NYS Inmate Clothing Packages: Colors, Limits, and Rules
, by Jahmaxx Care Packages, 6 min reading time
Clothing sent to a NYS DOCCS facility must be new, appear on the Directive 4911 allowable list, avoid blue, black, gray and orange except where permitted, and generally stay under $90 per item. Clothing is non-food, so it can also be sent directly by family twice a year.
Quick answer: Clothing sent to a NYS DOCCS facility must be new, must appear on the Directive 4911 allowable list, must avoid blue, black, gray, and orange except where specifically permitted, and generally cannot exceed $90 in value per item. Clothing is non-food, which means it can be ordered from a vendor or sent directly by family — up to two non-food packages per calendar year.
Color and fabric restrictions cause more clothing rejections than anything else. Here is the full picture.
Clothing is not counted with food packages
The three-packages-per-month, 40-pound limit applies to food. Non-food packages are handled separately, and families have an option most vendor sites do not mention: Directive 4911 permits up to two non-food packages per calendar year sent directly by family or friends.
Those family-sent packages must bear the incarcerated individual’s name and DIN, and the return address must include the sender’s first and last name. Everything inside still has to be on the allowable list.
The rules that apply to all clothing
Colors. Blue, black, gray, and orange are not permitted except where the directive specifically allows them. This extends to near shades — melon, peach, aqua and similar tones that are not readily distinguishable from a prohibited color are also disallowed. Solid colors only, except where stated otherwise.
Value. No item may exceed $90 unless the directive states otherwise. Anything over $30 must arrive with the vendor’s original printed receipt, bill, or invoice. Handwritten receipts are not accepted.
Fabrics and construction. No denim. No spandex-type material. No quilted clothing. No snorkel-type hoods. No leather except footwear and belts. No mesh except footwear, and mesh may not form a pocket. No removable linings.
Condition. All clothing must be new and unused.
Footwear
Footwear has its own restriction set, and it is strict:
- No hollow or platform heels or soles
- No camouflage designs
- No metal shanks, supports, or toes
- No pointed toes, spiked heels, pockets, or compartments
- No clog-type or air-inflation footwear
- No memory foam
- No metal, stone, or clip-on decorations
- No special editions — athletic logos or signature models are out
- Heels no higher than 2 inches
- Size must be within one size of what the person currently wears
By type: sneakers in any color combination but blue. Shoes, boots, sandals, and slippers in any color but blue. Boots capped at 8 inches total height, measured from the bottom of the heel. Rubber galoshes and overshoes in any color, up to 10 inches. Shower shoes any color. Sandals must secure to the foot with an ankle strap — no Velcro, plastic cinch, or elastic cord closures. Baseball and soccer shoes need non-removable rubber cleats, 3/8 inch maximum.
Outerwear
Natural fabrics only, such as cotton or wool.
Jackets are the most restricted item: solid green only, including the lining. Three-quarter maximum length. Military-style field jackets are allowed; short-waisted Ike-style jackets are not. No hood. No patches, insignia, or decals. Nothing labeled “chemical protective.”
Gloves and mittens must be wrist length; black is permitted. Winter knit watch caps may be black. Rain jackets and ponchos must be clear transparent plastic, hood permitted, $25 maximum value. Rain hats clear transparent plastic. Earmuffs need a plastic band, no metal.
Sportswear
Shorts: gym or Bermuda style. Not below the knee or above mid-thigh. No cargo pockets, no form-fitting or spandex material, no denim, no logos or lettering.
Sweatshirts and sweatpants: cloth only, no hoods. A solid or multiple vertical stripe down the leg or arm is permitted, not exceeding 2 inches wide. No logos, no zippers, no cargo pockets.
Baseball caps: no logos, no military style.
Shirts, underwear, and everyday items
Shirts and sweaters: solid colors inside and out. Turtleneck, mock turtleneck, and polo styles included. A manufacturer’s logo is permitted up to 2 inches by 2 inches.
T-shirts: crew or V-neck only, solid inside and out, manufacturer’s logo up to 2 by 2 inches. No tank tops or muscle shirts.
Briefs and boxers: solid colors except for the waistband. No pockets.
Socks and thermal underwear: solid colors, black permitted for socks.
Belts: solid brown or black only. Non-elastic, not braided, no metal or stone decorations, under 1.5 inches wide, with a non-removable buckle no larger than 1.5 by 1.5 inches. No sliding lock or D-ring styles.
Handkerchiefs: white only. Neckties and bow ties: cloth, clip-on only. Pajamas: no see-through material, no front-opening bottoms.
Items for people in female facilities
Bras: solid colors, no metal underwire, no padding. Permitted for anyone housed in a female-classified facility or housing unit, or by medical permit in a male-classified facility.
Underwear: solid color except the waistband. No thong, crotchless, front-opening, see-through, or lace styles. Same housing and permit conditions as bras.
Blouses: no see-through, midriff, or short-cut styles. Shawls: one yard square maximum including fringe. Stockings and pantyhose: permitted, but not styles requiring garter belts.
Gender-specific items
The directive addresses this directly. Items designated as gender specific, excluding jewelry, may be received by an incarcerated individual whose gender identity on record with the Department matches the specified gender, regardless of the classification of the facility where they are housed. Female-only items are permitted for transgender women; male-only items for transgender men. Gender nonconforming, nonbinary, and intersex individuals, and those with a gender dysphoria diagnosis, may receive items approved for either. Some items require a medical permit.
The State treats gender dysphoria as a disability, and an individual with that diagnosis may file for reasonable accommodation to access clothing for both sexes under Directive #2614.
Before you order
Confirm the person is eligible to receive packages at all. People in reception status cannot receive packages for 30 days. People in transit, in a Special Housing Unit, or housed at Lakeview Shock Incarceration, a Drug Treatment Center, CASAT, Work Release, IASAT, or Edgecombe Residential Treatment Facility are excluded or restricted.
And check the facility. Directive 4911 sets the statewide floor, but individual facilities operate under their own Facility Operating Procedures and may add restrictions.
Ordering clothing from Jahmaxx
Jahmaxx Care Packages is a Queens, New York based vendor shipping to all 42 New York State DOCCS facilities for over a decade. Over 5,000 products, single shipment per order, typically shipped next day, and among the lowest shipping rates of any NYS package vendor.
Browse men’s clothing, women’s clothing, bath and body, or the full catalog. See store information for shipping details.
Related reading: Directive 4911: What NYS DOCCS Actually Allows in Inmate Packages and How to Send a Care Package to Prison in New York.
Sources
- NYS DOCCS Directive #4911, “Packages & Articles Sent to Facilities,” Attachment A Section E, effective December 21, 2023 — doccs.ny.gov
- NYS DOCCS, “Family Guide: Allowable Items” — doccs.ny.gov/family-guide-allowable-items
Reflects Directive #4911 as of its December 21, 2023 revision. Confirm current requirements with the facility before ordering.