Life as an Offender - Personal Property

The Department of Corrections provides offenders with all of the necessities they need while incarcerated. Offenders are issued suitable clothing that is presentable, durable, and acceptably fits the offender and the climate. As needed, offenders assigned to special work details are issued appropriate protective clothing and equipment. However, offenders may receive new/approved property items. This section provides guidelines that must be followed in order to avoid unnecessary costs to the offender or his or her family.

What property can be sent to an offender?

Each offender is provided with a Maximum Allowable Personal Property Matrix (MAPPM) which identifies the types, value, and amount of personal property authorized for offender retention at the different security levels. Offenders are responsible for ensuring that the value of the property in their possession is no greater than the dollar values identified on the MAPPM.

NOTE: Each institution has its own property policy that may be more restrictive than what is listed in this booklet. Offenders have access to that policy, and they need to be aware of the regulations. To be sure of what you can or cannot send, please request this information from the offender.

What happens if the property is not authorized?

Offenders are allowed to dispose of their excess or unauthorized personal property by shipping it to a non-incarcerated person, at the offender’s expense. Offenders have 30 days to accomplish this disposition.

If the offender is without funds, refuses to pay the required postage, or refuses to designate an individual to receive the property, the items will be donated to a charitable organization or destroyed by staff.

How do offenders get personal property other than what is provided by the facility?

Offenders may acquire personal property only through the following sources:

  • Facility offender stores.
  • Purchasing items directly from an approved vendor.
  • Quarterly package received from family or friends.
  • Educational or religious programs.

Offenders in work release are allowed personal property that supports finding and maintaining employment.

What is a Quarterly Gift Package and when can I send one?

Quarterly packages are a gift package you may send to an offender that includes those items that are otherwise not available to an offender through the facility store or any other purchasing outlet provided by the facility. In order to send an offender a quarterly package, most institutions require that the offender send you a Quarterly Package Authorization form.

An offender may receive one gift package (not to exceed 15 pounds in weight including packing materials) on a quarterly basis. Quarterly periods consist of December through February; March through May; June through August; and September through November. Newly admitted offenders shall not receive a package(s) while assigned to the Reception Center at Washington Corrections Center.

An offender is not allowed to trade, sell, buy, barter, loan or give away personal property to another offender, another offender’s family and/or friends or to staff members. Please keep this in mind, as sending in anything of value to any offender other than your family member or friend is strictly prohibited.

In the event a package contains unauthorized items, it will be rejected and the offender will be held responsible for the shipping costs to mail the item(s) out of the facility. If a package contains contraband that is subject to criminal prosecution, the entire package will be turned over to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Packages containing contraband not subject to criminal prosecution shall have the contraband removed and rejected, and the remainder of the package will be delivered to the offender.

The following restrictions and guidelines apply:

  • Prices listed on the Quarterly Package Authorization form are the maximum purchase price allowed.
  • Price tags must remain on the clothing items and a store sales slip must be included in the package along with the Quarterly Package Authorization form if required by the institution.
  • All clothing must be machine wash and dry. No dry clean, hand wash or hang to dry items will be allowed.
  • Do not gift wrap items. Gift wrap will be destroyed upon package inspection.

What happens to an offender’s property when he/she is moved to another housing area in the same facility or transferred to another facility?

The offender’s property is moved with him or her as long as he or she is not placed in a restricted housing unit and as long as it meets the guidelines of 2 boxes which do not exceed 25 pounds and are 10” X 12” X 18”. The offender is responsible for the shipping costs of any property in excess of the 2 box limit. If an offender is placed in restricted housing such as segregation or medical, the property will be stored.

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