What You Can and Can't Mail to an Inmate at FCI Forrest City Low (Mail, Packages, and Books)
Mail rules at FCI Forrest City Low follow Bureau of Prisons policy. Here's what matters: how mail gets classified (general vs. special), why packages from home are heavily restricted, and the "publisher-only" rule for certain reading materials.
Letters and documents sent to someone at FCI Forrest City Low fall into two categories: general mail and special mail. The category determines how staff handle it when it arrives.
General mail gets opened and inspected by staff. They're checking for contraband and reviewing content that could threaten institutional security or order. If you're sending personal letters or everyday correspondence, expect it to be screened.
Note: Special incoming mail that's clearly marked may only be opened in the inmate's presence. Staff will still inspect it for physical contraband and verify that any enclosures qualify as special mail.
Packages from home are where people get tripped up most often. At FCI Forrest City Low, inmates cannot receive packages from home without prior written approval from the unit team or another authorized staff member.
- ✓ Release clothing
- ✓ Authorized medical devices
Reading material works differently than packages from home. Inmates can receive commercially published publications (including subscriptions) without prior approval, as long as the material doesn't threaten security, discipline, or good order, and doesn't facilitate criminal activity.
Remember: At all Bureau institutions, hardcover publications and newspapers may be received only from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore.
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- ✓ For general mail, assume staff will open and inspect it for contraband and for content that could threaten security or good order.
- ✓ If you are sending special mail, make sure it is specially marked as special mail so it is handled correctly.
- ✓ Stick to commercially published publications and subscriptions that are not detrimental to security, discipline, or good order, and do not facilitate criminal activity.
- ✓ For hardcover publications and newspapers, use only the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore as the sender (do not mail these from home).
That "specially marked" part is important. Special incoming mail only gets protected handling (opened in the inmate's presence) when it's clearly labeled. Staff will still inspect for physical contraband and confirm any enclosures actually qualify as special mail.
If commercially published material violates statutory restrictions (sexually explicit material or nudity, for example), the Warden or a designee returns it to the publisher or sender. The inmate gets notified when this happens.
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