How to Send Books to Inmates in South Dakota Correctional Facilities: A Complete Guide

When a loved one is incarcerated, keeping the connection strong can be challenging. In South Dakota, one of the most thoughtful, approved, and meaningful ways to support someone behind bars is by sending books. Books offer knowledge, emotional support, spiritual growth, and a way for inmates to stay connected to the outside world.

At Corrections Bookstore Publishing LLC, we make it easy to send inmate-approved books directly to correctional facilities across South Dakota. We ensure full compliance with state rules so that your loved one receives their books without issues.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to send books to inmates in South Dakota.

Why Sending Books Matters for Inmates in South Dakota

Books serve as so much more than entertainment for incarcerated individuals. They are:

  • 🧠 Tools for education, personal development, and GED preparation
  • ✝️ Sources of spiritual guidance and emotional healing
  • ⚖️ Resources for learning about legal rights and reentry planning
  • 📖 Gateways to mental stimulation and positive coping mechanisms
  • 🔁 Instruments for rehabilitation and building hope for a better future

A good book can offer an inmate a chance at reflection, growth, and transformation, helping prepare them for life after incarceration.

South Dakota Correctional Facilities We Ship To

Corrections Bookstore ships directly to all facilities operated by the South Dakota Department of Corrections (SD DOC), including:

  • South Dakota State Penitentiary – Sioux Falls, SD
  • Mike Durfee State Prison – Springfield, SD
  • Jameson Annex – Sioux Falls, SD
  • Women's Prison – Pierre, SD
  • Rapid City Minimum Unit – Rapid City, SD
  • Yankton Minimum Unit – Yankton, SD
  • Redfield Minimum Unit – Redfield, SD

We also ship to county jails, transitional housing facilities, and federal prisons located within South Dakota that accept books from approved vendors.

Step-by-Step: How to Send Books to Inmates in South Dakota

Step 1: Gather the Inmate’s Information

Before placing an order, you’ll need:

  • Inmate’s full legal name
  • Inmate’s DOC ID number
  • Facility’s name and full mailing address

You can verify inmate details using the South Dakota Offender Locator Tool.

Step 2: Use an Approved Vendor

South Dakota DOC requires books to be shipped directly from a publisher, bookstore, or authorized vendor. Books sent by individuals or non-approved third-party sellers (like Amazon Marketplace, used bookstores, or eBay sellers) will likely be rejected.

Corrections Bookstore Publishing LLC is an approved vendor, shipping books directly from our warehouse to ensure compliance with SD DOC rules.

Step 3: Choose Inmate-Approved Books

At www.correctionsbookstore.com, you can shop a variety of softcover-only, new books carefully selected to meet DOC requirements, including:

  • 📘 GED prep books and academic resources
  • 📗 Religious and spiritual texts (Bibles, Qur’ans, devotionals)
  • 📙 Self-help, motivational, and recovery workbooks
  • 📕 Legal guides and prisoner rights books
  • 📓 Urban fiction and African-American literature
  • 📚 Nonfiction, biographies, and educational titles

Corrections Bookstore reviews every book to ensure it meets South Dakota DOC regulations.

Step 4: Place Your Order and Track It

After you select your books:

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

We handle the shipping, compliance, and paperwork — making the process easy and secure.

South Dakota DOC Rules: What’s Allowed and What’s Not

South Dakota DOC has strict policies to protect security within facilities. Understanding these rules is key to ensuring your books are accepted.

What’s Allowed:

  • New, softcover (paperback) books only
  • Must be shipped directly from an approved publisher or vendor
  • Educational, religious, motivational, and general recreational reading material
  • Typically, 2–3 books per shipment (facility-specific rules may vary)

🚫 What’s Not Allowed:

  • Hardcover books
  • Used, secondhand, or spiral-bound books
  • Books with:
    • Nudity or explicit sexual content
    • Instructions for making weapons or drugs
    • Depictions of escape or facility blueprints
    • Gang-related, violent, or coded content
    • Hate speech or inflammatory material

Corrections Bookstore screens every title before shipment to ensure compliance.

Popular Books for South Dakota Inmates

Here are some highly requested and recommended books for inmates in South Dakota:

  • 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
  • Soledad Brother by George Jackson
  • GED study guides from Kaplan, Barron’s, and Princeton Review
  • The Bible, The Qur’an, and faith-based devotionals
  • Urban fiction by Sister Souljah, Wahida Clark, and K’wan

If you need recommendations based on your loved one’s interests, our team can help — call us at 201.559.0592.

Example Mailing Address Format for South Dakota Inmates

Use the following format when entering inmate shipping information:

Inmate Full Name, DOC# 

Facility Name 

Facility Address 

City, State ZIP Code

Example:

David Martin, DOC#654321 

South Dakota State Penitentiary 

1600 North Drive 

Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Always double-check the mailing address and inmate ID before submitting your order.

Shipping Options

Corrections Bookstore offers two trusted USPS shipping methods:

USPS Media Mail

  • Affordable
  • Delivery in 5–12 business days
  • Tracking included
  • Ideal for standard book shipments

USPS Priority Mail

  • Faster delivery in 3–7 business days
  • Tracking and insurance included
  • Recommended for urgent or time-sensitive shipments

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 Gesture, a Big Difference

Sending a book to an inmate in South Dakota is about more than delivering a package — it’s about offering hope, learning, and support. Whether you’re encouraging personal development, spiritual growth, or educational achievement, a book can open new possibilities and offer a powerful reminder: you are not forgotten.

At Corrections Bookstore, we make it simple to send books safely and compliantly. You choose the books — we take care of the rest.

Order today at www.correctionsbookstore.com and give your loved one a gift that can truly change their future — one page at a time.