What You Can (and Can’t) Mail to Someone at Southern Desert

Books are allowed to be mailed to people at Southern Desert, but they’re not unlimited or “anything goes.” NDOC treats books as an approved item with limitations, and the rules that control what’s acceptable are in NDOC Administrative Regulations AR 711 and AR 750.

Calendars are also approved to be mailed, with limitations. If you’re trying to send one, use the same NDOC rule set (AR 711 and AR 750) to make sure the specific type you picked is acceptable before you spend the postage.

If what you want to send is personal clothing or a food package, don’t mail it directly. NDOC requires offender personal clothing/food packages to be ordered through the SecurePak Package Program, which is set up specifically for this purpose.

If you’re ordering program items and you hit a snag (questions about an order, trouble checking out, or you’re not sure you’re using the right program), AccessCatalog/AccessSecurePak customer service can be reached at 1-800-546-6283.

Tips to Avoid Rejected Mail

• ✓ For books and calendars, confirm the item fits NDOC’s limitations under AR 711 and AR 750 before you mail it.
• ✓ If the item is something NDOC offers through Canteen or AccessSecurePak, don’t try to mail an outside version - those are prohibited.

• ✓ For clothing or food, use the SecurePak Package Program instead of sending a package from home.
• ✓ When an item is available through Canteen or AccessSecurePak, stick to those approved channels rather than mailing it in.

• ✓ Keep your order confirmation and any shipping details until your loved one confirms they received the items.

When you’re stuck and you need a real person to help you understand how things work, NDOC’s Family Services Division is there to address family concerns. They can provide general information and assistance about how facilities are run and help answer general questions that come up while you’re trying to support someone incarcerated.