Sending packages to Rensselaer County Jail: approved vendors and what happens on arrival
Rensselaer County Jail stopped accepting inmate property at the front window back on March 25, 2020. You can't drop anything off in person - everything has to be shipped through approved vendors.
To get a package accepted at Rensselaer County Jail, it needs to be shipped directly to the jail from a company whose ordinary business includes selling and shipping those items, or shipped directly from a preferred vendor. In plain terms: avoid sending anything from an individual, a marketplace re-seller, or a “hand-packed” box - stick with mainstream retailers or the jail’s preferred sources so it arrives in a way the facility can verify.
- ✓ Amazon.com
- ✓ Walmart.com
- ✓ Target.com
- ✓ Securepak (AccessCatalog.com)
Rensselaer County Jail also expects package contents to be approved items only, and everything must be new and in the original packaging. If a package shows up with non-approved items, used items, or anything that’s been opened/repackaged, it may be returned to the sender.
One of the most common reasons packages don’t make it to your loved one is the sender. If the shipment comes from a company whose ordinary business does not include selling and shipping those kinds of items, the jail says it will be returned to the sender. That’s why choosing a recognized retailer (or a preferred vendor) matters as much as what you order.
Note: If a package arrives without a return address, it may be disposed of under the facility’s property disposal guidelines.
Even when you order from an approved source, your package still goes through intake. All incoming property is inventoried and inspected for contraband before it’s distributed to the inmate, which can add time and can also lead to items being rejected if they don’t meet the rules.
- Choose a true retailer or preferred vendor - The package must be shipped directly from a company whose ordinary business includes selling and shipping the items, or from a preferred vendor.
- Coordinate with the inmate before you place the order - Package quantity and delivery frequency may be limited, so checking first helps you avoid sending something that can’t be accepted or kept.
- ✓ Include the inmate’s booking identification number on the order so staff can match the shipment to the right person.
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