How To Send Magazines & Books To Inmates Through Amazon In 2026: The Ultimate Guide

Sending reading materials to incarcerated loved ones allows you to provide entertainment, education, and mental stimulation through books and magazines while they serve their sentence. But how exactly do you get magazines, books, and other publications to them through Amazon?

The short answer is: By ordering directly on Amazon, entering the inmate‘s ID and facility address, selecting "Gift", and only sending approved content.

While Amazon has some restrictions, they are more than willing to deliver books and magazines to prisons and jails if you follow their guidelines. This in-depth guide will walk through everything you need to know, from locating inmates to complying with facility rules. After reading, you‘ll be able to successfully send subscriptions and reading packages to brighten up an inmate‘s day.

Why Send Reading Material to Inmates?

With over 2 million adults incarcerated in the United States, chances are you know someone who is currently in prison or jail. Inmates often have limited entertainment and educational opportunities behind bars. Sending books, magazines, newspapers, and other reading materials gives them positive activities to engage in during downtime or lockdowns.

For avid readers or students, reading provides:

• Mental stimulation and exercise to keep their minds sharp

• Continuing education and personal growth through non-fiction books

• Escape and stress relief from the day-to-day reality of incarceration

• Spiritual support and self-reflection through religious texts

• Connection to the outside world by keeping up with current events

• Valuable skills like languages, business, and more through specialized books

• Motivation and positivity through self-help reading

Reading materials are especially critical for inmates in solitary confinement who may go days or weeks without leaving their cell. 95% of prisons restrict inmates‘ reading access as punishment at some point. Giving the gift of books and magazines combats boredom and isolation.

Now let‘s go over exactly how to send these materials through Amazon.

Step 1: Logging into Amazon and Entering inmate Information

The process starts by logging into your Amazon account and navigating to the checkout page.

First, enter your recipient‘s full legal name, as it appears in their facility‘s records. Include their complete unit number and inmate identification number if required by the facility.

Some pointers for this step:

• If you don‘t know the ID or unit number, call or email the facility to obtain it. This information ensures delivery.

• Double check the inmate‘s name to avoid delays or blocks for not matching facility records.

• Many facilities have inmate locator tools on their websites. Search for your recipient to find their up-to-date info.

• Occasionally an inmate may get transferred. Reach out to them or the facility to confirm their current location before ordering.

Entering complete recipient information shows Amazon and the correctional facility who the items are for. This prevents unauthorized individuals from accessing the content.

Step 2: Using the Complete Facility Address with City and State

You‘ll next need the full mailing address of the jail, prison, or detention center where the recipient is located.

When entering the shipping address:

• Use the facility‘s complete street address, including street number, name, apartment/suite details if applicable, etc.

• Enter the full facility name, and avoid informal abbreviations.

• Include the city and state where the facility is located. This ensures proper delivery.

• Do not use P.O. boxes, as most institutions do not accept deliveries to them.

• Avoid special instructions in the address fields that might lead to rejection.

• Verify the address – Misspellings or typos can prevent successful delivery.

Finding this information is easy by searching online for the facility, checking an inmate locator, or calling their mail room directly. Using the 100% complete address is vital for shipping reading materials.

Here is an example address entered correctly:

San Quentin State Prison
480 Alcatraz Ave
San Quentin, CA 94964

Step 3: Selecting “Gift” at Checkout

Another critical step when placing the Amazon order is to check the box indicating “This order contains a gift”.

This does two key things:

• Prevents the inmate from being charged. Amazon will not try to collect payment from them upon delivery.

• Confirms you will cover the costs. Gift orders cannot be paid for by the recipient.

Some facilities reject or heavily delay packages sent to inmates that are not clearly marked as gifts. So make sure to enable this option at checkout. It streamlines the delivery process and avoids headaches.

Step 4: Choosing a Shipping Speed

You can select standard shipping speeds, or pay extra for expedited delivery to the facility. Consider a few factors when picking shipping:

• How soon you need the recipient to get the package.

