SUBJECT: Commissary Operations

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NUMBER: 24-CAS-05

ORC/OAC REFERENCE:

ORC 5120.01, 5120.131; OAC 5120-5-05

SUPERSEDES:

24-CAS-05 dated 04/04/2022

RELATED ACA STANDARDS: 5-ACI-1B-18

EFFECTIVE DATE:

March 01, 2025


APPROVED:

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  1. AUTHORITY

    Ohio Revised Code 5120.01 authorizes the Director of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, as the executive head of the department, to direct the total operations and management of the department by establishing procedures as set forth in this policy.


  2. ‌PURPOSE


    The purpose of this policy is to establish responsibility and procedures for the operation of commissary services for incarcerated people (IPs) within all facilities of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC).


  3. ‌APPLICABILITY


    This policy applies to all persons employed by or under contract with the ODRC. It specifically applies to all employees of the Division of Business Administration and Business Offices throughout the ODRC. This policy is not applicable to the Division of Parole and Community Services staff.


  4. ‌DEFINITIONS


    The definitions for the terms below can be found at the top of the policies page on the ODRC Intranet.

    Definitions Link

  5. POLICY


    It is the policy of the ODRC that commissary services be provided for IPs in all facilities operated by the ODRC to allow them to purchase approved items that are not furnished by the facility.


  6. PROCEDURES


  1. It is the responsibility of each managing officer to provide a commissary operation for the IPs housed in their facility in accordance with Ohio Revised Code 5120.131.


  2. It is the responsibility of the managing officer to provide for the operation of the commissary in accordance with the Ohio Administrative Code 5120-5-05, Inmate Commissaries, and the ODRC Commissary Manual.


  3. Approved personal hygiene products shall be available through the commissary operations for IPs to purchase.


  4. Commissary price lists should be available on the institutional intranet site and updated quarterly.


  5. Commissary Spending Limits


    1. IP security levels are established by the Office of Prisons Bureau of Classification and Reception. The spending limits for commissary shopping shall be determined by the IP’s security level. The following commissary spending limits shall apply:


      Security Level

      Spending Limits

      Level 1

      $400 per month

      Level 2

      $400 per month

      Level 3

      $300 per month

      Level 4

      $250 per month

      Level ET

      $170 per month ($85 twice per month)

      Level E

      $80 per month ($40 twice per month)

      Death Row

      $400 per month

    2. The above spending limits shall exclude the following items: over-the-counter (OTC) medications, titled items, apparel, Fresh Favorites, group sales (fundraisers), copy cards, vending (debit) cards, feminine items, phone time and debit link units. The monthly spending limit divided by the number of times (weeks) an IP may shop determines the spending limit per shopping opportunity.


    3. The commissary spending limit for reintegration units may be increased to $500.00 per month, upon written approval from the managing officer.


    4. IPs in Level E prior to 7-1-2018 shall have a spending limit of $160 per month ($80 twice per month) but if rules are violated, the spending limit shall be reduced to $80 per month ($40 twice per month).


    5. IPs in Restrictive Housing (RH) and Extended Restrictive Housing (ERH) pending transfer shall have one shopping opportunity per month with a $20 limit per ODRC Policy 55-SPC-02, Restrictive Housing Procedures.


    6. ODRC Reception Centers

      1. Uniform spending limits for commissary shall be set by the ODRC reception centers for persons in “reception” status at the facility, regardless of the person’s security level.

      2. If a “reception” status IP’s spending limit is lowered, the spending limit shall be reset by the ODRC reception center when the IP is transferred to their parent institution or when their status is changed from “reception,” whichever is earlier.


  6. Reference the ODRC Commissary Manual for complete details regarding commissary operations in accordance with the Ohio Administrative Code 5120-5-05, ODRC Policies and approved policy variances.


Referenced ODRC Policies:

55-SPC-02 Restrictive Housing Procedures


Related ODRC Operations Manual:

OPS-MNL-04 Commissary Operations