Mailing Letters and Packages to an Inmate at USP McCreary: What’s Allowed and What Gets Rejected
Mail rules at USP McCreary are strict—but predictable once you know what the mailroom looks for. Two things matter most: understanding the difference between general mail and special mail, and knowing just how limited packages from home really are.
Incoming mail at USP McCreary falls into two buckets: general mail and special mail. The distinction matters. It determines who opens your mail, when it gets opened, and how thoroughly it's inspected.
General mail is opened and inspected by staff before delivery. Your letter - and anything tucked inside - can be checked for contraband and reviewed for content that might threaten safety or security. If you're sending regular personal correspondence, assume the mailroom will read it.
Special mail works differently, but only when it's properly marked and actually qualifies. Qualifying special mail gets opened in the inmate's presence - not beforehand. It's still inspected for physical contraband, though. "Special" means the inmate watches it being opened, not that it skips inspection.
Tip: Expect general mail to be opened and inspected by staff. If you’re sending special mail, make sure it’s clearly marked and actually qualifies - otherwise it will be treated like regular mail.
Packages trip people up more than anything else. At USP McCreary, inmates can't receive packages from home unless the unit team or another authorized staff member gives prior written approval. Send a package without that approval, and it'll likely get rejected or held up.
- ✓ Release clothing
- ✓ Authorized medical devices
Get the approval question settled before you mail anything that counts as a package. The rule exists because unapproved packages are a common contraband route - so enforcement is strict. Only two exceptions skip the prior-approval requirement: release clothing and authorized medical devices. Everything else? Don't send it until you have written approval in hand.
Practical Checklist
- ✓ Assume regular letters will be opened and inspected by staff before delivery.
- ✓ Don’t include anything that could be treated as contraband or content that threatens the security or good order of the institution.
- ✓ If you’re sending special mail, mark it clearly and make sure it qualifies so it can be opened only in the inmate’s presence.
- ✓ Don’t mail packages from home unless you have prior written approval from the unit team or authorized staff.
- ✓ If you’re sending release clothing or an authorized medical device, label and pack it so it’s obvious what it is and why it’s permitted.
Reading material is usually a better bet than care packages. USP McCreary allows inmates to receive commercial publications without prior approval - books, magazines, newspapers - as long as the content doesn't threaten security, discipline, or good order, and doesn't facilitate criminal activity. Stick with legitimate publishers. Just know that even approved publications can be rejected if the content crosses those lines.
Warning: Unapproved packages and questionable enclosures are common reasons mail gets rejected. When you’re unsure, confirm the rule first rather than risking a return or delay.
Before sending anything, confirm you have USP McCreary's current mailing address and any local mailroom instructions. Check the official USP McCreary page or contact the institution directly. Don't trust generic placeholders that say "(Institution address)" - that's not an actual address.
Quick reminder: Package rules are tighter than letter rules. If it’s not release clothing or an authorized medical device, get prior written approval before you send it.
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