Family members of New York’s prison inmates are no longer allowed to send care packages to their loved ones behind bars.
The aim of the new policy is to keep drugs and other illegal contraband out of correctional facilities, says the state.
Family members are also banned from delivering packages to inmates during in-person visits.
Families can only send packages via third party vendors
Gone are the days of sending homemade food and keepsakes to those behind bars.
Under the new rules, families can send packages to inmates only through third-party vendors.
The state began phasing in the policy earlier this year, according to ABC News.
All facilities implemented the ‘Vendor Pakcage’ program by Monday, August 15, according to the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS).
Prior to the change, New York was one of few states still allowing packages from home to be sent to prisons.
Prisoners can recieve packages sent through vendors via the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, FedEx, or other like services under the new program.
Related: Upstate NY counties send the most people to state prisons per capita, says new report
State launches pilot program to prevent drug-soaked letters from getting to inmates
DOCCS is also testing out another program to keep illegal substances out of prsions.
Starting this month, inmates won’t recieve original mail in some state prisons. Inmates will instead recieve scanned copies of incoming letters.
Officials say the pilot program was launched to prevent drug-soaked letters from being smuggled into prisons.
The state says some illicit items slip by undetected, despite mail being routinely inspected before arriving in the hands of prisoners.
Letter mail soaked in drugs like methamphetamine or K2, which is a synthenic marijiuana, are just one of the ways in which contraband enters a prison, reports ABC.
DOCCS said the two programs are necessary to prevent illegal contraband from entering prisons and maintain safety at those facilites.
Visit the DOCCS website for more information.
Related: NYSCOPBA calls on state to pause HALT solitary confinement law
