Prison Clothes And Bedding

By Elizabeth Franklin-Best, Esq., and Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA

Everyone in a federal prison wears clothing the Bureau issues, and every institution must furnish enough of it for three changes a week. The standard wardrobe is specified nationally — shirts, blouses, dresses or skirts, pants, belts, underwear, slips, socks, shoes, coats, jackets and headgear (PS 4500.13 at pp. 112–113). Bedding is specified too: one mattress, two sheets, one pillow and pillowcase, towels, enough blankets “to provide comfort under existing conditions,” and two nylon mesh bags (PS 4500.13 at p. 113).

Personal clothing bought from the commissary is permitted, and civilian clothing from home is not. Federal regulation makes it explicit: civilian clothing “ordinarily is not authorized for retention,” clothing previously approved “may not be retained after August 6, 1999,” and “all inmates are prohibited from wearing any clothing not issued by the government or purchased in the commissary” (28 C.F.R. § 553.11(c), reproduced at PS 5580.10 at p. 3). Commissary colors are fixed nationally — gray and/or white for men, pastel green, gray and/or white for women — with religious headgear the only exception. The one thing you may still send from home is release clothing, in the last 30 days.

Clothing, bedding and laundry: the verified facts

Governing regulation	28 C.F.R. part 553 (personal property, §§ 553.10–553.15); 28 C.F.R. §§ 551.1–551.7 (grooming, bathing and clothing standards)
Governing policy — what you may possess	BOP Program Statement 5580.10, Inmate Personal Property, dated May 7, 2026, rescinding PS 5580.08 (2011) — our explainer
Governing policy — what is issued and washed	BOP Program Statement 4500.13, Trust Fund/Deposit Fund Manual, Chapter 13, Laundry Operations, dated May 7, 2026 — our explainer
Clothing furnished	“Institutions furnish each inmate with sufficient clothing to allow three changes of clothes weekly” — PS 4500.13 at p. 112
Laundry / linen exchange	“Inmates are allowed at least three changes of clean clothing and one change of linen per week” — PS 4500.13 at p. 113
Bedding issued	One mattress; two sheets; one pillow and pillowcase (if not built into the mattress); towels; sufficient blankets; two nylon mesh bags — PS 4500.13 at p. 113
Commissary clothing colors	Men: gray and/or white. Women: pastel green, gray, and/or white. Only exception: religious headgear — PS 5580.10 at p. 3
Civilian clothing	Not authorized for retention; previously approved items could not be kept after August 6, 1999 — PS 5580.10 at p. 3
Release clothing from home	May be received in the last 30 days of confinement and is stored in Receiving and Discharge — PS 5580.10 at p. 5
Athletic / work shoes	Commissary only; $150 maximum selling price (raised from $100 on May 7, 2026); two pairs of athletic shoes, one pair of work shoes meeting ASTM F2412-05 and F2413-05 — PS 4500.13 at pp. 2, 33
Commissary mattress	Permitted for local sale at a $175 maximum selling price, fire-retardant, antimicrobial, marked for local use only and non-transferable — PS 4500.13 at p. 34
Monthly commissary limit	$460 (raised from $360 on May 7, 2026), plus $50 during the November/December holiday period. Footwear including sneakers, and mattresses, are excluded from the limit — PS 4500.13 at pp. 2, 28
Damaging issued clothing	Prohibited act Code 218 (High severity) over $100; Code 329 (Moderate) at $100 or less — PS 5270.09 at pp. 48, 52
Statutory duty	The Bureau must “provide suitable quarters and provide for the safekeeping, care, and subsistence” of federal prisoners — 18 U.S.C. § 4042(a)(2)

Read from the Bureau’s own regulations and Program Statements, September 2026.

What the Bureau issues, at no cost

This is the table nobody publishes, and it is the whole answer to “what do prisoners wear.” Every item below is issued free; the pin-cite behind each is the document that requires it.