• The regular processing time for mail at the inmate‘s facility. Some may take over a week just to sort mail.

• Your own budget and how quickly you want delivery.

• Weekends and holidays – items only move on business days.

Generally, standard 5-7 day shipping is fine for most packages. But opt for quicker shipping if you need materials delivered by a certain date, like a birthday or holiday. Inmates understand mail moves slowly at times.

Step 5: Submit Your Order!

Once you‘ve entered all required recipient information, the complete facility address, selected gift checkout, and chosen a shipping speed – finish by submitting the order!

Be sure to:

• Carefully review all entered details to avoid mistakes.

• Have a payment method on file, or input your card details.

• Check Amazon‘s estimated delivery date, and note upcoming holidays that could delay receipt.

• Consider insuring high value orders in case of loss.

• Keep the order confirmation/receipt email for your records.

And that‘s it – your package will now be processed and shipped directly from Amazon to the correctional institution‘s mail room. Easy!

Picky Shopper Tip: Create an Amazon Inmate Address Book

For real picky shoppers or frequent inmates shoppers, create an address book in your Amazon account with your incarcerated loved ones‘ info. This allows you to quickly select a recipient from a list when ordering, avoiding typos re-entering complex facility addresses.

To set up your address book:

1. Go to Account > Your Addresses
2. Select Add Address
3. Give the entry a name like "San Quentin – John Doe"
4. Input the full inmate name, ID, unit, and facility address

Now you can choose your saved address when ordering! This prevents mistakes and saves time, especially for frequent shoppers.

Amazon‘s Policies for Sending Books and Magazines to Inmates

Amazon is fully willing to ship books, magazines, newspapers and other reading materials directly to prisons, as long as their policies are followed:

Contact the Facility First

Amazon recommends verifying the rules with the specific facility before placing an inmate order. Some institutions restrict book deliveries to certain approved vendors or publishers only. Others may not allow direct book shipments at all. Get clear confirmation first.

Use Amazon‘s Standard Shipping

Packages must be shipped directly from Amazon to the facility via USPS standard mail. Specialized carriers like UPS or FedEx are often not accepted. And anything mailed independently outside Amazon may get rejected or cause issues.

Only Send Allowed Items

Stick to paperback books, magazines, newspapers and other published reading content. Food, electronics, games, cards and other items are typically prohibited. However, always check with the given facility for their unique restrictions.

Address Packages to a Specific Inmate

Every order should be clearly addressed to the intended recipient using their complete legal name, inmate ID or unit number. Never anonymously send a package without an identified recipient.

Select "Gift" at Checkout

As mentioned, you must mark the order as a gift to avoid inmate payment problems upon delivery. Amazon will not let recipients cover costs for direct orders – you pay.

Follow All Facility Guidelines

Finally, follow any other rules from the correctional institution, like limits on sender names, order quantities, package labeling, mailroom instructions and more. Respect their policies.

Adhering to these guidelines ensures seamless processing and delivery. Now let‘s look at what reading materials are permitted.

Picky Shopper Tip: Create Multi-Recipient Gift Boxes

For savvy shoppers looking to maximize value, you can send 1 package with books or magazines to multiple inmates at the same facility by assigning individuals items.

When ordering, note in the gift message which book/magazine is for each recipient using their name or inmate ID. Ensure you adhere to the 3 item per inmate limit. This allows you to ship a package with reading materials for several people while optimizing shipping costs.

Just remember to individually address each item, and follow all other packaging and content policies. Get creative with your gifting to make your dollars go further!

What Reading Materials Are Allowed?

While Amazon offers endless book and magazine options, correctional facilities censor certain content they deem problematic or dangerous. Items sent must follow these general guidelines:

Acceptable Books:

• New paperback books only – no used or hardcover. Hardcovers can contain contraband or be weaponized.

