Sending Books and Magazines to Fairfax ADC: Publisher-Only Rule and Prohibited Content

If you want to send someone reading material at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (ADC), the facility treats it as a “publication.” That includes paperback books (soft covers), magazines, and newspapers - and the rule is simple: it has to come directly from the publisher or a third-party retailer.

Fairfax ADC also requires publications to be sent through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). In practice, that means you can’t mail a book from home or drop something in the mail as an individual sender, even if it’s brand new. Order it so the shipment originates with the publisher or retailer, and make sure it’s going through USPS so it has the best chance of being accepted and delivered.

Address Timing

• ✓ Inmate’s full name
• ✓ Inmate number
• ✓ Fairfax County Adult Detention Center
• ✓ 10520 Judicial Drive
• ✓ Fairfax, VA 22030

Even when you do everything right, don’t expect same-day delivery to the housing unit. Mailed items may take up to five business days to be delivered to the inmate.

Fairfax ADC screens incoming publications before they’re delivered. One of the clearest content rules is that publications can’t contain nudity or “inadequately clothed” individuals. If the magazine or book includes that kind of material, it’s likely to be rejected during inspection instead of reaching the person you’re trying to support.

1. Order from the publisher or a third-party retailer - Fairfax ADC only accepts paperback books, magazines, and newspapers when they come directly from the publisher or retailer.
2. Make sure it ships via USPS - publications must be sent through the U.S. Postal Service.
3. Use the inmate’s full identifying info on the label - include the inmate’s full name, inmate number, and the facility street address.
4. Keep your order confirmation and tracking - if there’s a problem, having the tracking details makes it easier to sort out what happened.

If you’re trying to send something that isn’t a publication - like an ID, passport, cashier’s check, or other original official document - those items should be mailed directly to the ADC Property Officer at 10520 Judicial Drive, Attention: Property Officer – inmate name/inmate number, Fairfax, VA 22030. Don’t tuck personal notes, photos, greeting cards, or kids’ drawings into that envelope; general correspondence has to go through Smart Communications, and including it with official documents sent to the Property Officer is prohibited. If a publication or other item doesn’t make it through, your tracking and order details are the best starting point when you follow up about what was rejected and why.