ✓ Keep it within the size limit: 6 in × 9 in × 2 in
- ✓ Address it to the inmate with their name and inmate ID, using: Carteret County Detention Center, PO Box 239, Beaufort, NC 28516
Tip: Ask the inmate how many books they’ve already received this month. The monthly cap is 3 books, and going over it can lead to rejected shipments.
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