Category	Issued at no cost	Source
Shirts	Yes — part of the standard wardrobe	PS 4500.13 at p. 112
Blouses	Yes	PS 4500.13 at p. 112
Dresses / skirts	Yes	PS 4500.13 at p. 112
Pants	Yes	PS 4500.13 at p. 112
Belts	Yes	PS 4500.13 at p. 112
Underwear	Yes — expressly on the standard wardrobe list	PS 4500.13 at p. 112
Slips	Yes	PS 4500.13 at p. 112
Socks	Yes	PS 4500.13 at p. 112
Shoes	Yes — must meet ASTM Standard F2412-05 and F2413-05	PS 4500.13 at p. 112
Coats	Yes	PS 4500.13 at p. 112
Jackets	Yes	PS 4500.13 at p. 112
Headgear	Yes	PS 4500.13 at p. 113
Special or protective clothing for a work assignment	Yes — “[i]nmates assigned to special work areas are provided clothing and shoes per the requirements of their assignment”	PS 4500.13 at p. 113
Medically required special shoes	Yes — “the Health Services Department purchases them”	PS 4500.13 at p. 113
Mattress	Yes — one	PS 4500.13 at p. 113
Sheets	Yes — two	PS 4500.13 at p. 113
Pillow and pillowcase	Yes — one, “[i]f not built into the mattress”	PS 4500.13 at p. 113
Towels	Yes	PS 4500.13 at p. 113
Blankets	Yes — “[s]ufficient blankets to provide comfort under existing conditions,” with a cotton blanket mattress cover optional	PS 4500.13 at p. 113
Nylon mesh bags	Yes — two (commissary and laundry, if applicable)	PS 4500.13 at p. 113
Detergent, where there is no central laundry	Yes — “institutions provide detergent (low-suds and biodegradable)”; non-chlorine bleach “may be furnished within budgetary constraints”	PS 4500.13 at p. 113
Personal hygiene items (soap, toothbrush, etc.)	Yes — “made available to inmates per the Program Statement Grooming”	PS 4500.13 at p. 113; 28 C.F.R. § 551.6
Release clothing	Yes — “appropriate for the time of year and the inmate’s geographical destination”; work clothing on request	28 C.F.R. § 571.22(a); PS 5873.06 at p. 5
Jumper dresses (religious)	Yes — institutions housing women “should have a supply of jumper dresses available in the laundry”	PS 5360.10 at p. 13

Two provisions in that chapter carry more weight than their length suggests.

The Bureau must stock enough of it. “Each institution maintains an inventory to supply clothing, linen, and bedding to inmates. Inventory levels for major categories (e.g. pants, dresses, shirts, sheets, towels, jackets, coats) will be managed to ensure sufficient quantities are available for routine issuance, while also maintaining appropriate reserve stock to support emergencies” (PS 4500.13 at p. 112). A shortage is a failure against a written standard, not an act of God.

Buying commissary clothing does not release the institution from issuing yours. “Institutions that allow inmates to wear personal clothing purchased from the Commissary are still required to furnish the institution’s standard wardrobe” (PS 4500.13 at p. 112). If a facility tells someone they must buy their own because they bought commissary clothing once, that is wrong on its face.

It fits, or it should. “The institution issues clothing to inmates that is properly fitted, climatically suitable, durable, and presentable” (PS 4500.13 at p. 112), and Receiving and Discharge must stock “a variety of sizes … to ensure proper fit” (PS 5800.19 at p. 21). Poor fit is a request-to-staff issue with a policy sentence behind it.

