How to Send Books to Inmates in Rhode Island Correctional Facilities: A Complete Guide

 

When someone you love is incarcerated, maintaining a connection becomes one of the most meaningful acts of support. One of the best ways to reach across prison walls is by sending books. Books offer inmates education, hope, entertainment, and the tools they need for personal growth.

If your loved one is incarcerated in Rhode Island, it’s important to understand the process for sending reading material safely and in accordance with facility rules. At Corrections Bookstore Publishing LLC, we make it simple and secure to send approved, inmate-safe books to Rhode Island correctional institutions.

This complete guide will walk you through how to send books to inmates in Rhode Island — step-by-step.

Why Sending Books to Rhode Island Inmates Matters

Incarcerated individuals rely heavily on reading to maintain mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Books are important because they:

  • 🧠 Promote mental stimulation and cognitive growth
  • 📖 Prepare inmates for educational opportunities such as GED testing
  • ✝️ Support spiritual and emotional healing
  • ⚖️ Provide legal information and reentry resources
  • 🔁 Offer tools for personal rehabilitation and life after incarceration

Access to books can mean a world of difference to an inmate’s daily life and future success.

Rhode Island Correctional Facilities We Ship To

Corrections Bookstore ships directly to all facilities operated by the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC), including:

  • Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) Complex – Cranston, RI:
    • Maximum Security Facility
    • High Security Center
    • John J. Moran Medium Security Facility
    • Minimum Security Facility
    • Women's Facilities (Dorothea Dix Minimum and Gloria McDonald Maximum)
    • Intake Service Center (ISC)

We also ship to county jails, transitional housing units, halfway houses, and federal detention centers in Rhode Island that allow shipments from verified vendors.

Step-by-Step: How to Send Books to Inmates in Rhode Island

Step 1: Gather the Inmate’s Information

Before placing an order, you’ll need the following:

  • Inmate’s full name
  • Inmate’s RIDOC ID number (or booking number)
  • The facility name and full mailing address

You can contact RIDOC or check their website to verify the inmate’s current location and ID.

Step 2: Use an Approved Vendor

Rhode Island DOC requires all books to be sent directly from an approved publisher or vendor. Packages sent by individuals, families, or unauthorized third parties (like Amazon Marketplace or eBay sellers) will be rejected.

Corrections Bookstore Publishing LLC is an approved vendor, meaning your books are shipped directly from our warehouse in compliance with RIDOC regulations.

Step 3: Choose Books That Follow RIDOC Rules

At www.correctionsbookstore.com, you can shop a wide range of new, paperback-only, inmate-safe books, including:

  • 📘 GED and academic prep books
  • 📗 Religious texts – Bibles, Qur’ans, devotionals
  • 📙 Self-help and motivational titles
  • 📕 Legal rights guides and law-related materials
  • 📓 Urban fiction, African-American literature, and memoirs
  • 📚 Reentry preparation and addiction recovery workbooks
  • 📖 Fiction, non-fiction, and biography selections

All books are carefully vetted to ensure they meet RIDOC’s content and packaging requirements.

Step 4: Place Your Order and Track It

Once you’ve selected your books:

  • Enter the inmate’s full name, RIDOC ID number, and correct facility mailing address during checkout
  • Choose your shipping method: USPS Media Mail (economical) or Priority Mail (faster)
  • Receive a tracking number and confirmation email
  • Orders ship within 24–48 hours

Our team handles all compliance steps so your loved one gets their books without hassle.

Rhode Island DOC Book Rules: What’s Allowed and What’s Not

Rhode Island’s DOC has specific guidelines for receiving books inside prison facilities. It’s important to follow these rules carefully to avoid delays or rejections.

What’s Allowed:

  • New, softcover (paperback) books only
  • Shipped directly from an authorized publisher or vendor
  • Educational, religious, legal, self-help, and recreational content
  • Up to 2–3 books per shipment (varies by facility)

🚫 What’s Not Allowed:

  • Hardcover books
  • Used, marked-up, or spiral-bound books
  • Any books containing:
    • Graphic violence or gang-related imagery
    • Sexual content or nudity
    • Escape instructions or facility blueprints
    • Instructions for making weapons or drugs
    • Hate speech or coded language

Corrections Bookstore pre-screens every order to ensure compliance with RIDOC rules before shipment.

Most Requested Books by Rhode Island Inmates

Here are some of the top-requested books by incarcerated individuals in Rhode Island:

  • The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
  • Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
  • The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
  • The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
  • As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
  • GED preparation guides by Barron’s and Kaplan
  • The Bible, The Qur’an, and other devotional books
  • Urban novels by Sister Souljah, Wahida Clark, and K’wan

Need help picking titles? Our team can recommend options based on your loved one’s interests — just call 201.559.0592!

Sample Mailing Format for Rhode Island Inmates

When submitting the address for your shipment, use this format:

Inmate Full Name, RIDOC# 

Facility Name 

Facility Mailing Address 

City, State ZIP Code

Example:

Michael Johnson, RIDOC#123456 

John J. Moran Medium Security Facility 

40 Howard Avenue 

Cranston, RI 02920

Always double-check the inmate’s current housing and RIDOC number before ordering.

Shipping Options

Corrections Bookstore offers two USPS-approved shipping options:

USPS Media Mail

  • Cost-effective
  • Delivery in 5–12 business days
  • Tracking included
  • Ideal for standard book shipments

USPS Priority Mail

  • Faster delivery in 3–7 business days
  • Includes tracking and insurance
  • Best for urgent or holiday orders

Contact Corrections Bookstore

Corrections Bookstore Publishing LLC
560 Sylvan Ave
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
📞 Phone: 201.559.0592
🌐 Website: www.correctionsbookstore.com
📧 Email: info@correctionsbookstore.com

Final Thoughts: A Small Package, a Big Impact

In a place where opportunities are limited, books can offer hope, education, and emotional growth. Whether you’re helping your loved one prepare for reentry, explore their spirituality, or simply pass the time in a positive way, sending a book shows that you care — and that you believe in their future.

At Corrections Bookstore, we make it easy, secure, and fully compliant to send books to inmates in Rhode Island. You select the books; we handle the rest.

Order today at www.correctionsbookstore.com and send encouragement, empowerment, and inspiration to your loved one — one page at a time.