Before you mail a package or book to a federal inmate: what’s allowed and how mail is inspected

Before you mail anything to a federal inmate, focus on three things: whether packages from home are even allowed, how books and magazines need to be sent, and what happens once mail reaches the facility. One small mismatch with the rules, and the item may never make it to your loved one.

Federal inmates cannot receive packages sent from home unless the inmate's unit team (or another authorized staff member) has given prior written approval. No written approval? Expect the package to be rejected.

• ✓ Release clothing
• ✓ Authorized medical devices
• ✓ If you’re unsure whether something qualifies, check with the inmate’s unit team before you mail it.

Books and magazines follow different rules than regular packages. Federal inmates may receive magazines and hardback or paperback books, but only when they're sent directly from the publisher or another authorized commercial source. If you buy a book yourself and mail it in, it may be treated as an unauthorized package and never reach the inmate, even if the content itself would be fine.

All general (non-special) incoming mail is opened and inspected by staff. They're checking for contraband and anything that could threaten the security or good order of the institution. This applies to every piece of mail, even personal letters with nothing unusual inside.

Special incoming mail follows a different protocol, but it's not "untouched" mail. When a piece of mail is properly marked and qualifies as special mail, it can only be opened in the inmate's presence. Staff will still inspect it for physical contraband and verify that any enclosures actually qualify as special mail.

• ✓ Opening general correspondence and inspecting it for contraband
• ✓ Reviewing general mail for content that could threaten institution security or good order
• ✓ Opening properly marked special mail only in the inmate’s presence
• ✓ Inspecting special mail for physical contraband
• ✓ Checking whether enclosures in special mail qualify as special mail

Practical Checklist and Denied

• ✓ If it’s a package from home, assume it is not allowed unless the inmate’s unit team (or authorized staff) has given prior written approval.
• ✓ If it’s release clothing or an authorized medical device, confirm it fits the allowed exceptions before you send it.
• ✓ If it’s a book or magazine, send it directly from the publisher (or another authorized commercial source), not from your home.
• ✓ Use a clear return address so undeliverable items have somewhere to go back to.
• ✓ Keep enclosures simple. Anything that can be treated as contraband can slow processing or cause rejection.

Send a package from home without prior written approval, and the facility will reject it. The safest move is to get clarity from the inmate's unit team before spending money on shipping. This is especially true for anything that isn't clearly release clothing or an authorized medical device.