Tragically, sometimes your packages get returned. Tracking your returns can help clue you into metrics about shadow bans at different prisons, and it can help you from wasting money trying to send books again to the same prison or person. To skip the FAQs, click here.

Here are a few FAQs on returns:

What kind of info is useful to record for returns?

If the package was returned because it contained banned books, we want to keep a record of that. If your reader is no longer at that facility, that’s also something that’s useful to know. Having this info will prevent us from wasting postage sending books that will be returned.

Should you record that the package was marked “Refused”?

No. This doesn’t mean anything useful. That’s just what prisons write on packages to let USPS know that the package won’t be accepted and they shouldn’t try to deliver it again. “Refused” tells you nothing about why they did that. You already know your package was returned because you’re holding it.

What is a “reason for a return”?

If the package came back because the person was moved, released, or not found, that’s a “reason for a return.” If the package was returned because of a restriction, enter “Books restricted” and then you can input the restriction in the restriction field.

What is a “restriction?”

Some prisons ban certain content, certain kinds of books, or certain numbers of books. Some prisons have banned all books. Some prisons have banned books from unapproved vendors. These are all book “restrictions” that are good to have on file so that we don’t waste time and money violating them. Keeping the restrictions updated ensures that we can send books that will actually make it through the mailroom and into the hands of readers.

How can I find out more details about a restriction?

You can look on the prison website, or you can call the prison and ask to speak to someone in the mailroom. Note the mailrooms usually open (and close) pretty early in the day. Sometimes the letters you get from inside will explain the restrictions to you.

What should I do if I find a new restriction?

Log your return as shown below. There will be an option to add a new restriction. Please make sure that your restriction is not listed before you add a new one. The list is already very long. Please do not add reasons for return (refused; inmate released, etc.) to the “Restrictions” list. That data gets attached to the record of the prison itself as a prison-wide book restriction.

You can also go to the Prisons tab, find your prison, and update the restrictions on file for that prison.

Demonstration Video

Logging Returns Steps:

Step 1: Find your package

To begin, find your package in the “Browse Records” tab. Just click “Browse Records,” select “Packages” in the little search box, and type in the name of the book recipient. You will see a list of packages shipped out, newest first. Click the link for your package.

Step 2: Update Return Info

Once you find your package, click the “Update Return Info” link below the Package Record.

Step 3: Track Package Return

Enter in your return info here and a note if you want. You can see that there is a list of return reasons (inmate released, inmate transferred, etc.) which are separate from the return restrictions. If you have a restriction, please check carefully to see if it’s already listed before you create a new return restriction to add to the list. I just hate having duplicates. You can also see this info in the Prisons tab. Please make sure that you go to the Prisons tab after this and update the prison record with that restriction.

You can also add a note here which will be attached to that person’s database record. You can see this later in the Browse Records tab.

When all your info is entered, hit the “Track Package Return” button. This package’s entry has now been updated and saved. That’s it!