Facility Ordering
Before You Order: Facility Restrictions Checklist
Facility package rules vary and can change without notice. This checklist covers what to confirm before placing a facility order — and why confirming with the facility directly still matters even though Heritage's checkout checks known restrictions automatically.
Restrictions vary by facility and can change
What a facility allows in a package isn't uniform, and isn't guaranteed to stay the same over time — a facility can update its policy independent of any system tracking it. Heritage's checkout checks an order against known restrictions for the selected facility and flags a problem before charging, but that check reflects what Heritage has on file, not a live feed from the facility itself. Confirming current rules directly with the receiving facility before ordering is the only way to be certain, especially for a first order or after any gap in ordering to that facility.
Gather this before you start an order
The recipient's exact legal name and current inmate/ID number, the correct facility name, their current housing unit, and — directly from the facility or the recipient — whether the facility is currently accepting outside packages or vendor orders at all. If the recipient's family has been told about specific item restrictions by the facility, have those in hand before ordering.
Categories facilities commonly restrict (general pattern, not a confirmed list for any specific facility)
Correctional facilities as a general category commonly restrict things like metal tools and hardware, glass containers, aerosols, and flammable liquids — this is a widely known industry pattern, not information about what any particular TDCJ facility currently allows. Several Heritage product categories (dyes, adhesives, metal hardware) touch on these general patterns, which is exactly why confirming with the specific facility matters more than assuming based on category alone.
Common mistakes
- Ordering before confirming the facility's current package policy.
Why it matters: A facility can pause or change outside-vendor package acceptance, and an order placed during a pause may be delayed or returned regardless of what shipped.
Fix: Confirm current policy with the facility (directly, or through the recipient) before placing an order, not just before shipping.
- Assuming approval from a past order still applies.
Why it matters: Facility policy isn't static — an item allowed on a previous order isn't guaranteed to still be allowed.
Fix: Re-confirm for each order to a given facility, especially after any time gap.
- Treating Heritage's automatic restriction check as a substitute for confirming with the facility.
Why it matters: The automatic check reflects what Heritage has on file, which may not capture a very recent facility policy change.
Fix: Use Heritage's check as a second layer, not a replacement for confirming current rules directly with the facility.
Heritage recommendation
Work through the checklist above before placing an order, and confirm current restrictions directly with the receiving facility — rules vary by facility and can change. Heritage's checkout will flag anything it recognizes as restricted for the selected facility before you're charged, but that's a second layer of protection, not a substitute for confirming with the facility itself.