Hello! Does anyone know about elibility for quarterly care packages at Tehachapi? I called the mailroom and they said that HE needs to tell me. My man is Level 4 yard and has not gotten back to me if he can get the packages or not (darn snail mail :blah: ). Anyway I know the orders need to be placed by the end of this month for the 1st quarter. I'm hoping my man will get back to me, but I don't want him to miss out if I don't get his letter in time.

Any advice or suggestions is greatly appreciated. Many thanks!

Hi there you will find some info here http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=183794 and here http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1125571&postcount=35

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”
SHU and ASU:
Group “D”
Privilege Group A and Privilege Group B
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.




Here is a list of CCI approved vendors for Special Purchases and Quarterly Packages:


Walkenhorst Catalog
www.walkenhorsts.com
(800) 660-9255

Access Catalog
www.californiaqp.com
(800) 546-6283

Union Supply Company
www.californiainmatepackage.com
(866) 404-8989

D&D Enterprises
www.prisongifts.com
(866) 390-5291

Barnes & Noble
www.barnesandnoble.com

*** If you order CD's from Barnes and Noble, they will count as a Quarterly Package.

***The mailing address for quarterly packages and special purchases is the same address as the one you would use for inmate mail. (See CCI Contact Information above for more information on inmate mailing addresses.)

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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.


***For more information on quarterly packages and special purchases, you can contact the Receiving and Releasing Department at CCI. Just call the main telephone number and press 0 to speak with an operator. You can then ask to be transferred to the R&R Department for yard 1,2,3,4A, or 4B.

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1st Quarter = January 1st - March 31st

2nd Quarter = April 1st - June 30th

3rd Quarter = July 1st - September 30th

4th Quarter = October 1st - December 31st