Can You Send Books and Magazines to FCI Danbury? Here's What's Allowed
Want to send books or magazines to someone at FCI Danbury? The most important thing to know: packages from home are almost never allowed, and publications have strict rules about where they can come from.
FCI Danbury doesn't allow inmates to receive packages from home unless there's prior written approval from the unit team or other authorized staff. And even with approval, the only things allowed are release clothing and authorized medical devices. Care packages? They'll get turned away.
Hardcover books and newspapers must come directly from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore. Not from a friend's house. Not from your personal collection. Not repackaged after you bought it somewhere else.
Softcover items - paperbacks, magazines, clippings - depend on the facility's security level. If FCI Danbury operates as a medium-, high-, or administrative-security institution, softcover publications must also come directly from a publisher, book club, or bookstore. If it's minimum- or low-security, inmates can receive softcover publications (except newspapers) from any source.
Tip: Not sure how the softcover rule applies? Play it safe - order from a publisher, book club, or bookstore and have it shipped directly to FCI Danbury. That sidesteps the most common "wrong source" rejections.
Even books and magazines from approved sources can be rejected. Under BOP policy, the Warden can turn away a publication if it threatens institutional security, could facilitate criminal activity, or falls under other listed prohibitions in the Program Statement.
That said, there are limits on rejection reasons. A publication can't be refused just because it expresses an unpopular viewpoint or covers religious, political, social, or sexual topics.
Note: If something is rejected, the decision is supposed to follow the BOP’s publication procedures. Your loved one can use the facility’s remedy/appeal process to challenge a rejection that doesn’t fit the allowed reasons.
Thinking about sending a box from home? Keep expectations low. The only home packages allowed at FCI Danbury are release clothing and authorized medical devices - and both require prior written approval from the unit team or other authorized staff.
Practical Steps Families
- ✓ Order hardcover books and newspapers from a publisher, book club, or bookstore.
- ✓ For paperbacks, magazines, and clippings, use a publisher/book club/bookstore whenever possible so the source won’t be a problem if stricter rules apply.
- ✓ Have the seller ship directly to FCI Danbury (avoid sending it to yourself first).
- ✓ Save the order confirmation and receipt in case you need to track what was sent.
- Confirm what sources are accepted right now - Ask the unit team or appropriate staff whether softcover publications must come only from a publisher/book club/bookstore, since that depends on how the institution is operated.
- Ask what happens if an item is rejected - Find out whether rejected publications are returned, destroyed, or handled another way, and what information is provided about the reason.
- Keep your paperwork - Hold onto shipping confirmations and receipts so you can identify the exact title and sender if staff need details.
If it's rejected: Ask for the stated reason and use the facility's remedy/appeal process. Remember - a publication can't be rejected just for being political, religious, social, sexual, or unpopular. The reason has to connect to security or criminal-activity concerns.
Find an Inmate at FCI Danbury
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
