Each prison in my state -- county prisons, whatever -- has its own rules and regulations about mail and books.

My friend B tried to send a book to an inmate at Dauphin County Prison, by ordering it on Amazon. It was returned as "undeliverable."

I bought one in Barnes&Noble, and had them ship it. The rules say simply that it must be a paperback, and it must come from the "source," which they say may be a bookstore or publisher.
I also tried to buy a second one at Borders, but the clerk was so pessimistic that it would get to the person I gave up. I then went back to B&N and ordered one from the publisher to have it shipped, instead of them shipping one that was already in the store. But this time the B&N clerk was also very pessimistic about the book actually getting delivered.

He said many times books get refused by the prison and returned to the store, or a guard may sign for a book but it never reaches the person.

This is tragic.

The Pittsburgh Pro-Peace group, the Thomas Merton Center, has a weekly event called Book'em. They wrap up donated books and mail them to jails. But how can these get anywhere? It seems to me this would be against the rules of most institutions. I have to find out.

People in prison go in and it's like a black hole; they aren't heard from again. And before you say, "That's the point," please imagine someone you care about in one. Please.