Sending Books and Magazines to FCI Elkton: Rules You Must Follow

FCI Elkton follows the Bureau of Prisons publisher-only rule for hardcover books and newspapers. Hardcovers and newspapers must ship directly from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore. Send them from home or through an unapproved source, and they can be refused.

BOP policy allows inmates to subscribe to or receive publications without prior approval. The catch: the material still has to meet content standards. It cannot be detrimental to institutional security, discipline, or good order, and it cannot facilitate criminal activity. You typically don't need special permission to start a subscription, but everything gets screened.

Even if a publication ships correctly, the Warden can reject it based on content. One common reason: the material is detrimental to institutional security, good order, or discipline. Anything that could disrupt safety or facility operations can be turned away.

Publications can also be rejected if they might facilitate criminal activity. This is a separate standard from security concerns. A book or magazine doesn't have to cause an immediate problem to be denied. If staff believe it could support or encourage criminal conduct, it may be rejected.

If a publication is rejected, your loved one won't be left guessing. The Warden sends written notification explaining the rejection.

After that notice goes out, the rejected item is held for 20 days. That window matters because it lines up with the time your loved one has to respond.

1. Read the rejection notice - the inmate receives written notification when the Warden rejects a publication.
2. Decide whether to appeal - the inmate may file an administrative remedy appeal after a rejection.
3. Understand why the item is held - the Warden retains the rejected item (including during the 20-day period) to allow time for the inmate to appeal.

Practical Tips

• ✓ For hardcover books and newspapers, order so they ship directly from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore.
• ✓ Subscriptions are generally allowed without prior approval, but stick to mainstream publications that are unlikely to raise security or criminal-activity concerns.