Shipping to Correctional Facilities
Shipping to Correctional Facilities
Powell’s Books Inc. ships to many correctional facilities, both state and federal. We cannot, however, create orders via mail using checks or money orders. If your friend or loved one is currently housed in a facility, orders can be placed on their behalf using a credit card or Powell’s gift card on our website.
It is of the utmost importance that you are absolutely certain of the facility’s rules and regulations regarding incoming mail before creating your Powells.com order to ensure your recipient receives their items.
Please note, packages that are returned to sender, refused, or rejected by facilities cannot be reshipped to the same location. If your order is returned to us for any of the reasons above, we will contact you to discuss options for resolution.
Important Things to Consider Before Placing Your Order:
Find the facility’s website or direct phone number for detailed information regarding allowable material to be sent. It is not uncommon for facilities to have strict rules regarding subject matter, the type of binding, the condition (new vs. used), and/or the number of items permitted to be sent.
The shipping method you choose for your order can also create issues if the facility does not allow certain carriers to deliver to their location. Powells.com orders shipped with Economy or USPS Priority shipping are sent via the United States Post Office. Our other, faster shipping methods are delivered by UPS.
Does this facility require a receipt or particular style of packaging? Items located at any of our brick and mortar stores will be shipped from our main warehouse and the package will be clearly labeled as coming from Powell’s Books. Items located at our local or remote warehouses may not arrive with a packing slip or a clearly marked box. Before placing your order, you may wish to call our Contact Center (800-878-7323) to speak with our friendly and knowledgeable booksellers to find out where your item(s) are being sourced from.
Gift wrapping is almost never allowed at institutions or facilities where mail is monitored. While it’s probably best to skip gift wrapping your item(s), you are always welcome to add a gift note which will appear on the packing slip for your recipient. Please note that gift notes are not available for all items.
It’s important to following the formatting guidelines provided by the facility when addressing your package. Most institutions will require the inmate’s full name and identification number as well as the facility’s full address.