How to Send Books to Inmates Across the U.S. in Any Correctional Facility: Step-by-Step Guide

Jessica Glass
How to Send Books to Inmates Across the U.S. in Any Correctional Facility: Step-by-Step Guide

Books can be a lifeline behind bars, offering knowledge, hope, mental escape, and personal growth. But sending books to inmates isn’t as simple as clicking "buy now" on a random website. Each state and facility has its own rules, vendor requirements, and content restrictions. This step-by-step guide will help you understand how to send books to inmates in any U.S. correctional facility safely, legally, and without delays.

Why Sending Books to Inmates Matters

Books provide more than entertainment, they help incarcerated individuals:

  • Build literacy and educational skills
  • Prepare for reentry and employment
  • Improve mental health through positive distraction
  • Strengthen emotional bonds with loved ones through shared reading

Whether you're sending self-help titles, religious materials, legal guides, or fiction to pass the time, knowing how to follow prison regulations is key to delivery success.

Step-by-Step: How to Send Books to Inmates in U.S. Prisons

Step 1: Know the Facility Rules

Each prison system, federal, state, or county, has its own rules. Some only allow books from approved vendors. Others restrict hardcover books or certain topics.

Important questions to research:

  • Is the facility state-run, federal, or private?
  • Do they accept paperback books only?
  • Are there limits on the number of books per shipment?
  • Do they have a banned books list?

You can usually find this info by visiting the state’s Department of Corrections (DOC) website or calling the mailroom.

Step 2: Only Use Approved Book Vendors

Most correctional facilities only allow books from approved vendors, meaning the books must come directly from the seller, not from an individual.

That’s where SureShot Books and its trusted brands come in. Our entire network is built around correctional regulations. We’ve served correctional facilities nationwide for over 30 years with a 99% facility acceptance rate.

Recommended Vendor Sites:

Each of these stores is designed to make your book delivery friction-free, with bundles, shipping guidance, and compliance built-in.

Step 3: Choose Prison-Approved Book Categories

Most prisons accept paperback books in these categories:

  • Self-help & personal development
  • Religion & spirituality
  • Legal guides & jailhouse law
  • GED, job training & career books
  • Mental health & motivational
  • Urban fiction, African-American lit, true crime
  • Blank journals, puzzle books, and daily reflections (when allowed)

Avoid:

  • Spiral-bound books
  • Books with nudity or explicit content
  • Hardcovers unless specifically allowed

Step 4: Address the Package Correctly

Incorrect addressing is one of the biggest reasons a package gets rejected. You must follow the exact format required by the facility.

Tip: You can enter this directly at checkout on any of our book sites. We format and double-check every label for DOC compliance before shipping.

Step 5: Track Your Shipment & Stay Informed

All orders placed through our sites include tracking numbers and USPS confirmation. You can always:

  • View your order status online
  • Contact our customer service team
  • Confirm delivery with USPS if needed

Serving Every State, Every Facility

We work with facilities in all 50 states, from Rikers Island to Pelican Bay to Marion Correctional. Our books have been accepted by:

  • State prisons
  • Federal facilities
  • County jails
  • ICE detention centers
  • Private corrections (GEO Group, CoreCivic, etc.)

What Makes SureShot Books Different?

We’re not a general bookstore. We’re built for the correctional system, with:

  • 30+ years of experience shipping to prisons
  • Secure packaging and facility compliance
  • Banned book filtering and substitute recommendations
  • Loyalty rewards and bulk bundles
  • Dedicated sites for major state systems

You can trust that your order will be processed correctly, and that your loved one will receive it.

Add-On: Stay Connected Beyond Books

Books are just one way to connect. Inmates also crave communication and connection. That’s why we created:

MailCallNewspaper.com

A monthly newspaper made for inmates, featuring:

  • Hip-hop & street culture
  • Legal news and updates
  • Sports, entertainment, and celebrity gossip
  • Monthly prediction contests and interactive sections
  • “Eye Candy” and lifestyle inspiration

This is more than news. It’s a voice from the outside.

MailCallCommunication.com

A digital lifeline to your incarcerated loved one:

  • Get them a unique phone number they can use
  • Send messages, receive calls, and manage your communication all in one place
  • Includes low balance alerts and re-up reminders
  • Offers bonus features like book gifting upsells and automatic delivery alerts

Want to go beyond letters? MailCall Communication bridges the gap with real-time communication—built specifically for inmates.

Ready to Send a Book Now?

Explore our trusted sites:

Let’s make sure your package gets there, and makes an impact.

Final Thoughts: Trust the Experts in Inmate Book Delivery

With over 30 years of dedicated experience, we become one of the most trusted and recognized names in the correctional publishing industry. We've shipped thousands of books, newspapers, and magazines to inmates in facilities across all 50 states, earning a reputation for reliability, compliance, and care.

Families, friends, and even correctional officers trust us because we know the rules, respect the system, and truly understand the impact a single book can have behind bars. When it comes to sending books to inmates, you’re in the hands of experts who’ve been doing this longer than anyone in the game.