How to Send Books to Someone in Polk County Jail

Polk County Jail only accepts paperback or softcover books. Hardcovers won't make it through. Books also need to be shipped directly from a third-party seller (like Amazon or a bookstore), not mailed from a home address. If a package doesn't meet the jail's book criteria, it will be rejected and the inmate will be notified.

• ✓ Order from a third-party bookseller and have it shipped directly from the seller
• ✓ Examples of third-party sources listed by the jail include Amazon.com and Abebooks.com
• ✓ If you use another bookseller, make sure it is still a third-party source shipping directly to the jail

Polk County Jail caps how many books an inmate can have. The limit is two paperback or softcover books plus one Bible or other recognized holy book, for a maximum of three books total. That three-book cap applies both per shipment and in the inmate's possession. Sending more than three can cause your package to be rejected, even if the books themselves qualify.

Once books are accepted into the facility, the Polk County Sheriff's Office considers them its property. Think of a book shipment as a gift you're giving up control over. Don't count on getting anything back.

If a book parcel doesn't meet Polk County Jail's criteria, the package will be rejected and the inmate will be notified. From there, the inmate can let you know that the parcel is available for pickup from the mailroom at the Central County Jail in Bartow.

1. Watch for the rejection notice - if a parcel is rejected, the inmate is notified by the facility.
2. Arrange retrieval from the mailroom at Central County Jail in Bartow - the inmate may notify you that the parcel can be picked up there.
3. Pick it up within 14 days - after fourteen (14) days from the notice of rejection, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office may dispose of the contents.