What you buy: the commissary clothing list, in full

Anything beyond the issued wardrobe comes from the commissary, in fixed colors, out of a $460 monthly budget. The national list of clothing approved for sale is short and specific (PS 4500.13 at pp. 32–33):

Item	Color restriction
Athletic supporters	—
Bathrobes (no hoods)	Men white or gray; women white or pastel green
Baseball caps (no logos)	Men white or gray; women white or pastel green
Gym shorts	Men white or gray; women white, pastel green, or gray
Handkerchiefs	White
Headbands / sweatbands	White
Knee wraps	—
Socks	White
Stockings / pantyhose	Women, skin tone
Sweatpants (cotton, no logos)	Men gray; women white, pastel green, or gray
Sweatshirts (cotton, pullover, no hoods, no logos)	Men gray; women white, pastel green, or gray
T-shirts / sleeveless undershirts (no pockets, no logos)	Men and women white or gray
Underwear	Men white or gray boxers or briefs; women white bras and panties
Religious headgear	Per PS 5360.10

And shoes (PS 4500.13 at p. 33):

Shoe type	Limit	Price ceiling
Athletic / specialty (court, turf, basketball, running)	2 pairs; black or white or a combination, or with gray/silver markings; no pumps, no pockets	$150 maximum selling price
Casual	1 pair	General $100 per-item ceiling
Shower	1 pair	General $100 per-item ceiling
Slippers	1 pair	General $100 per-item ceiling
Work (must meet ASTM F2412-05 and F2413-05)	1 pair	$150 maximum selling price

Three points that matter to a family sending money.

Prices are not published, and they are not arbitrary. The selling price of a commissary item is “cost plus a 30% mark-up (base), adjusted annually by the national Consumer Price Index (CPI),” calculated automatically in the Bureau’s TRUFACS system and rounded to the next highest nickel (PS 4500.13 at p. 38). Wholesale cost varies by contract and region, so we will not quote a price for a sweatshirt — nobody honestly can. What is fixed is the formula and the ceilings.

Footwear and mattresses do not count against the $460. The exclusions from the monthly spending limitation are postage stamps; nicotine replacement patches or lozenges; over-the-counter medications, medical products and vitamins; kosher and halal shelf-stable entrees for people in IFRP-refusal status; copy cards and copy paper; footwear including sneakers and safety shoes; mattresses; and secured media devices (PS 4500.13 at p. 28). That is a meaningful piece of planning: a pair of running shoes does not eat the month’s soap money.

One combination padlock, one brand. “Master Lock Padlock #1525 or equivalent keyed V-85 is the only combination padlock permitted” (PS 4500.13 at p. 32). A lock is what secures a locker, and 28 C.F.R. § 553.11(b) entitles a person in regular living quarters to purchase “an approved locking device for personal property storage.”

Civilian clothing, the 1999 cut-off, and packages from home

This is the single most misunderstood rule on the subject, so here it is verbatim from the regulation reproduced at PS 5580.10 at p. 3:

“Civilian clothing (i.e., clothing not issued to the inmate by the Bureau or purchased by the inmate from the commissary) ordinarily is not authorized for retention by the inmate. Civilian clothing which previously had been approved for retention may not be retained after August 6, 1999. Prerelease civilian clothing for an inmate may be retained by staff in the Receiving and Discharge area during the last 30 days of the inmate’s confinement.”

The policy then adds, in the Bureau’s own implementing voice: “[A]ll inmates are prohibited from wearing any clothing not issued by the government or purchased in the commissary.”

What that means for packages. Under PS 5580.10 at p. 5, “[i]nmates may only receive packages from home that contain release clothing and authorized medical devices.” Release clothing “can be received within the last 30 days of confinement and will be stored in Receiving and Discharge.” Medical devices — hearing aids, eyeglasses, dentures, wheelchairs, braces, orthopedic shoes, artificial limbs — “are authorized if medically required and approved by the Health Services Administrator” (at p. 6).

What arrives with a new commitment. Property delivered by the U.S. Marshals Service at intake is limited to: clothing worn on the person; a plain wedding band with no stones or intricate markings; prescribed medical devices, medication and eyeglasses; legal material for current litigation or research not available at the institution; one pair of earrings without stones for women; identification cards; and a non-metallic religious medal or medallion without stones, or essential daily prayer items (PS 5580.10 at p. 9). Everything else is refused. Our first day in prison and intake process pages walk through what happens next.

