Why You Can't Send Care Packages to FCI Butner Medium 2 — And How to Send Books & Magazines Correctly

FCI Butner Medium 2 doesn't accept packages from home. The rule is simple: without prior written approval from the inmate's unit team or another authorized staff member, your package won't get through - no matter how well-intentioned or clearly labeled it is.

Only two package types get different treatment: release clothing and authorized medical devices. Beyond those exceptions, expect a home-shipped box to be rejected unless the inmate already has written approval in place.

Books and magazines seem like a safe alternative to care packages. They're not - at least not if you send them yourself. At FCI Butner Medium 2, inmates can only receive magazines and books (hardback or paperback) when they're shipped directly from the publisher.

Medium-, high-, and administrative-security BOP facilities have tighter publication rules. Hardcovers and newspapers must come from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore. At facilities like this one, the same applies to softcovers - paperbacks, magazines, and similar items. Sending reading material from home isn't an option.

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• ✓ Order books and magazines so they ship directly from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore (not from your home).

• ✓ If you need to send release clothing or an authorized medical device, make sure the inmate gets prior written approval from the unit team/authorized staff before anything is mailed.

Here's what does work: inmates can subscribe to or receive commercial publications without prior approval - as long as the content isn't considered harmful to facility security, discipline, or good order, and doesn't facilitate criminal activity. Subscriptions are a solid option, but everything still gets reviewed.

Sexual content is a common reason publications get rejected. Under the Ensign Amendment, commercially published material that's sexually explicit or features nudity can't be distributed to inmates. When something falls into that category, the Warden (or a designee) sends it back to the publisher or sender.

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• ✓ Confirm the item will be shipped directly by the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore (this matters for hardcover publications, newspapers, and softcover publications at this facility).

1. Use the inmate’s full name and register number - include both on the order so the mailroom can match the package to the right person.
2. Ship from an approved source - place the order so it comes directly from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore.
3. Save your order details - keep the order confirmation and any tracking information in case you need to follow up.