Living behind the bar is hard. Support from family members, friends, or other people from the outside world can mean a lot to the inmates because it can help them cope with the circumstances. One of the best ways to lend support to an individual who is incarcerated is to send magazines to help pass the time and to connect to the outside world.
Magazines can be a valuable source of information and diversion for the inmates because they usually face isolation and limited access to resources. For those who want to send magazines to your loved one who is incarcerated, make sure to read this post that will guide you through the process of sending magazines to inmates.
Things to Do Before Sending Magazines for Inmates
Before sending magazines to your loved one who is incarcerated, it is a must for you to understand the rules and regulations of the correctional facility where your loved one is housed. As the policies can vary from one facility to another, it is better for you to ask the facility about it.
According to PrisonPro, almost every institution allows the family members or friends of the inmates to send magazines to their loved ones. However, most of them require the magazines to come directly from the publisher or the third party sellers. Apart from that, the magazines must be new and must be paperback. Do not expect for the inmates to receive magazines if they are hardcover. Similarly, used magazines and the ones that are not from a publisher like Amazon will also be rejected.
Ordering Magazines for Inmates
Sending magazines to an inmate is simple. One of the most popular ways of sending magazines for inmates is from Amazon. This one is undeniably trusted. Sending magazines for an inmate through Amazon is easy. Here is step by step to follow if you are interested to do so:
- The first thing that you need to do is to go to Amazon.
- When you are there, log in to your account.
- Once you have successfully logged in to your Amazon account, find the magazine that you are going to send to your loved one by using the search bar.
- After finding one, put it in the basket and proceed to checkout.
- Make sure to enter the personal details of the inmate, including their first and last name, their ID number, and the physical address of the facility.
- Next, check the Send as a Gift option.
- Then, choose UPS as your courier.
- Lastly, click on Place Your Order.
Addressing Parcels to Inmates
Talking about sending magazines to inmates, it is important for you to pay more attention to addressing the magazine package. Ensure you have the correct information. When addressing the package, do not forget to include a few things such as the full name of the inmate, their identification number, their housing unit, and the correct address of the correctional facility. Below is the format of the delivery address should look like:
[Inmate’s First Name] [Inmate’s Last Name] [Inmate’s ID Number]
[Facility Name] [Facility Unit]
[Facility Address]
[County] [State] [Zip Code]
Magazines That Can or Can’t Be Sent to Inmates
It is important for you to know what magazines can or cannot be sent to inmates. For anyone who has a loved one sitting behind the bar and is looking for a great gift idea, feel free to check out a list of the magazines for inmates below:
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Men’s Health
Men’s Health can help male inmates to stay in shape and in good health. In the magazine, they will be able to discover new workouts along with the detailed exercise plans for many kinds of body types. They will also be guided to make their training more effective, lose fat in no time, and build muscle easily. In addition, this magazine also shares tips to improve their personal life, relationships, and overall lifestyle.
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Motor Trend
Motor Trend is such a blessing for those who love the automotive world because it offers high-quality journalism. There are exclusive scoops on the latest models, performance reviews, road tests, vehicle comparisons, and many more.
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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated will help inmates to experience the passion, intensity, and heart of the sports they are missing since they have been away from the sports. In the magazine, they will be able to find coverage on a few things such as the NBA, NFL, MLB, NASCAR, and so on. Plus, there is also coverage with the latest statistics, scores, and interviews with athletes.
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Channel Guide
On Channel Guide, inmates can find a guide that covers more than 120 TV channels, making it possible for them to stay up-to-date on their favorite TV shows and movies.
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GQ
By reading GQ, inmates can discover style updates, profiles of the trendiest actresses and models, updates on sports teams, technology, music, books, movies, and many more. This magazine is interesting because each issue has a unique design.
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TIME Magazine
TIME Magazine features the latest news in every field, including politics, business, current events and society, technology, science, human achievement and art, and so on. The news featured in the magazine can be understood easily, making it easy for inmates regardless of their skill levels to understand the latest headlines.
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National Geographic
National Geographic helps inmates to travel the world through its pages. Everything featured in this magazine is high quality. This magazine consists of useful articles and stunning photography.
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People Magazine
People Magazine gives updates on everything Hollywood. By sending this magazine to inmates, you connect them to their favorite celebrities. In the magazine, they will be able to find the latest celebrity news, gossip, interviews, and stories about their everyday lives. Aside from that, there is also information about TV shows, movies, music, and so on.
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Popular Mechanics
If the inmates are interested in how things work, Popular Mechanics is the answer. It features the latest advancements in science, technology, and space through articles and interviews with engineers, inventors, and entrepreneurs.
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Slam
If your inmate is into basketball, Slam is the perfect magazine for them. This one is known as the only magazine that covers everything related to basketball, including about playgrounds, high schools, the NCAA, and the pros.
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Entrepreneur
Inmates can learn how to be entrepreneurs with Entrepreneur so that they will know what to do after their release. There are so many inspirations and ideas in the magazine. The cover is always interesting because it features successful entrepreneurs. Insides, amazing companies, upcoming opportunities, and business trends are also featured.
As stated before, not every magazine can be sent to inmates. It means there are also some that are not allowed for inmates to receive, including the ones related to gangs, crimes, weapons, illegal substances, and pornography. If you are wondering about the examples of magazines that cannot be sent to inmates, the list includes:
- Guns
- Swank
- Hustle
- Playboy
- Penthouse
- Firearms New
Bottom Line
Sending magazines to inmates can be a good idea because it gives them a chance to see the outside world. Besides, it also gives them a chance to stay informed and entertained. It should be easy for you to successfully send magazines to your loved one as long as you follow the guidelines and regulations of the correctional facility.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