Do not mail clothes to a federal prison. They will be refused or treated as contraband, and the person inside may be charged for the postage to send them back out. The money is better sent to the trust fund account, where it can actually be spent on the commissary list above.

Laundry: the national floor, and who sets your schedule

The rule is a floor with a local schedule attached to it: “Inmates are allowed at least three changes of clean clothing and one change of linen per week. A reasonable cleaning schedule applies to blankets and pillows. Mattresses are cleaned as necessary” (PS 4500.13 at p. 113).

How that happens is up to the institution: “The institution may provide clean clothing in several ways: access to self-serve washers, a central clothing exchange, or a combination of the two” (PS 4500.13 at p. 113). Where there is no central laundry, the institution supplies low-suds biodegradable detergent, with non-chlorine bleach available within budget.

The document that sets your schedule is the institution supplement. PS 4500.13 requires each institution’s consolidated Trust Fund supplement to address, for laundry operations, the “[s]chedule for exchanging clothing and linen,” “[s]ervices provided and hours available,” “[p]rocedures for control, use, and storage of chemicals,” “[s]chedule issuance of personal hygiene items,” and “[p]rocedures to address clothing modifications for religious beliefs” (at p. 14). If you want the exchange day at a specific facility, that is what to ask for — in writing, through an Inmate Request to Staff (filed electronically in TRULINCS for most people).

A few operational details that explain things families find strange:

• Dry cleaning is prohibited. “Dry cleaning of personal clothing is prohibited” (PS 4500.13 at p. 112).
• Laundry bags are discouraged, and linens are never bagged. Because of fire risk from incompletely dried loads, “[g]overnment-issued clothing is not recommended to be washed or dried in laundry bags,” and “[l]inens, pillows, and blankets will not be placed in laundry bags” (PS 4500.13 at p. 117).
• Nothing sits in a dryer overnight. “Under no circumstances will laundry remain in a dryer at the end of the shift,” the cool-down cycle is mandatory, lint traps are cleaned after each load, and laundry equipment is inspected and cleaned weekly (PS 4500.13 at pp. 116–117).
• Contaminated laundry is handled separately. Local procedures identify contaminated clothing and linen, clean laundry is kept apart from soiled, and carts are used exclusively for one or the other and clearly marked (PS 4500.13 at p. 114). Linens contaminated with blood or body fluids are handled under PS 6190.05 and 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1030 (PS 6190.05 at p. 7).
• Laundry is a job, and a searched one. “[I]nmate workers entering or leaving the Laundry area are pat searched daily,” the area is inspected daily for hazards and contraband, and “[i]nmates never work without staff supervision” (PS 4500.13 at p. 115). See prison jobs and inmate work assignments.

Bedding, mattresses, and when a mattress can be taken

In general population, the issue is the list above: mattress, two sheets, pillow and pillowcase, towels, blankets sufficient for the conditions, two mesh bags. Note the pillow provision — “[i]f the institution issues the combination mattress with a pillow incorporated, a separate pillow will not be issued” (PS 5270.12 at p. 14). If your loved one says there is no pillow, the first question is whether the mattress has one built in.

In the Special Housing Unit, the entitlement is in the regulation itself: “You will receive a mattress, blankets, a pillow, and linens for sleeping. You will receive necessary opportunities to exchange linens” (28 C.F.R. § 541.31(d)).

Mattress removal is tightly limited. “Employees may remove an inmate’s mattress during daytime hours as a ‘loss of privilege’ sanction imposed by the Unit Discipline Committee (UDC) or DHO. Removal of an inmate’s mattress is otherwise prohibited, absent life or safety concerns as specifically documented and authorized by the Warden or designee” (PS 5270.12 at p. 14). Two things follow. Removal must be either an imposed disciplinary sanction or a documented, Warden-authorized safety measure; there is no third category. And a sanction-based removal is limited to daytime hours. A mattress taken overnight without either predicate is a departure from policy worth putting in writing.

