Inmate Quarterly and Special Purchase Packages/Books and Magazines/Privilege Groups
Quarterly Packages:
The California Inmate Quarterly Package system allows you to send much-desired items to your incarcerated loved one. Each institution sets it’s own rules as to what items are allowed and prohibited and items vary by privilege groups. As a result, vendors therefore provide services to a limited amount of Facilities, Camps, CCF’s or the LA County Jail System. All Quarterly Packages are limited to a maximum weight of 30 Lbs. Nor can they exceed dimensions of 24” x 24” x 24”. All vendors list those institutions for which they provide goods and services and what privilege groups.
Special Packages:
Special Packages allow for the purchase of Electronics, Accessories, Musical Instruments, Under Garments and Clothing, Correspondence Courses, Legal Material and Faith Based Items. That would otherwise crowd a quarterly package beyond its allowed weight or dimensions. There is no limit to the amount of special packages allowed in a calendar year. However due to the limited items available and limited space for which to store their property. Special Order Packages will most likely only be utilized one or twice per a calendar year. Note: Some institutions require that Special Order Packages be ordered by and paid for by the inmates themselves. Individuals are not allowed to purchase Special Order Packages and have them sent directly to their inmates at some institutions. Contact your facilities R& R Department to assure that you can send special packages direct.
Inmate Quarterly Package, Yearly Quarters:
1St – January 1 Through March 31.
2nd – April 1 Through June 30.
3rd – July 1 Through September 30.
4th – October 1 Through December 31.
Books, Magazines and Periodicals:
Reception Center Inmates: Are not allowed to receive books, magazines or periodicals.
General Population Inmates: Can receive books, magazines and periodicals as long as those items are mailed directly form the publisher, subscription service or an on-line book vendor. (Call your inmate facilities mailroom for any special packaging or handling requirements prior to sending these items).
Privilege Groups:
The California Department of Corrections classifies each and every inmate into a specific privilege groups based on several factors such as new inmates, general population inmates, Ad-Seg and SHU/PHU inmates and those that have or are undergoing administrative review for problematic behavior.
The following are the CDC’s privilege ratings system.
Reception Center Inmate:
· New Arrival Privilege Group “U”
· Processing Privilege Group “U”
General Population:
Inmates in Privilege Group A & B Shall be allowed four packages per year (one per quarter) not to exceed 30 pounds each
Privilege Group C
Inmates in Privilege Group C shall not be allowed a Personal property Package. Inmates prohibited from receiving a package resulting from a recent placement into Privilege Group C, shall not be allowed to retain a package, which was ordered prior to Privilege Group C placement. Disallowed packages shall be disposed of pursuant to Section 54030.11.2
Privilege Group D
Inmates in Privilege Group D, including those inmates housed in ASU/Security Housing Unit (SHU) and Psychiatric Services Unit (PSU), Shall be permitted to acquire one personal property package per year not to exceed 30 pounds each. Eligibility to acquire a personal property package commences one-year after the date of Privilege Group D Assignment.
Inmates in SHU/PSU may also purchase and entertainment appliance via a Special Purchase Process. Eligibility to acquire a personal property package commences one-year after the date of Privilege Group D Assignment.
Inmates prohibited from receiving a package as a result of ASU placement shall be allowed to retain the package in their stored personal property if the package was ordered prior to ASU placement and the inmate was otherwise qualified to receive it.
Privilege Group U
Inmates in Privilege Group U shall not be allowed a Personal Property Package.
Quarterly Packages:
The California Inmate Quarterly Package system allows you to send much-desired items to your incarcerated loved one. Each institution sets it’s own rules as to what items are allowed and prohibited and items vary by privilege groups. As a result, vendors therefore provide services to a limited amount of Facilities, Camps, CCF’s or the LA County Jail System. All Quarterly Packages are limited to a maximum weight of 30 Lbs. Nor can they exceed dimensions of 24” x 24” x 24”. All vendors list those institutions for which they provide goods and services and what privilege groups.
Special Packages:
Special Packages allow for the purchase of Electronics, Accessories, Musical Instruments, Under Garments and Clothing, Correspondence Courses, Legal Material and Faith Based Items. That would otherwise crowd a quarterly package beyond its allowed weight or dimensions. There is no limit to the amount of special packages allowed in a calendar year. However due to the limited items available and limited space for which to store their property. Special Order Packages will most likely only be utilized one or twice per a calendar year. Note: Some institutions require that Special Order Packages be ordered by and paid for by the inmates themselves. Individuals are not allowed to purchase Special Order Packages and have them sent directly to their inmates at some institutions. Contact your facilities R& R Department to assure that you can send special packages direct.
Inmate Quarterly Package, Yearly Quarters:
1St – January 1 Through March 31.
2nd – April 1 Through June 30.
3rd – July 1 Through September 30.
4th – October 1 Through December 31.
Books, Magazines and Periodicals:
Reception Center Inmates: Are not allowed to receive books, magazines or periodicals.
General Population Inmates: Can receive books, magazines and periodicals as long as those items are mailed directly form the publisher, subscription service or an on-line book vendor. (Call your inmate facilities mailroom for any special packaging or handling requirements prior to sending these items).
Privilege Groups:
The California Department of Corrections classifies each and every inmate into a specific privilege groups based on several factors such as new inmates, general population inmates, Ad-Seg and SHU/PHU inmates and those that have or are undergoing administrative review for problematic behavior.
The following are the CDC’s privilege ratings system.
Reception Center Inmate:
· New Arrival Privilege Group “U”
· Processing Privilege Group “U”
General Population:
- Group “A”
- Group “B”
- Group “C”
- Group “D”
Inmates in Privilege Group A & B Shall be allowed four packages per year (one per quarter) not to exceed 30 pounds each
Privilege Group C
Inmates in Privilege Group C shall not be allowed a Personal property Package. Inmates prohibited from receiving a package resulting from a recent placement into Privilege Group C, shall not be allowed to retain a package, which was ordered prior to Privilege Group C placement. Disallowed packages shall be disposed of pursuant to Section 54030.11.2
Privilege Group D
Inmates in Privilege Group D, including those inmates housed in ASU/Security Housing Unit (SHU) and Psychiatric Services Unit (PSU), Shall be permitted to acquire one personal property package per year not to exceed 30 pounds each. Eligibility to acquire a personal property package commences one-year after the date of Privilege Group D Assignment.
Inmates in SHU/PSU may also purchase and entertainment appliance via a Special Purchase Process. Eligibility to acquire a personal property package commences one-year after the date of Privilege Group D Assignment.
Inmates prohibited from receiving a package as a result of ASU placement shall be allowed to retain the package in their stored personal property if the package was ordered prior to ASU placement and the inmate was otherwise qualified to receive it.
Privilege Group U
Inmates in Privilege Group U shall not be allowed a Personal Property Package.