Ordering Packages for Someone at Orange Correctional Center: windows, rules, and fees

Ordering a package for someone at Orange Correctional Center through North Carolina's inmate package program? Start with the vendor's official shopping pages. Everything listed there is pre-approved - no guessing whether a product will make it through.

Packages are tied to ordering windows - you can only place orders during specific dates. For example, one recent window ran from Wednesday, January 7th through Friday, February 6th. Check the vendor's current package page for the active window before ordering so you don't miss the cutoff.

Don't want to order online? The vendor offers a downloadable order form you can mail in instead.

Footwear orders have an extra rule that trips people up. Offenders can only possess one pair each of work boots, tennis shoes, and shower shoes at any time. Before ordering footwear, confirm what your loved one already has - otherwise you might spend money on something they can't keep.

Here's a surprise cost families often run into: canceled orders. If the incarcerated person gets placed on control status - HCON, MCON, ICON, or Safekeeper - before the package ships, Union Supply Direct cancels the order. You'll get a refund, minus a $5.00 restocking fee. To avoid this, try to keep tabs on their status before your order reaches the shipping stage.

Be careful with electronics, especially rechargeable items. The vendor warns that some prisons lack the infrastructure for rechargeable devices, and you're responsible for confirming compatibility with the facility's specific conditions. If you can't verify it's allowed and usable where your loved one is housed, hold off until you can.

• ✓ Check whether the item is a rechargeable electronic device
• ✓ Confirm the facility can support rechargeable devices (some prisons may not)
• ✓ Make sure the item fits the facility’s specific conditions and restrictions before you buy