You can buy a mattress, at some institutions. The May 2026 revision added mattresses to the commissary list at a $175 maximum selling price, with requirements that they comply with 16 C.F.R. parts 1632 and 1633, meet Technical Bulletin 129 flammability standards for high-risk occupancy, “[i]ncorporate antimicrobial technology, to effectively combat MRSA and resist body fluids, bacteria, and other contaminants,” and be “fire-retardant, clearly marked for local use only, and … non-transferable” (PS 4500.13 at p. 34). Non-transferable is the catch: a purchased mattress does not follow a person on transfer.

Clothing and bedding in the SHU, including “alternate” clothing

The Special Housing Unit rules on clothing and bedding sit in 28 C.F.R. § 541.31, and they are worth reading closely because the exception is where the abuse risk lives.

The baseline, § 541.31(c): “You will receive adequate institution clothing, including footwear, while housed in the SHU. You will be provided necessary opportunities to exchange clothing and/or have it washed.”

The exception — alternate clothing/linen, usually paper. Bureau policy surrounds it with named approvals (PS 5270.12 at pp. 13–14):

Requirement	The rule
Who approves	The Warden’s written approval, personally. “The Warden or Acting Warden may not delegate the authority to place an inmate in alternate clothing/linen (e.g., paper).”
Who signs the memorandum	At minimum the Warden, the Health Services Administrator, and a Psychologist
What it must contain	“A written explanation for placing an inmate in alternate clothing/linen status”
Review interval	Every three days
Hard limit	“Inmates will not be authorized to remain in alternate clothing/linen for more than six days.” After six days the person comes off the status or a new authorization is generated
Daily change	“Inmates will be offered a change of alternate clothing daily”
Extra linens	“If necessary, the Warden may authorize additional linens”
When it is permitted	Only when a person “alters, destroys, or uses issued clothing/linen in a manner that poses a threat to the safety, security, orderly operation of the institution, or when used in a manner to cause harm to self, other inmates, or employees”
When it is forbidden	“Alternate clothing/linen will not be used as punishment or during external transportation.” Departing inmates “will not be transported in alternate clothing for any reason”
Vulnerable people	“Absent rare or exigent circumstances, alternate clothing will not be used for inmates with serious mental illness, those with identified chronic or acute suicide risk, or those on suicide watch”

If someone has been in paper clothing for a week, that is past the policy’s own outer limit and should be raised immediately — through the unit team, then the Administrative Remedy Program, and, where mental health is in play, through Psychology Services.

Shower shoes are on the SHU list. The authorized SHU property list includes “shoes, shower (1),” “shoes, other (1),” and “personal hygiene items (1 of each type)” with dental floss and razors excluded (PS 5270.12 at p. 16). Details on the shower side are on our showers and toilets page.

Adjacent units differ: in a Special Management Unit, people have “opportunities to exchange clothing or have it washed” (PS 5217.02 at p. 7); in a Communications Management Unit, personal property is limited to the amounts in PS 5580.10 unless the Warden approves more for religious or medical reasons (PS 5214.05 at p. 6).

Religious clothing and headwear

This is the exception to the color rules, and it is spelled out item by item in PS 5360.10, Religious Beliefs and Practices, dated October 24, 2022. Religious headgear “is permitted in all areas of the institution, subject to normal considerations of security and good order, including inspection by staff” (PS 5580.10 at p. 5).

Religious headwear — worn throughout the institution, including the SHU (PS 5360.10 at p. 12):

Religion	Headwear	Color
Jewish	Yarmulke	Black or white
Moorish	Kufi	Black or white crochet
Muslim	Kufi	Black or white crochet
Nation of Islam	Kufi	Black or white crochet
Rastafarian	Crown	Multi-colored (red, yellow, green threads through a black cap)
Sikh	Turban	White
Native American	Headband	Multi-colored

Headwear worn throughout the institution “may not contain graphics or writing” and “may not be altered.” Crowns may not have a bill. Headbands “can be worn only in a circle, covering the forehead but not the crown of the head.” Three items of religious headwear are authorized.

