Sending Books & Magazines to an Inmate at Macomb County Jail (policy since 7/1/2021)

Want to send reading material to someone at Macomb County Jail? The rules are simple but strict. Since 7/1/2021, soft-cover books can only be ordered by the inmate through the jail's commissary - you can't mail in a book yourself. Magazines and newspapers work differently: prepaid subscriptions can be mailed directly to the inmate from the publisher. Everything counts toward a five-item maximum, so plan ahead to avoid anything getting turned away.

Macomb County Jail runs a commissary-only book policy. As of 7/1/2021, soft-cover books can only be ordered by the inmate through the jail's commissary program. Mail a soft-cover book yourself, and it won't make it through.

Magazines and newspapers follow different rules. Prepaid subscriptions can be mailed directly to the inmate from the publisher - no commissary required. That makes subscriptions a solid option for getting regular reading material into the jail. Just remember: books must go through commissary, but prepaid subscriptions can come through the mail as long as they ship from the publisher.

Here's the catch: all reading material is subject to a five-item maximum. Before starting a new subscription or encouraging a commissary order, check what your loved one already has. Going over the cap means items get turned away.

• ✓ Ask what counts as “reading material” for the five-item maximum (books, magazines, newspapers)
• ✓ Ask how multi-issue subscriptions are counted toward the five-item maximum
• ✓ Ask whether commissary-ordered books are included in the same five-item maximum count

1. Talk to the inmate about books first - since soft-cover books can only be ordered by the inmate through commissary, confirm they want a book and are able to place the order.
2. Set up magazines/newspapers as prepaid subscriptions - subscriptions can be mailed directly to the inmate from the publisher, so choose prepaid options that ship from the publisher.
3. Confirm the mailing format before anything ships - use the jail’s required inmate name/identifier format so the publisher’s label matches what mail staff expect.
4. Follow up if something doesn’t arrive - if a subscription issue doesn’t show up, check with the inmate and then confirm with the jail whether it was received or rejected.

Build in extra time. The policy doesn't specify which commissary vendor is used, when orders are processed, or how long publisher shipments take to arrive and clear screening. If timing matters - for a class, a legal deadline, or just morale - plan for delays. Confirm current timelines through the facility rather than assuming standard shipping speeds.