I have a friend that is an inmate at the camp at Carswell. This may sound like a silly question, but am I permitted to send her a small teddy bear via the US Mail?

No. Your friend will never see it. The BOP does not allow things like that (care packages) to be sent in.

Sorry

Greyghost

Sorry...but...NOT!!!:(

Greyghost, thanks so much for taking the time to answer my question. I think we are going to have to start a "Greyghost Fan Club" pretty soon. :-)

No, but it actually may get sent back.

Some alternatives you might want to think about...

Most scrapbook stores have cut outs you can send in. I have seen teddy bears.

You could take a picture of you and the teddy bear and send her that. You could get really creative with this depending upon the type of relationship.

A greeting card with teddy bears. Some are even furry.

Trace the outline of a teddy bear and write a short letter or poem outlining the shape of the Teddy bear.

Flygirlaa2, thanks for the suggestions. I will certainly look into them.

I recently sent my friend a bunch of crochet patterns that included a pattern for making a teddy bear. Unfortunately, I have no idea if the commissary at the camp at FMC Carswell sells yarn to its inmates or even permits them to crochet.

I now know enough not to attempt to send her any yarn either. On Saturday I sent her a small cardboard package containing some paperback novels that she wanted. Today the package was returned, unopened, to me. Stamped on the box were the words, "Return to Sender. No Package Authorization on File." Ugh! I wish I knew where I could find the BOP's rules with respect to what is permissible to send and the manner in which those items may be sent.

Thanks again for your helpful suggestions. Your kindness is very appreciated.

I send crochet patterns all the time to my hubby who gives them to another inmate who crochets, yes they can buy yarn. Another option is to buy crochet books from Barnes & Nobel or Amazon and have them send them to the prison. I do that too.

It is best to ask her about the books. Some prisons in the federal system are switching over so that only the bookstores and publishers are allowed to ship them into the prison. Some still allow paperback to be shipped thru an individual, but they will need to be shipped in an envelope and not a cardboard box. I know it is frustrating, but you will be an old pro at this before you know it. :)

One time I had mentioned some out of print books I was reading and my husband wanted to read them. So, I went down to the used book store (Half price books here) and sold them to them and then rebought them and had them ship them. I shipped in two books that way and it cost about $10 total. You may try that with your books if you are not allowed to ship them yourself. Or, even better, go back to the store you purchased them from and tell them you just bought them and now you need them shipped. Hope it works out.

The commissary at the Carswell camp does have yarn ($2.50 per skein), although the colors are somewhat limited. Yarn can also be ordered through a SPO (Special Purchase Order) through the Rec department and takes about 6-8 weeks to get. You have to have money on your commissary account to cover the cost and it's tied up for the same amount of time. There are no crochet books, so sending them is fine - limit of 3 per envelope, and women love to get them. You can also send in the free pattern sheets from Michael's, Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart, etc. Those can be mailed in an envelope with a letter.

Paperback books are fine as long as they are not in a cardboard box - that's considered a "package" and authorization has to be on file. If you put them in a Priority Mail envelope or manilla envelope, they'll get there just fine. Limit on those - 3 per mailing. Hardback books have to come from a bookstore or publisher. On a more humorous note, anything sent Priority or in a big envelope is prized because the mail staff takes it out of the packaging and puts it INTO a large Ziplock bag, and women LOVE those bags because you can't get them any other way. Silly, huh?! :)

I just returned from my stay at the camp in December, and finally got logged in here again, so ask away.... I remember it all well!!

Gale

flygirl-- that is a great idea for those books!!! thank you!

Sorry, but as you read already, no.