How to Pick a Gift for an Inmate

If you have a loved one or friend in prison, buying gifts is not out of the question. A few suggestions help when figuring out what gifts are acceptable and appropriate. Recently, I had a loved one in jail for a brief period of time. During his six week jail time, I researched what gifts I could send, just in case it was a long term stay.

Contact Prison for Gift Rules

Before buying any gifts, contact the prison or jail. Ask to speak to the sergeant on duty. Someone else might not have the proper information. Prisons differ on what sort of gifts are allowed. Not following prison rules about gifts and packaging results in gift denial. While some of the rules may not make sense, they all have a purpose.

Books

Most prisons limit gifts to a few items. Books are allowed at any prison, however there is usually a limit on the number of books that a person might have in their cell at any given time because of space limitation. Prisons prohibit any book with profanity or excessive violence. Some prisons only allow books sent directly from a publisher. If your loved one is a book worm, a book from a publisher would be appreciated. Contact different book publishers to find out if they ship books to prisons.( (http://www.sdadefend.com/mission-evan-news/Prison-Books.html)

Game Books

Another great gift idea are game books, such as crossword puzzles and word searches. These keep a person's mind active while using up any idle time they might have. Some prisons allow these types of books while others consider them a non book item. Most allow game books to be mailed directly from the publisher to the prisoner.

Food Items

Contact the prison and ask if food items are allowed. It often depends on the facility. If food items are allowed, these might prove to be the best gifts to send. Sometimes a prison refers to food gifts as care packages. When sending food, consider the fact that sharing food is common between bunk or jail mates, so send extra for your friend's roomy. Remember that prison staff open food packages and inspect them for weapons or other items. Everyone knows the joke of a file in a cake, so think foods that are visible when sending food gifts. Any food item that looks as if it could hide something would not be a good idea.(http://www.ecoprisoners.org/howtohelp2.html)

Remember that your package or box will be opened and inspected for contraband or forbidden items. Ask the prison how to package gifts. Some allow gift bags, while others only deliver the gifts without wrapping or bags. Your loved one or friend will still enjoy the gift, even if it is void of ribbons and bows. I hope my recent experience and research helps others who may be in the same situation.