Prisons have added a number of accommodations for inmates in recent years, such as therapeutic centers and the opportunity to further their education through on-site courses.
In addition to these activities, companies like Amazon enable friends and family to send books and magazines to inmates. But how does this process work? If you’d like to find out, keep reading!
How To Send Magazines & Books To Inmates Through Amazon
Amazon customers can send books and magazines to inmates by entering the prisoner’s unit and inmate number into the Amazon order page. Customers can send books and magazines as long as they don’t contain depictions of sexual content, racism, violence, or any content that is considered to be a trigger for prisoners.
If you’d like to learn more about the steps to sending books and magazines to inmates, Amazon’s policy for sending packages to prisons, and more, keep reading for more useful facts and tips!
How Do I Send Magazines and Books to Inmates from Amazon?
In order to send books and magazines to inmates from Amazon, customers must use the following process:
- Log in to your Amazon account and go to the order page.
- On the order page, type in the inmate’s full name, unit number, and their inmate number.
- Enter the address for the accurate correctional facility/ prison, and select the city and state the prison is located in.
- Check the box that says “Gift.” Customers are required to check the “Gift” option, as neglecting to select it may require the inmate or prison to pay a fee.
- Select the delivery option you prefer, and then click on “Place Order.”
If customers are unsure where the inmate they are sending books to is located, they can utilize search tools such as DoNotPay as long as they have the inmate’s full name, ID, and/or unit number.
Customers should also note that they are required to send packages directly through Amazon and may not purchase books through a third-party seller that doesn’t fulfill orders through Amazon directly.
What Is Amazon’s Policy for Sending Books and Magazines to Inmates?
Amazon’s policy for sending packages to inmates states that they are more than willing to provide this service.
However, Amazon urges customers to contact the prison where the inmate is located to ensure that they allow Amazon packages to be delivered to inmates.
Unlike most packages, Amazon will not include any special instructions on the outside of the package and will only include Amazon’s name, destination, and return address.
What Types of Books and Magazines Can You Send to Prisoners?
Because customers are sending books and magazines to prisons, they have to follow certain guidelines to prevent any dangerous or concerning behavior from other inmates.
When choosing which books and magazines to send from Amazon, customers must use the following checklist:
- Must be brand new
- Cannot exceed three items per package
- Paperback books only (hardcover copies can be used as weapons)
- Cannot contain any sexual content, violence, racism, or gang-related behavior
- Cannot be sent by a third-party seller who doesn’t fulfill orders directly through Amazon
- Must be sent by USPS
- Cannot be sent anonymously
- Must be addressed to the specific prisoner and must include the inmate’s ID
If customers are wondering which types of books are most appropriate, it’s recommended they send books with overall positive messages, such as self-help/self-improvement books, science and nature, sudoku and crossword puzzles, and other similar books.
Inmates who are incarcerated for nonviolent reasons may be allowed access to a broader range of books.
However, it’s recommended customers are very particular about which books they send in case other inmates get ahold of the books.
How Do I Locate an Inmate to Send Magazines and Books?
Customers can locate the inmate they wish to send books to by contacting the prison they are currently being held in.
Customers only require the inmate ID or unit number for the prisoner they are sending the package to, as well as the address of the prison.
However, if customers are unsure which prison the inmate is located in, they can use a search engine such as DoNotPay to locate the accurate address.
Customers should note that when sending magazines and books to inmates, they must not send the package anonymously, and it must be addressed to the specific person it is being sent to.
To find out more, you can also read our related posts on Amazon book rental, if Amazon packages come early, and what changing shipping speed means.