California Inmate Care Packages & Quarterly Package Guide
Prohibited Clothing Colors
The following colors are completely banned for personal clothing property to prevent security and gang-related standardization.
- Green, black, brown, tan, red, or blue.
Quarterly and Annual Packages
Quarterly packages consist primarily of clothing, tennis shoes, food, and health and beauty items.
- Recipients in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation classified as Privilege Group A/B are allowed one 30-pound Quarterly Package each quarter.
- Recipients classified as Privilege Group D are allowed one 30-pound Annual Package per year.
Special Purchase Package
Special Purchase items consist primarily of electronics such as radios, Walkmans, CD players, and televisions.
- These orders have no weight or package size restriction and can be purchased at any time of the year.
San Quentin Mainline Quarterly
Quarterly packages consist primarily of clothing, tennis shoes, food, and health and beauty items.
- Recipients classified as Privilege Group A/B are allowed one 30-pound Quarterly Package each quarter.
- Recipients classified as Privilege Group D are allowed one 30-pound Annual Package per year.
San Quentin Mainline SPO
Special Purchase items consist primarily of electronics such as radios, Walkmans, CD players, and televisions.
- These orders have no weight or package size restriction and can be purchased at any time of the year.
Dress Out Clothing Package
Dress-out clothing packages are typically required to be received within 30 days of paroling. Each facility may have different rules and regulations; check with the receiving facility for further details.
- Dress-out orders will be accepted no more than 45 days before the release date.
- If your loved one is being paroled within a week, contact us by phone at 877-919-4151 to see if your order can be processed and delivered in time.
Confirm current California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and receiving-facility rules, recipient privilege group and eligibility, item approval, and the authorized ordering channel before purchasing. This guidance does not establish Secure Care Essentials vendor approval, guarantee package acceptance or delivery before release, or mean every listed item is available in our catalog. County jails and federal facilities may have different policies.
Non-food correctional orders only
Food purchases are available only for eligible New York state-prison destinations. Correctional orders for all other U.S. states must be non-food only. Remove food, snacks, beverages and food-containing mixed packages. Rikers Island and Nassau County Jail remain non-food only. Residential shopping is unaffected.
Browse care packages for California correctional facilities. Confirm the receiving facility's current package rules before ordering.
California quarterly inmate packages and CDCR rules
Families searching for California inmate care packages or CDCR quarterly packages need to confirm the recipient's current privilege group, package eligibility and authorized vendor channel. Quarterly personal-property packages and special purchases are separate categories; permission for one does not authorize the other. Secure Care Essentials does not claim that a retail order here is participation in a CDCR-approved quarterly package program.
California prison clothing and dress-out packages
Before selecting inmate clothing, verify the receiving institution's current color, material, size and quantity restrictions. A garment sold in our catalog is not automatically approved for CDCR delivery. Dress-out clothing for release has separate timing and authorization requirements and should not be treated as a normal quarterly package. Review the California clothing guidance on this page and confirm the current instructions with the institution.
California county jail and federal prison care packages
California county jails and Bureau of Prisons institutions do not automatically follow CDCR package rules. County jail orders through Secure Care Essentials are non-food only. For every destination, confirm recipient eligibility, the permitted products, outside-vendor acceptance and the exact package mailing address. Food, hygiene or clothing availability in the store is not evidence of acceptance at a particular California institution.
Official rules and useful shopping links
Agency links are informational, not evidence of vendor endorsement. Rules may change; consult the receiving institution's current instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I send a care package to someone in a California correctional facility?
Use the California facility directory to identify the receiving institution. Choose items the recipient is eligible to receive and provide the recipient's full name, required identification, and complete mailing address. Shopify confirms current prices, shipping, taxes, and the final amount before payment. Prior facility approval is not required to purchase, but acceptance is not guaranteed.
What items are allowed in California prison care packages?
Rules vary by institution, recipient, and jurisdiction. Review the listed contents and the receiving facility's current restrictions on products, packaging, quantities, and outside vendors. A directory listing or product listing is not facility approval.
How long does delivery take to California prisons and jails?
Processing begins after payment. Shipping turnaround time is 3-4 business days. Carrier transit and facility intake times vary, so this is not a guaranteed delivery window. Tracking is provided when the order ships.
Can care packages be sent to county jails in California?
County-jail rules vary. Use the California directory to identify the correct institution, then confirm recipient eligibility, permitted items, and the full mailing address. Listing a facility does not guarantee that it accepts outside-vendor packages.
What happens if a care package is rejected by a California facility?
Contact support with the order number and any rejection documentation. Requests are reviewed under the current refund policy. Rejections due to facility policies, restricted items, or incorrect customer information can result in non-refundable shipping charges and customer-paid reshipment.
How often can I send care packages to California inmates?
Package frequency and quantity limits are set by the receiving institution and can depend on the recipient's eligibility. Confirm current limits before ordering; a previous delivery does not establish permission for a later package.
Can I send a quarterly package to a California inmate?
Check the recipient's CDCR privilege group, eligibility, current package limits and authorized vendor channel. An ordinary store order is not automatically an authorized quarterly package.
Are California dress-out clothes part of a quarterly package?
Do not assume so. Release clothing and quarterly personal-property packages have separate requirements. Confirm dress-out authorization, permitted contents and delivery timing directly with the receiving institution.
Do California county jails follow CDCR package rules?
Not automatically. Check the jail's own rules, vendor channel and mailing instructions. Secure Care Essentials county jail orders are non-food only.
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