Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - Operations Manual

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Chapter 5 – Adult Custody and Security Operations

Article 43 – Incarcerated Person Property

Revised March 24, 2026

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54030.6 Incarcerated Personal Property Acquisition

Revised October 15, 2024

  • Incarcerated person personal property shall not be accepted at the front entrance gate or visiting desks. Incarcerated persons may be allowed to acquire specific items of personal property through the following methods:

    • Special Purchases

      • Institutions shall allow for incarcerated persons to purchase special items utilizing funds in their incarcerated person trust account. Special purchases of the items listed in this DOMDepartment Operations Manual section shall not be counted as a personal property package. Special purchases shall be from departmentally-approved or locally-approved, special purchase vendors. Special purchases shall be made in accordance with approved local procedure.nce with approved local procedure.

      • Institutions may approve local special purchase vendors as required, to provide handicraft material, health care appliances, etc. The institution requesting approval of a special purchase vendor shall submit the approval request to the Hiring Authority, along with a written rationale for the local special purchase vendor and a statement that the vendor meets the institution’s security and business requirements.

      • The approval criteria for personal property package vendors established in DOMDepartment Operations Manual Subsection 54030.8.1 does not apply to special purchase vendors. The approval criteria for religious personal property vendors are established in DOMDepartment Operations Manual Subsection 54030.8.3.

  • Institutions will make procedures for special purchases available to all incarcerated persons. Purchases of health care appliances, religious items, and handicraft material require an incarcerated person to obtain prior written approval.

  • Health Care Appliances are prescribed by health care staff and subject to approval by designated custody staff. Health care appliances may be purchased by third parties. All health care appliances shall be received by designated health care staff from an approved vendor and inspected by designated custody staff prior to issuance to the incarcerated person. Health care appliances are not subject to the six cubic feet property limitation and do not count towards the two appliance limit as described in DOMDepartment Operations Manual Subsection 54030.6 (refer to DOMDepartment Operations Manual Subsection 54030.10).

  • Legal Material includes, but not limited to, legal reference material, publications and legal pads, pursuant to Title 15 Section 3161. There shall be no “Approved Vendor Lists” for any publications, including legal publications. Incarcerated persons may receive legal publications directly from bookstores, book distributors, publishers that conduct mail order business, religious organizations, or packages as outlined in this section. There shall be no requirement for the publisher, bookstore, book distributor, or similar vendor to receive approval from the department prior to sending legal publications to incarcerated persons. There shall be no weight restrictions for legal books.

  • Correspondence Course materials sent by mail are subject to approval by designated custody and educational staff. Correspondence courses shall be subject to the processes identified in DOMDepartment Operations Manual Section 54010.2; all such materials are subject to approval and inspection by designated custody staff before being provided to the incarcerated person or to the education department. College textbooks and materials provided to the institution directly by the college shall be received by designated education staff and are subject to inspection by designated custody staff prior to issuance to the incarcerated person (refer to DOMDepartment Operations Manual Subsection 54030.9.3). Books or other publications used for correspondence courses do not require prior approval, but will be inspected in accordance with CCRCalifornia Code of Regulations Title 15, Section 3134.1 before delivery to an incarcerated person and DOMDepartment Operations Manual Subsection 54030.9.5).

  • Religious Items are described in the RPPM. Incarcerated persons shall be authorized to order religious personal property based upon assigned Privilege Group as specified in the RPPM. With the exception of publications, religious personal property items shall be ordered by incarcerated persons or third parties via a departmentally-approved religious vendor. Religious items as described in the RPPM are to be shipped directly from a departmentally-approved religious vendor in vendor-sealed packages and inspected by designated custody staff prior to issuance (refer to CCRCalifornia Code of Regulations, Title 15, Subsection 3190(h) and Section 3147)).

  • Handicraft Material, is restricted to incarcerated persons approved to participate in the handicraft program. Handicraft items purchased by incarcerated persons participating in the handicraft program shall be received by the handicraft manager and inspected by designated custody staff prior to issuance (DOMDepartment Operations Manual Subsection 54030.9.4).

  • Entertainment Appliances and Musical Instruments, as described in the APPS are to be shipped directly from a departmentally approved vendor in factory sealed packages, received by R&RReceiving and Release staff, and inspected prior to issuance. Packages that are damaged or opened during shipping shall be refused for delivery (DOMDepartment Operations Manual Subsection 54030.9.6).

  • Publications-Only Packages, which are defined as packages that only contain books or periodicals. Books and periodical purchases and subscriptions shall be submitted according to local procedures and may be purchased for an incarcerated person by a third party from any bookstore, distributor, publisher or religious organization that does mail order business as outlined in CCRCalifornia Code of Regulations, Title 15, Sections 3133 and 3147. Books and periodicals may come in the form of a publication-only package. There shall be no limit placed on the number of publications-only packages an incarcerated person may order; however, incarcerated persons shall be limited to the number of publications they may retain under CCRCalifornia Code of Regulations, Title 15, Section 3190.

  • Network Capable Tablets. Incarcerated persons expressly authorized by the Secretary to possess network capable tablets are listed in the Authorized Personal Property Schedules, pursuant to CCRCalifornia Code of Regulations, Title 15, Subsections 3190(b)(1) through (b)(5).

  • Lapel Pins and Buttons. Incarcerated persons shall be permitted to possess, as personal property, a maximum of two (2) lapel pins or buttons corresponding with their membership, affiliation, or support of outside organizations. Outside organizations may include but are not limited to military, religious, or other self-help groups.

    • Lapel pins and buttons may be purchased by an incarcerated person via Trust Account funds or via third party, from either a departmentally-approved or locally-approved vendor and shall be considered special purchases.

    • Lapel pins and buttons shall meet the following specifications:

      • No more than two (2) inches in diameter.

      • Single pin design.

      • Rubber clutch, metal deluxe clutch, or metal butterfly clutch backing only.

      • Must not otherwise pose a threat to the safety and security of the institution or persons due to the physical construction or symbolism of the lapel pin or button.

      • Any lapel pins or buttons, which violate existing regulations or are designated as contraband as defined in CCRCalifornia Code of Regulations, Title 15, Section 3006, shall be prohibited and disposed of in accordance with CCRCalifornia Code of Regulations, Title 15, Subsection 3191(c).