Ceremonial headwear — Chapel only (PS 5360.10 at p. 12): Moorish Temple Fez, red; Odinist/Ásatrú Hlath, brown with one or more embroidered runes (plain headbands without runes are not authorized). One item authorized.

Religious attire for women (PS 5360.10 at p. 13): scarves and head wraps, including hijabs, in black or off-white for Jewish, Moorish, Muslim, Nation of Islam, Rastafarian and Orthodox Christian preferences, and a multi-colored headband for Native American preference. Three scarves or head wraps authorized. Jumper dresses “are generally approved for women who seek to wear loose-fitting clothing as an aspect of their religious exercise,” and institutions housing women “should have a supply of jumper dresses available in the laundry.”

Ceremonial clothing — Chapel only, not on the compound, housing units or visiting room (PS 5360.10 at p. 13): Jewish kittel; Muslim kurta; Native American ribbon shirt; Wicca tabbared. Baggy pants including the shalwar are not authorized; robes including the jalabiyya are not authorized.

Ritual underclothing (PS 5360.10 at p. 14): temple garments for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; the tallis katan or tzitzis for Jewish men. Religious necklaces and medallions are worn under clothing except in Chapel areas and may not be altered; ordinarily one religious medallion is retained in personal property, with Yoruba/Orisha/Santería practitioners permitted up to seven plastic beaded necklaces.

Anything not on the lists is requested, not assumed. The route is form BP-A0822, New or Unfamiliar Religious Components Questionnaire (PS 5360.10 at pp. 12–14). Purchases go through the commissary or a Chaplain-approved catalog on a BP-A0200, Special Purchase Order Request (PS 5580.10 at p. 5). And note the hard limit families run into: “Inmates cannot receive religious items from home” (PS 5580.10 at p. 5). Religious headwear or attire “altered without staff approval is contraband.”

Our fuller treatment is at religious programs in prison and in our explainer of PS 5360.10.

Grooming: what the Warden can and cannot restrict

Clothing questions run straight into grooming questions, and the federal rules here are more permissive than most people expect. PS 5230.05, Grooming — still dated November 4, 1996 — reproduces 28 C.F.R. §§ 551.1–551.7:

• Hair length: “The Warden may not restrict hair length if the inmate keeps it neat and clean.” The policy adds: “An inmate may have a shaved head or long hair” (28 C.F.R. § 551.4(a); PS 5230.05 at p. 2).
• Beards and mustaches: “An inmate may wear a mustache or beard or both.” A beard covering is required in food service or where a beard could increase injury risk (28 C.F.R. § 551.2).
• Long hair at work: a cap or hair net is required in food service or where long hair could increase injury risk (28 C.F.R. § 551.4(b)).
• Hair care: “The Warden shall make available to an inmate hair care services which comply with applicable health and sanitation requirements” (28 C.F.R. § 551.4(c)).
• Wigs and hairpieces: not permitted “unless medical authorization to do so is approved by the Warden” (28 C.F.R. § 551.3).
• Medical exceptions: “The Warden may impose restrictions or exceptions for documented medical reasons” (28 C.F.R. § 551.5).

For women at low-security or higher institutions with an established cosmetology vocational program, hair dye may be sold — restricted to “the [color] closest to the inmate’s natural hair color,” with primary colors black, red, brown and blonde; it is not sold at detention centers or all-male institutions (PS 4500.13 at pp. 34, 37). See women’s federal prisons and our Grooming explainer.

Damaged, altered, lost or missing clothing

Three different systems handle three different problems, and using the wrong one wastes weeks.

