Before You Order Seasonal Packages for Someone at Catawba Correctional: Deadlines, Approved Items, and When Orders Get Canceled

Anyone can order a Seasonal Package for someone incarcerated in the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction through the NC Inmate Package site. You don't need to live near the facility - the program handles statewide purchases.

The Spring seasonal package ordering window runs from Wednesday, January 7 to Friday, February 6. Planning around a different holiday or season? Don't assume the dates carry over. Always check the current seasonal package page before building your cart or mailing in an order.

Items shown on the NC Inmate Package shopping pages are pre-approved for purchase. That means they've already been cleared for the program, so you're less likely to have an order rejected because of the product itself. But "pre-approved" doesn't override possession rules - your loved one still has to be allowed to have the item when it arrives.

If your loved one's status changes before the package ships, the order can be canceled. Specifically, if they're placed on control status HCON, MCON, ICON, or Safekeeper, Union Supply Direct will cancel the order. You'll get a refund minus a $5 restocking fee.

• ✓ Check whether your loved one is on control status (HCON, MCON, ICON, or Safekeeper) before you place an order.
• ✓ If you hear they may be moved to a control status, consider waiting to order until you’re confident the package can ship.
• ✓ Budget for the $5 restocking fee if an order is canceled and refunded.

Think twice before ordering rechargeable electronics. Some prisons don't have the infrastructure to support them, and you're responsible for confirming the item works at your loved one's specific facility. If you can't verify it'll be usable there, hold off - otherwise you might spend money on something they can't keep.

Preorder Checklist

• ✓ Confirm your loved one is incarcerated in the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction and that you’re ordering through the NC Inmate Package site (statewide program).
• ✓ Order within the Spring window: Wednesday, January 7 through Friday, February 6.
• ✓ Stick to items shown on the shopping pages (they’re pre-approved for purchase).
• ✓ Before ordering footwear, confirm they don’t already have the maximum allowed: one pair each of work boots, tennis shoes, and shower shoes.
• ✓ Before buying rechargeable electronic devices, confirm the facility can support them and the item is compatible with that facility’s conditions and restrictions.
• ✓ Check for control status before ordering - HCON, MCON, ICON, or Safekeeper prior to shipping can trigger cancellation and a refund minus a $5 restocking fee.