What Happens to Your Mail at FCI Three Rivers: Inspection, Packages, and Books
Mail is one of the most reliable ways to stay connected with someone at FCI Three Rivers—but what you send and how you send it matters. Here's how letters are handled, why packages from home almost never make it through, and what to know before ordering books or publications.
Incoming mail at FCI Three Rivers falls into two categories: general and special. General correspondence gets opened and inspected by staff - not just for physical items, but also for content that could threaten security or disrupt the institution.
Special mail: If it’s specially marked as special mail, it may be opened only in the inmate’s presence. Even then, it will still be inspected for physical contraband and to confirm any enclosures actually qualify as special mail.
Thinking about mailing a package from home? Stop and check first. Inmates generally can't receive packages unless they have prior written approval from their unit team or other authorized staff. Even then, the list of what's allowed is short: release clothing and authorized medical devices. That's it.
Heads up: Don’t send a package from home unless your loved one has written approval from their unit team (or other authorized staff) and the contents fit the permitted exceptions.
Books and publications follow different rules than personal packages. Under Bureau of Prisons policy, hardcover publications and newspapers must be mailed directly from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore. You can't box up a hardcover at home and send it yourself - order through an approved sender instead.
When there's a question about whether a publication can enter the facility, only the Warden has authority to reject it - and only if it's considered detrimental to security or likely to facilitate criminal activity.
Practical Advice
- ✓ Assume general letters will be opened and inspected for contraband and threatening content.
- ✓ If your letter qualifies as special mail, mark it clearly as special mail so it’s handled under the special-mail process.
- ✓ Don’t send packages from home unless your loved one has prior written approval from their unit team (or other authorized staff) and it’s limited to release clothing or an authorized medical device.
- ✓ For hardcover books and newspapers, place the order so it ships directly from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore - not from you.
- ✓ Keep enclosures simple; special mail can still be inspected to confirm enclosures qualify as special mail.
- Decide what you’re sending - A regular letter is treated as general mail and will be opened and inspected; special mail follows a different process.
- Mark special mail clearly - Special incoming mail that’s specially marked may be opened only in the inmate’s presence, but it will still be inspected for contraband and to verify the enclosures qualify.
- Don’t mail a “from home” package unless it’s approved in writing - Prior written approval from the unit team (or other authorized staff) is required, and the only permitted home packages are release clothing and authorized medical devices.
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