If the person damaged it. “Disciplinary action may be taken against inmates who willfully damage government-issued clothing and linen” (PS 4500.13 at p. 113). The codes are 218 — “Destroying, altering, or damaging government property … having a value in excess of $100.00” — at High severity, and 329 — the same conduct “having a value of $100.00 or less” — at Moderate severity (PS 5270.09 at pp. 48, 52). Related: Code 211, possessing any officer’s or staff clothing, and Code 330, “[b]eing unsanitary or untidy; failing to keep one’s person or quarters in accordance with posted standards” (at pp. 48, 52). How those proceedings work is on our inmate discipline proceedings page.

If it just wore out. “Procedures are established for exchanging clothing no longer usable” (PS 4500.13 at p. 113). That is a laundry-exchange request, not a grievance.

If the Bureau lost it. Altered government-issued items become nuisance contraband under 28 C.F.R. § 553.12(b)(2), and property that goes missing in a transfer is a claim, not a complaint. The route is a small claim under 31 U.S.C. § 3723 and PS 5581.01, Inmate Property Claims (form BP-A0943, filed within one year). Proof of ownership is the BP-A0383, Inmate Personal Property Record, and/or a commissary receipt — and the policy is explicit that these constitute “proof of ownership, not proof of value” (PS 5580.10 at p. 7). Keep both.

On transfer, expect two boxes. “No more than two boxes of property, size 14″ x 14″ x 19″ or smaller, will be transferred,” legal material is exempt from the two-box limit if the boxes contain only legal materials and are marked “Legal Material,” and institutional clothing and shoes for special needs — large or small sizes, orthopedic designs, appliances — “can be shipped at government expense, in addition to the two-box limit” (PS 5580.10 at pp. 16–17). Outgoing property is mailed or shipped within 72 hours after departure, and property is ordinarily issued at the receiving institution “within five business days” (at pp. 8, 16). Storage limits are capped by physical space: “[w]hile the institution may set a limit on the number of specific items an inmate may retain, this limit may not exceed the capacity of the local specified area or container designated for inmates to store their property (e.g., locker, storage box)” (at p. 6).

Release clothing: what you leave with

28 C.F.R. § 571.22 governs, and it is short:

• (a) “Staff shall provide release clothing appropriate for the time of year and the inmate’s geographical destination. Upon request, work clothing will be provided,” subject to availability.
• (b) People transferring to a residential reentry center “will be provided adequate clothing to complete a job search and perform work,” plus “an outer garment, seasonably suited for the geographical destination.”
• (c) Transportation is provided to the place of conviction or to a legal residence in the United States or its territories.

Policy adds that “[o]rdinarily, the Bureau provides an inmate with adequate clothing upon release, unless clothing worn at the time of commitment is available and suitable for re-issuance” (PS 5873.06 at p. 6). If a family sends release clothing instead, the family bears the cost of the clothing and the mailing (at p. 6), and the package must arrive within the last 30 days (PS 5580.10 at p. 5).

Money on release is discretionary, not automatic: a gratuity of up to $500 for offenses committed on or after November 1, 1987 (18 U.S.C. § 3624(d)), up to $100 for earlier offenses (18 U.S.C. § 4281), with unit staff able to recommend up to $250 and the Warden’s approval required above that (PS 5873.06 at p. 2). See our release gratuities explainer and the full treatment on what indigent federal prisoners are provided.

