How to Send a Package to Someone at CCWF — Why You Can't Mail It Yourself (and What Happens to the Money)

At CCWF (and other CDCR prisons), family members can't send quarterly packages directly through the mail. Instead, CDCR requires packages to be ordered through authorized private vendors. Why? It cuts down on contraband and reduces time-consuming searches. Before the approved-vendor program, if a family-sent package included something prohibited, the incarcerated person might have to pay to mail it back - or the item could be donated or tossed.

Think of it like ordering from an approved catalog rather than packing a box at home. CDCR approves independent vendors to sell merchandise for inmate packages, and those vendors must meet minimum requirements before they can ship to institutions. CDCR provides the framework, but the vendor you choose handles the actual ordering, fulfillment, substitutions, shipping timelines, and customer service.

Questions about the vendor program itself - especially how to become a Quarterly Package Vendor - should go to Lt. Victor Espinoza at Victor.Espinoza@cdcr.ca.gov. For order-specific problems like missing items, refunds, or damaged goods, start with the vendor's customer service. They're the ones processing and shipping your order.

Here's something that catches families off guard: restitution affects money you send. CDCR says any funds sent to an inmate are still subject to court-ordered restitution - meaning some of that money may be taken to satisfy the sentencing court's order. Vendor purchases work differently. When you buy a package directly from an approved vendor, that purchase isn't impacted by restitution. If you want to make sure specific items arrive rather than sending cash for commissary, ordering through a vendor can be the more predictable route.

Practical Next Steps

• ✓ Confirm you’re using the CDCR-approved vendor process (you can’t mail a quarterly package yourself).
• ✓ Review the current approved-vendor information and follow the vendor’s ordering instructions exactly.
• ✓ Use the vendor channel for items you want delivered as a package, rather than trying to send a box from home.
• ✓ If you’re asking about becoming a Quarterly Package Vendor, email Lt. Victor Espinoza at Victor.Espinoza@cdcr.ca.gov.

Expect the vendor's rules to drive the process. Each vendor sets its own product list, ordering steps, and customer-service procedures. CDCR's policy doesn't let you bypass this by mailing items directly to CCWF as a quarterly package. If something goes wrong, keep your order details handy - what you ordered, when, and any confirmation info - so you can get a clear answer from the vendor without starting over.

1. Save your confirmation and receipts - CDCR does not guarantee vendor performance, so your proof of purchase matters if there’s a problem.
2. Read the vendor’s refund/return rules before you buy - if items are missing or the order can’t be fulfilled, the vendor’s policy usually controls what happens next.
3. Treat the purchase like a standard retail transaction - CDCR says purchases are at the buyer’s sole risk, so you’ll want your documentation in case you need to dispute a charge or request a refund.

For most issues - late shipments, wrong items, billing questions - go straight to the vendor first. CDCR doesn't guarantee the vendor's products or performance. If your question is about the quarterly package vendor program itself (not a specific order), use the CDCR contact listed for vendor inquiries. And if you're weighing whether to send money or order items, remember the key difference: money sent to an inmate can be reduced by court-ordered restitution, while buying a package directly from an approved vendor isn't affected the same way.