Sending Books and Magazines to FDC Houston — Publisher-Only Rules and What If a Publication Is Rejected
Want to send reading material to someone at FDC Houston? The most important thing to know: books, magazines, and newspapers almost always have to ship directly from an approved commercial seller—not from you.
FDC Houston only accepts hardcover books and newspapers if they're sent directly from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore. You can't buy a hardcover yourself, wrap it up, and mail it in. Staff check where the package shipped from, not just what's inside.
FDC Houston follows the Bureau's stricter rules for medium, high, and administrative institutions. Paperbacks, magazines, and newspaper clippings must also come from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore. Mail a paperback from home? It'll likely be treated as an unauthorized package - even if it's just a novel.
Note: People incarcerated at FDC Houston generally can’t receive packages from home unless they have prior written approval from their unit team or other authorized staff. The only home-package exceptions are release clothing and authorized medical devices.
Why so strict? When publications come straight from a publisher, book club, or bookstore, staff can be confident the item hasn't been tampered with or stuffed with contraband. The Bureau requires approved sources for hardcovers everywhere. At FDC Houston, that rule extends to paperbacks and magazines too.
Note: The general ban on packages from home (with only narrow exceptions) is part of the same approach - limiting unknown items entering the institution.
Even when you order from an approved source, a publication can still be rejected - but only for specific reasons. The Warden may reject incoming reading material if it threatens institutional security, good order, or discipline, or if it could facilitate criminal activity.
Good to know: A publication can’t be rejected just because the content is unpopular or controversial.
- Find out why it was rejected - Ask for the specific reason the publication wasn’t accepted so you know whether it was a source issue (not shipped from a publisher/book club/bookstore) or a content-based rejection tied to security, good order, discipline, or possible criminal activity.
- Follow the facility’s directions for resolving it - If it was treated as an unauthorized package, remember that packages from home generally aren’t allowed without prior written approval, with only limited exceptions.
- Resubmit the right way if possible - If the issue was the sender, reorder the same title so it ships directly from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore.
Need to confirm Bureau-wide policy? You can contact the BOP Central Office at 320 First St., NW Washington, DC 20534, or call (202) 307-3198.
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