Sending Books and Magazines to FDC Houston: Publisher-Only Rules Explained

At FDC Houston, magazines and books need to come directly from the publisher. Place your order with the publisher (or another approved commercial source) and have it shipped straight to the facility. Don't have it sent to your house first. Why does this matter? Inmates generally cannot receive packages from home unless they have prior written approval from their unit team or other authorized staff. Even with approval, home packages are limited to release clothing and authorized medical devices. Publications work differently because they're meant to flow through controlled, commercial channels.

The Bureau of Prisons separates publications into softcover items (paperback books and magazines) and hardcover items (plus newspapers). Since FDC Houston is an administrative institution, softcover publications can only be received from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore. Hardcover publications and newspapers follow the same rule across all BOP facilities: they must come from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore. Here's the simple way to remember it at FDC Houston: whether it's a paperback, hardcover, magazine, or newspaper, order it so it ships directly from one of those approved sources.

For FDC Houston, treat all reading material as "commercially shipped only." Magazines and books should come directly from the publisher, and BOP policy also allows shipments from a book club or bookstore. This applies to softcover publications at administrative institutions like FDC Houston, and to hardcover publications and newspapers as well. The shipping path is what trips people up, not the type of book. A brand-new paperback that passes through your home first still counts as a home package. Home packages aren't allowed without written approval. If you want your loved one to actually receive what you're buying, focus on the sender: publisher, book club, or bookstore shipping directly.

• ✓ Mailing books or magazines from your home (even if they are new)
• ✓ Combining publications with other items in a “care package” from home
• ✓ Sending any home package without prior written approval from the unit team or authorized staff
• ✓ Assuming “books are okay” means any package from home is okay (the home-package exceptions are limited to release clothing and authorized medical devices)

Even when a publication ships the right way, the Warden can still reject it for specific reasons. At FDC Houston, a publication may be rejected if it's determined to be detrimental to security, good order, or discipline, or if it might facilitate criminal activity. This authority isn't meant to be used simply because content is controversial.

1. Order from an approved source: Use the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore, and have it shipped directly.
2. Do not mail publications from home: Home packages are not allowed without prior written approval from the unit team or other authorized staff.
3. Keep home-package exceptions narrow: The only types of packages allowed from home are release clothing and authorized medical devices, and they still tie back to the approval requirement.
4. If something gets rejected, verify the shipping source: Confirm the item was sent directly from the publisher, book club, or bookstore before you reorder or try a different title.