Care Packages for Inmates: A Comprehensive Guide (2024)

Published February 18, 2024

If you have a loved one in jail, you know how hard it is to show your affection for them. You don’t get to visit or call them as often as you want. And it may be frustrating. It’s a good thing that sending a care package can help.

A care package is a genuine gesture of showing love for someone incarcerated. We now know better than everyone that support is what keeps them going.

In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about inmate care packages. We hope to share awareness of how this act can help transform inmates’ lives. We hope to make them realize that they are still valued. And that the world is waiting for them. Let’s start.

What Are Care Packages for Inmates?

Care packages for inmates are special packages that can be sent to incarcerated individuals by their loved ones. These packages typically include approved items. Such items are food, snacks, personal hygiene products, and occasional clothing or books. They provide a way for family and friends to show support and maintain a connection with loved ones in lock-ups.

Why You Need To Send Care Packages for Inmates?

1. Maintaining connection

Care packages serve as a tangible connection to the outside world. It helps inmates feel remembered and cared for by their loved ones.

2. Providing essentials and comforts

Some care packages have essentials like toiletries. Such items may not be readily available or are of lower quality in prison. They can also include comfort items like snacks and books. Also, hobby-related items. The latter can improve the inmate’s quality of life.

3. Supporting rehabilitation

Care packages can play a vital role in supporting an inmate’s rehabilitation. They can give educational materials. In doing so, they encourage ongoing learning. Also, personal development.

4. Aiding mental health

Receiving a care package can boost animate’s morale. It has the potential to alleviate feelings of loneliness and depression.

5. Financial support

Care packages can also render financial support. These often include money for commissary purchases.

How To Send Care Packages for Inmates?

Due to security concerns in jails and prisons, it’s no longer approved for friends and family to send care packages directly to inmates. Conversely, it has become common practice for prisons to craft contracts with certain care package providers. Loved ones can contact these providers to send a gift to an inmate.

Care Packages for Inmates: How Often Can an Inmate Receive Care Packages?

Regulations differ between jurisdictions. Thus, it’s best to check with prison management to determine how often an inmate can receive this thoughtful present. Most only permit prisoners to receive one package per quarter. Moreover, correctional facilities usually only contract with specific care packages provided. Thus, if you order a package from another company that is not approved, it’s likely not to be delivered. Contact the prison where the inmate is being held. It will help you rule out providers that are authorized to use.

What Comes in a Care Package for Inmates?

Each item in the package is carefully picked to meet prison regulations. They run the gamut from items crafted to render entertainment and distraction to useful everyday things.

A care package might have coffee, candy, meats, and seafood. Personal hygiene products are also often included. Some inmates can also enjoy shoes, sweats, or underwear in care packages. Occasionally, guitar picks, headphones, art supplies, and books can be sent too.

Where To Order Care Packages for Inmates?

Putting together a care package yourself is an endearing gesture. Yet, doing so can run the risk of including something in it that is against the jail. Also, it is off-limits to the prison’s rules and regulations.

Before your loved one receives this kind gesture, an officer will thoroughly examine it. Only approved items will be passed along. Using a supplier is a simple and convenient alternative to creating your care package.

1. Access Securepak

One of the best places to buy a care package is Access Catalog’s Access Securepak. The company serves facilities in all 50 states. It makes it incredibly hassle-free to go online and pick out the perfect care bundle for a loved one in jail. They partner with jails and prisons to guarantee jailers are given safe and meaningful gifts. You can send food and snacks, personal hygiene products, electronics, and clothing with it.

All items available abide by the prison rules and regulations. It doesn’t have to be scanned. It did not need to be dug through upon arrival at the facility. Loved ones can pay for everything on the website.

2. MyCarePack

Mycarepack.com is another inmate care package supplier. They also collaborate with jails and prisons to render inmates safe and secure gifts. Similar to Access Securepak, you ought to visit their website. Then, input the state and facility where the inmate is located and decide the items you’d like to add. After setting it all up, you will select the inmate’s information to know it will be sent to the right person.

MyCarePack is also a great supplier as it allows you to select items like candy, coffee, condiments, phone cards, medicine,e, etc. It even has pre-stamped envelopes and phone cards. Pretty unique.

3. JPay Inmate Care Packages

Jpay is a company also associated with jails and prisons. It delivers inmate services such as money transfer, email, video visitation, music, and education. They do not offer conventional inmate care packages with snacks and magazines. Instead, they give friends and family of inmates away to connect with them and show their support electronically.

