How Seasonal Package Ordering Works for NCDAC (pre-approved items, windows, restocking fees, footwear rules)
Seasonal package ordering for North Carolina prisons follows set ordering windows and strict approval rules. Know what's pre-approved, what triggers cancellations, and a few common item limits—like shoes and rechargeable electronics—and you'll avoid most surprises.
When you shop Union Supply Direct for North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) packages, the shopping pages only show pre-approved items. That takes a lot of guesswork out of the process - if it's listed, it's already approved for this program. You won't waste time picking products that get rejected later.
Seasonal packages aren't available year-round. They run in ordering windows, and dates shift from season to season. For example, one spring package window opened Wednesday, January 7 and closed Friday, February 6. Use that as a model for how the program works - then double-check the current "first day" and "last day" dates before ordering so you don't miss the cutoff.
One of the biggest reasons orders get stopped: the incarcerated person's status changes before the package ships. If someone is placed on control status - HCON, MCON, ICON, or Safekeeper - before shipping, Union Supply Direct cancels the order. You'll get a refund, but it's reduced by a $5.00 restocking fee. This can feel frustrating. You ordered in good faith and still lose that $5. The key detail is timing - cancellation happens if control status is in place before shipping, regardless of when you placed the order.
Tip: Check the incarcerated person's current status before placing a seasonal package order. Control status before shipping means cancellation and a refund minus the $5 restocking fee.
Footwear is where possession limits trip people up. Offenders can only have one pair of work boots, one pair of tennis shoes, and one pair of shower shoes at any time. Even if a footwear option is available to buy, confirm what your loved one already has. Ordering another pair of the same type creates problems if it puts them over the limit.
Rechargeable electronics can be tricky - the facility has to support them. Some prisons lack the infrastructure for rechargeable devices, and you're responsible for confirming any item works with the specific conditions and restrictions at that facility. Before spending money on a rechargeable device, make sure the prison can actually accommodate it.
S6
- ✓ Shop from the NC pages that list only pre-approved items for NCDAC packages.
- ✓ Confirm the current seasonal ordering window before you submit your order (dates can change; one example window ran Jan 7–Feb 6).
- ✓ Check whether the incarcerated person is on control status (HCON, MCON, ICON, or Safekeeper) before shipping - orders can be canceled and refunded minus a $5 restocking fee.
- ✓ For footwear, confirm what they already possess so you don’t exceed the “one pair each” limit for work boots, tennis shoes, and shower shoes.
- ✓ If you’re buying a rechargeable electronic device, confirm the specific facility can support it - some prisons don’t have the needed infrastructure.
Heads up: Two common avoidable issues: control status cancellations (with the $5 restocking fee) and ordering shoes when your loved one already has their one allowed pair of that type.
Find an Inmate at Columbus Correctional Inst
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
