Can You Send Books or Magazines to New Hanover County Detention? What the Rules Actually Say

The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office Detention Division page is blunt: "No books, magazines, newspapers, legal or medical mail will be accepted." Read literally, that leaves no room for sending publications at all.

But elsewhere on the same site, the facility describes an exception: "They are also allowed to accept magazines and soft-cover books, but only if purchased directly from the publisher and parcel-delivered to the Facility." So magazines and soft-cover books might be allowed, as long as they come straight from the publisher and arrive as a parcel shipment.

The practical takeaway? The jail won't accept books and magazines as regular inmate mail. But it may allow magazines and soft-cover books if they ship directly from the publisher as a parcel. A book tucked into a personal letter will likely be rejected. A publisher-direct shipment is the one path the facility explicitly describes as allowed.

Since the facility's own pages contradict each other, treat any publication order as "try at your own risk" until you confirm what staff are actually enforcing. A quick call can save you money and avoid a returned shipment.

1. Order from the publisher - The facility says magazines and soft-cover books are accepted only if purchased directly from the publisher and parcel-delivered to the facility.
2. Address it with the inmate’s details - Make sure the parcel is addressed with the inmate’s name and ID number so it can be matched correctly.
3. Follow the facility’s mail addressing rules - Beginning December 1, 2025, inmate mail must be sent to the facility’s P.O. Box address and include the inmate name and ID.

• ✓ Include the inmate’s full name and ID number
• ✓ Include a return address
• ✓ Beginning December 1, 2025, send inmate mail to: New Hanover County Detention Facility, P.O. Box 591, Longview, TX 75606 (with the inmate’s name and ID)
• ✓ Keep your order confirmation, receipt, and any tracking information

If your shipment gets refused or returned, ask the facility what rule triggered it. With the site showing both "No books, magazines…" language and a publisher-direct soft-cover/magazine exception, the rejection could come down to the source (not from the publisher), the delivery method (not treated as a parcel), or a broader policy being enforced at the time.

1. Save your proof - Keep receipts, order confirmations, and tracking so you can reference dates and shipping details.
2. Get the reason for the refusal - Ask which specific rule the shipment violated (source, packaging, delivery method, or content).
3. Ask what happens next - Find out whether it will be returned to the sender and whether the sender needs to request a refund.
4. Choose an alternative - If publications are not being accepted, stick to permitted letter mail that follows the jail’s page, photo, and scanning rules, or consider other options the facility allows.

One more thing: don't try to drop off books or magazines in person. The facility says it cannot accept packages, books, magazines, or other items presented by visitors for safety and security reasons. Even if publisher-direct shipments are allowed, visitor drop-offs are not.