Care Packages for Inmates: A Comprehensive Guide (2024)

FAQs

Is inmate Care Packages a legit company? ›

Please do NOT use inmatecarepackage.net for. inmate canteen or commissary orders. There are 252 complaints with the BBB.

What can you put in a care package for someone in jail? ›

A care package might include food like coffee, candy, meats, and seafood. Personal hygiene items like toothpaste, shampoo, and deodorant are commonly included. Some inmates also receive shoes, sweats, or underwear in care packages.

How many quarterly packages can an inmate get? ›

One package per quarter is allowed – all packages must be under 30 lbs, including the weight of packaging.

What do inmates need the most? ›

So, what do they need money for? A lot, it turns out. Prisons typically provide the bare minimum when it comes to food, clothes and hygiene supplies. Many basics that most people regard as necessities, such as deodorant and shampoo, are often only available to people who can afford them.

Is icaregifts.com legit? ›

We have learned a fraudulent Web site is misleading inmate families to purchase gifts through them and not the official commissary Web site, www.Icaregifts.com, which is the only authorized site by Westchester County Department of Correction.

Can inmates get packages from Amazon? ›

Amazon.com makes deliveries to prisons. However, we recommend that you contact the prison first to confirm that they accept deliveries and to ask about any special policies they have. The label on the outside of the package should only state the destination address, Amazon.com company name, and return address.

What is considered a care package? ›

a package containing food, clothing, or other items sent as necessities to people in need of them. a gift of treats to relatives or friends, especially of items not readily available to them: She sends monthly care packages of homemade cookies to her son at college.

How to make an inmate feel loved? ›

The 6 Things to Say to Someone in Jail To Make Prison Life Bearable for Your Loved One
  1. Keep Them Entertained.
  2. Send Some Gifts.
  3. Share Your Joys.
  4. Share Your Troubles.
  5. Make Them Feel Important.
  6. The Bottom Line.
Jan 29, 2024

How to support a loved one in jail? ›

If you live far away, you can still stay in touch by phone or video call. You can also send them letters or care packages to let them know you are thinking of them. Look into what resources the jail provides to support mental health too, and encourage your loved one to seek further help if they need it.

What is the new law for federal inmates? ›

The First Step Act — This new law allows for the early release of certain inmates who had been convicted in federal court.

How do Icare packages work? ›

Once you place your order, we make every attempt to deliver it on the next scheduled delivery day according to the facility's approved delivery schedule. If you place your order after the facility's weekly delivery day, your gift will be delivered on the next available delivery day.

How many photos can you put in a envelope to an inmate? ›

Although it is important to double check with your incarcerated loved one's specific facility, most jails and prisons allow inmates to have up to 50 photos in their possession. As the sender, you should keep track of the number of photographs you send to make sure they get to keep the pictures that are most important.

How much is $20 worth in jail? ›

Many times $20 is more than enough to help an inmate with standard commissary items, such as food and postage. If they are saving for a whopper of an expense, it is still a step toward what they are saving for.

What is the 100 prisoner rule? ›

The 100 prisoners problem is a mathematical problem in probability theory and combinatorics. In this problem, 100 numbered prisoners must find their own numbers in one of 100 drawers in order to survive. The rules state that each prisoner may open only 50 drawers and cannot communicate with other prisoners.

What are 3 rights that inmates have? ›

Basic Rights of Prisoners in California State Prisons and Other Correctional Facilities
  • The right to humane conditions. ...
  • The right to adequate mental health and medical care. ...
  • The right to nutrition. ...
  • Freedom from discrimination and sexual harassment.

Is icarepackages.net legitimate? ›

icaregifts.com was the entity that informed me that icarepackages.net is a fraudulent mimicking icaregifts.net.

Is inmate magazine legit? ›

The owner/operator of this business, Roy Snowden, is permanently banned from selling or marketing magazine subscriptions and is required to surrender contents of nine different bank accounts used in his scheme to defraud prison inmates and their families through the purchase of magazine subscriptions.

How do iCare packages work? ›

Once you place your order, we make every attempt to deliver it on the next scheduled delivery day according to the facility's approved delivery schedule. If you place your order after the facility's weekly delivery day, your gift will be delivered on the next available delivery day.

How do I send inmate care packages in Michigan? ›

Family/friends may order care packages for an inmate online at Express Account or by telephone at 866-422-6833. Care packages are limited to clothing and toiletries only. There is a $25 limit on online and telephone care package orders.

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