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What You Can Mail and How FMC Lexington Inspects Incoming Mail and Publications

Sending mail to someone at FMC Lexington is straightforward once you understand the two mail categories, what needs to come directly from a publisher, and how staff inspect incoming items.

• 3 min read • bop.gov
What You Can Mail and How FMC Lexington Inspects Incoming Mail and Publications

At FMC Lexington, written correspondence falls into two buckets: general mail and special mail. The category determines how your mail gets handled when it arrives - so understanding the difference matters before you send anything.

Mail handling comes down to safety and security. General correspondence gets opened and inspected for contraband and any content that could threaten institutional security or order. Special mail is also inspected - staff check for physical contraband and verify that what's enclosed actually qualifies for special mail treatment.

BOP rules split written correspondence into general mail and special mail. Most everyday letters fall under general mail. Special mail has its own handling rules when it's correctly identified.

General correspondence will be opened and inspected by staff. They check for contraband and review content that could threaten institutional security or order. This is standard processing for general mail at FMC Lexington.

Special mail works differently. When properly marked, it can only be opened in the inmate's presence. But it's not untouched - staff still inspect for physical contraband and verify whether enclosures actually qualify as special mail.

Tip: Make sure anything that should be treated as special mail is clearly marked. Otherwise, it gets processed like general mail - opened, reviewed for contraband, and checked to see if enclosures actually qualify.

What You Can Mail and How FMC Lexington Inspects Incoming Mail and Publications

The key rule for reading material: inmates at FMC Lexington can receive magazines and books - hardback or paperback - directly from the publisher. If you want to send books or magazines, arrange for the publisher to ship them directly.

BOP policy allows inmates to subscribe to or receive publications without prior approval - as long as the content doesn't threaten institutional security, discipline, or order, and doesn't facilitate criminal activity. Subscriptions are generally fine, but the content still has to meet those standards.

  • ✓ Order magazines and books so they ship directly from the publisher
  • ✓ Keep publication shipments “clean” (avoid adding extra enclosures with the order)
  • ✓ Stick to publications that won’t be considered detrimental to security, discipline, or good order, or that could facilitate criminal activity

Packages trip people up more than anything else. At FMC Lexington, inmates cannot receive packages from home unless there's prior written approval from the inmate's unit team or another authorized staff member.

The exceptions are narrow. The only packages an inmate can receive from home without special arrangements are release clothing and authorized medical devices.

When mail gets opened, delayed, or rejected, the reasons usually fall into a few categories. General correspondence is inspected for contraband and content threatening security or order. Publications can be restricted if they're detrimental to security, discipline, or order - or if they could facilitate criminal activity.

Common issues: Contraband concerns, content threatening security or order, or publications that could facilitate criminal activity - even when the outside packaging looks fine.

What You Can Mail and How FMC Lexington Inspects Incoming Mail and Publications

Practical Steps Before Mailing

  • ✓ Send books and magazines directly from the publisher
  • ✓ Choose publications that won’t be considered detrimental to security, discipline, good order, or facilitating criminal activity
  • ✓ If you’re sending special mail, make sure it’s properly marked so it can be opened only in the inmate’s presence
  • ✓ Don’t send packages from home unless the inmate has prior written approval from their unit team or an authorized staff member
  • ✓ Only send home packages without special arrangements when they contain release clothing or authorized medical devices

Not sure if something counts as a package, whether written approval is in place, or whether a publication might be rejected? Check with the inmate's unit team before you mail it. That one step can save you returned mail and delays.

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