Sending Mail, Packages, and Publications to USP Beaumont: What Will Be Opened, Returned, or Rejected

At USP Beaumont, staff open and inspect all general incoming mail. They're screening for physical contraband and anything that could threaten institutional security or good order. Assume your envelope will be opened. Including something beyond a straightforward letter (extra paper, printed pages, photos)? It all goes through inspection.

"Special mail" follows different rules, but it's not a free pass. If incoming special mail is properly marked, it may be opened only in the inmate's presence. Staff can still inspect it for physical contraband. They also review whether enclosures actually qualify for special-mail handling, so be careful about what you include.

Here's the simplest rule for families: don't mail packages from home unless the inmate has prior written approval from their unit team (or other authorized staff). Without that approval, the package can be refused. Trying to send property, clothing, food, or a "care package"? Pause. Have your loved one confirm what's been authorized before you spend money shipping anything.

• ✓ Release clothing
• ✓ Authorized medical devices

Publications trip up a lot of senders, especially when they try mailing books from home. At USP Beaumont, hardcover books and newspapers can only be received if they ship directly from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore. This "source rule" is about where the item ships from, not who pays. Ordering for your loved one? Place the order through an approved source so it ships directly to the facility instead of from your home address.

Even publications from approved sources still go through review. The Warden can reject an incoming publication only if it threatens security, discipline, or good order, or if it might facilitate criminal activity. There are limits on that authority. A publication can't be rejected just because it's unpopular, and religious or political content alone isn't grounds for rejection. If something gets turned away, the reason should fall into the security, discipline, or criminal-activity categories.

1. Assume general mail will be opened - At USP Beaumont, general correspondence is opened and inspected for contraband and content that could threaten security or good order.
2. Use special mail only when it truly fits - Special mail has to be properly marked to be opened in the inmate’s presence, and it is still inspected for physical contraband.
3. Do not send packages from home unless written approval exists - Packages from home generally require prior written approval from the inmate’s unit team or authorized staff.
4. Stick to the two home-package exceptions - Without special arrangements, the only home packages allowed are release clothing and authorized medical devices.
5. Order books and newspapers from an approved source - Hardcover books and newspapers must ship directly from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore.

If a publication gets rejected, look at the stated reason. Rejection should be tied to security, discipline, good order, or concerns about facilitating criminal activity. It shouldn't be based on the material being unpopular or expressing a religious or political viewpoint. Some limits don't depend on anyone's preferences. Federal law restricts distribution of commercially published material that is sexually explicit or features nudity, so items in that category are less likely to be approved even from a proper sender.