What changed in 2026

Document	What changed	Effective
PS 5580.10, Inmate Personal Property	Rescinded PS 5580.08 (2011). Updated the national transfer limits list and moved the National List into the body of the policy; removed Attachment A; updated processing procedures. Added the express statement that a locally set retention limit “may not exceed the capacity of the local specified area or container.”	May 7, 2026
PS 4500.13, Trust Fund/Deposit Fund Manual	Monthly spending limitation $360 → $460; holiday increase $50; athletic, specialty and work shoes $100 → $150 maximum selling price; mattresses added to approved commissary items at $175 maximum; footwear, mattresses and secured media devices added to the spending-limitation exclusion list; standardized female-specific commissary list added; mark-up restated as cost plus 30% base, CPI-adjusted annually; “MP3 Player” renamed “Secured Media Device.”	May 7, 2026
PS 4200.13, Facilities Operations Manual	Rescinded PS 4200.12 CN-2 and four other directives and was rebuilt as a facilities-engineering manual. It no longer contains any laundry, linen, clothing, bedding or sanitation chapter — those rules are now in Chapter 13 of PS 4500.13.	May 7, 2026
PS 5270.12 CN-1, Special Housing Units	Change notice to the March 5, 2024 policy carrying the alternate-clothing/linen provisions described above.	March 6, 2025

What did not change: 28 C.F.R. part 553, the personal-property regulation reproduced inside PS 5580.10, including the August 6, 1999 civilian-clothing cut-off; and PS 5230.05, Grooming, unchanged since November 4, 1996.

Where people get stuck with prison clothing and bedding

“He says his clothes don’t fit and they won’t exchange them.” Two policy sentences answer this: clothing must be “properly fitted, climatically suitable, durable, and presentable” (PS 4500.13 at p. 112), and R&D must stock “a variety of sizes … to ensure proper fit” (PS 5800.19 at p. 21). Put the request in writing, name the fit standard, and if there is no response, use the informal-resolution step of the Administrative Remedy Program. A formal BP-9 must be filed within 20 calendar days of the event (28 C.F.R. § 542.14(a)).

“I mailed him a jacket and it came back.” That is the rule working as written. Only release clothing (last 30 days) and Health Services–approved medical devices may come from home (PS 5580.10 at pp. 5–6). Send money instead.

“They took his mattress.” Ask which of the two authorized predicates applies: an imposed UDC or DHO “loss of privilege” sanction, limited to daytime hours, or a specifically documented life-or-safety authorization by the Warden or designee (PS 5270.12 at p. 14). If neither, say so in writing.

“His property never arrived after the transfer.” Property is shipped within 72 hours of departure and ordinarily issued within five business days of arrival (PS 5580.10 at pp. 8, 16). Beyond that, ask for the BP-A0383 for the shipment. If it is genuinely lost, the route is a property claim under PS 5581.01, not a grievance about laundry.

“He’s been told he can’t wear his kufi outside the chapel.” Religious headwear on the PS 5360.10 list is worn “throughout the institution and in the SHU, when consistent with security” (PS 5360.10 at p. 12); it is ceremonial headwear that is Chapel-only. If an item is not on the list, the route is a BP-A0822. Our religious programs in prison page has the full accommodation process.

“There’s no laundry detergent and no central laundry.” Where there is no central laundry, “institutions provide detergent (low-suds and biodegradable) for inmate use” (PS 4500.13 at p. 113). That is a written obligation, not a courtesy.

How our firm works property and clothing problems

Clothing and bedding complaints look small and are often the visible edge of something larger — a transfer that went wrong, a disciplinary sanction being applied past its authorized scope, a religious accommodation quietly refused, or a medical need that nobody documented.

We work them the way we work every Bureau problem: identify which document actually controls, request the operative provision in writing so the institution’s own answer joins the record, put the correct pin-cite in front of the correct decision-maker, and track the administrative remedy clocks in 28 C.F.R. part 542, subpart B so nothing is lost to a filing deadline. Where property has actually been lost or destroyed by the Bureau, we route it as a property claim rather than a grievance, because the two go to different places and only one produces compensation.

Where a clothing problem sits on top of a designation, a medical accommodation, or a disciplinary finding, those are worked together — see designation and transfer problems and medical and dental care in prison. Legal representation in any court proceeding is provided by Elizabeth Franklin-Best and the firm’s attorneys. You can contact the firm.

Frequently Asked Questions About Prison Clothing and Bedding

Reviewed for legal accuracy by Elizabeth Franklin-Best, Esq., Principal Attorney·September 2026