Sending Books and Magazines to Chesapeake Jail: What's Allowed and What Gets Rejected
Want to send reading material to someone at Chesapeake Jail? Books and periodicals must come from specific sources — and every package needs the person's name and Securus ID number, or it won't be accepted.
Books must be mailed directly from the publisher. Ship from anywhere else, and there's a good chance it won't clear screening. Include the inmate's name and Securus ID number when you place the order - staff need this to match the package to the right person. Missing or unclear info is one of the fastest ways to get a book delayed or rejected.
Note: Books are treated as publications and must be sent directly to the Chesapeake facility, not routed through Securus mail scanning.
Magazines and newspapers must be subscription-based. Set them up through the publisher or a subscription service - don't try to mail individual issues yourself. As with books, include the inmate's name and Securus ID number on the subscription details so the facility can deliver it properly.
Note: Magazines and newspapers are also publications, so they’re sent directly to the facility rather than going through Securus scanning.
Before ordering anything, check the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office website for the facility's
Tip: Check the Restricted Book List before ordering from a publisher so you don’t pay for a book the facility won’t accept.
Chesapeake routes some mail differently than regular letters. Legal mail, court documents, bank statements, packages, and publications go directly to the facility - they skip Securus scanning entirely.
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