Sending Books, Magazines & Used Bibles to Victoria County Jail: Vendor Rules, Limits & the Bible Exception
You can send reading material to someone at Victoria County Jail, but the rules are strict. The most common mistakes? Using the wrong seller, sending the wrong type of magazine, or going over the book limit.
Victoria County Jail only accepts books and magazines sent directly from the publisher, and they must be new. Amazon.com and Redbird are two sources people commonly try, but the jail won't accept books from either one.
Note: The limit is one book or magazine every two weeks (two per month). Send something too soon after the last item, and it'll get returned to sender.
Magazine options are narrow. The jail only accepts titles in the SPORTS or NEWS categories. General entertainment, celebrity, lifestyle, and similar magazines will likely be rejected.
Content Exclusions
- ✓ Sexually explicit content
- ✓ Gang-related content
- ✓ Tattooing content
- ✓ Any activity (legal or illegal) that undermines facility security
There's also a cap on how many books an inmate can have at one time: two. If they already have two books, anything else you send gets returned. This is separate from the mailing frequency limit (one item every two weeks), so you need to track both.
The jail doesn't store books in inmate property. Once an inmate finishes a book, they can either donate it to the facility or have someone come pick it up.
There's one clear exception to the "new only" rule: used paperback Bibles are accepted, as long as they haven't been altered. That means no highlighting, no notes, and no added pages. The only handwriting allowed is the inmate's name written inside the front cover.
- Bring a paperback Bible (any religion) - Bibles of any religion may be dropped off.
- Keep it unaltered - Do not add notes or markings; only the inmate’s name inside the front cover is allowed.
- Drop it off in the public lobby - You can deliver it in person at the public lobby of the Sheriff’s Office.
- Be ready for an on-the-spot inspection - Staff will inspect the Bible in front of you before they accept it.
Note: A used paperback Bible is the one exception to the jail's "new, from the publisher" rule. Keep it free of notes or markings (except the inmate's name inside the front cover), and expect it to be inspected at drop-off.
- Choose the right source - Send books or magazines directly from the publisher. Do not use Amazon.com or Redbird for books.
- Stick to new items - Only new books or magazines are accepted through the mail.
- Pick magazines carefully - Only SPORTS or NEWS magazines are allowed.
- Screen for blocked content - Avoid anything sexually explicit, gang-related, about tattooing, or otherwise undermining facility security.
- Space out shipments - The jail’s mailing limit is one item every two weeks (two per month).
- Confirm how many books they already have - If they are already at two books, any additional books you send will be returned to sender.
- Plan ahead for finished books - Since the jail will not store books in property, decide whether the inmate will donate finished books or have someone pick them up.
- Use the Bible drop-off option when it fits - If your goal is a faith text, a used paperback Bible (unaltered, except for the inmate’s name inside the front cover) can be dropped off in the public lobby and will be inspected in front of you.
Heads up: The policy says books can't be stored and must be donated or picked up, but it doesn't spell out the timing or logistics for pickups. If you plan to retrieve a book, call the jail first so you don't make a wasted trip.
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