• No sexual or pornographic content. Suggestive images, erotica, nudity etc. is prohibited.

• No glorification of violence. Books promoting or depicting violent acts are banned.

• No racist/hate speech materials. Books spreading problematic ideologies are blocked.

• No gang affiliation. Any gang code references and content is forbidden.

• No drug content. Books on illegal drug use or making are not permitted.

• Limit 3 books per package. Many facilities restrict total items per shipment.

Allowable Magazines:

• New print magazine issues only. Used, photocopied or e-magazines are restricted.

• General interest magazines covering entertainment, sports, fashion, news, hobbies, and other mainstream topics.

• Noadult, pornographic, swimsuit or suggestive imagery. Provocative visuals are prohibited.

Stick to general reading content from legitimate publishers, free of adult themes, racial overtones, violence, and references to substance use. Most facilities share these standard restrictions, but always confirm specific allowed content with the institution beforehand.

Addict/Comparison Shopper Tip: Create Multi-Month Magazine Orders

Savvy shoppers can save time and money by placing multi-month magazine orders as gifts for inmates.

Instead of manually renewing a subscription every month, you can pre-pay for multiple months or an entire year upfront during initial checkout. This locks in the subscription price for the duration chosen.

Benefits include:

• Cost savings from the best rate

• Convenience of fewer renewal orders

• Gift notification sent each shipment

• Faster processing with automated deliveries

Just ensure your recipient will be at the facility long enough to receive the full subscription duration. Place one larger order, save money, and automate magazine gifts with prepaid multi-month subscriptions.

How Do I Locate Someone to Send Materials To?

To send books or magazines, you need the recipient‘s current facility address where they are incarcerated. Here are some strategies to find someone‘s location:

• Check the jail or prison‘s website, which may list current inmates and locate profiles.

• Call the facility‘s front desk or mailroom to request address information.

• Search for the person on Vinelink or the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator tools.

• For states like California and Florida, utilize the state corrections department‘s locator.

• Hire a private investigator to run searches on paid proprietary inmate databases.

• Reach out to the inmate‘s case manager or attorney, who may have location details.

• As a last resort, seek guidance from prison pen pal services or forums. Use caution here.

Calling the institution and verifying the address is always the best option. Get the full street address, inmate‘s ID or cell unit, and other facility mail rules. This ensures your package arrives smoothly.

Picky Shopper Tip: Seek Advice on Prison Forum Boards

For the pickiest shoppers who want the inside scoop on facility guidelines, visit prisoner forums to ask for tips. Current and former inmates provide advice on best books, shipping rules, and workarounds for getting materials delivered. But screen responses carefully for accuracy.

Recommended forums include:

• Prison Talk – Large forum with book/magazine mailing discussions.

• Prisoner Resource – Features state-specific inmate mailing guides.

• Prison Book Program – Publishes book lists compiled by prisoners.

Connect with those who have experience to optimize your book/magazine sending process. But ultimately defer to the facility‘s published policies.

Conclusion: You Can Successfully Send Books and Magazines to Inmates through Amazon

Sending incarcerated loved ones reading materials like books, magazines, newspapers and more is permitted through Amazon. The key steps include:

• Logging into Amazon and entering the recipient‘s full inmate information.

• Using the complete facility street address, city and state.

• Selecting "Gift" at checkout so the inmate isn‘t charged.

• Following all Amazon shipping policies and facility content guidelines.

• Only sending approved new books and magazines without mature content.

• Obtaining the inmate‘s current location and ID/unit number.

• Carefully reviewing all order details before submitting.

By adhering to these best practices and facility regulations, you can successfully provide inmates with reading entertainment, education, mental stimulation and valuable connections to the outside through Amazon orders. Just be sure to do your due diligence on restrictions and locations.

Help make an inmate‘s day brighter and preserve their access to information by sending approved magazines, books and other reading materials. Share the gift of literature and stay connected to incarcerated friends and family.