The basic process: who you contact and what happens

To put money on a prisoner's account, you contact the facility where they are held—not a central government office. Each prison, jail, or detention center runs its own commissary system, and the steps differ by facility and by state. The facility's website or a phone call to their business office will tell you which methods they accept: online transfer, phone payment, mail-in check, or in-person deposit at a kiosk.

Money you send goes into a commissary account, not a personal bank account. The prisoner uses this account to buy items from the prison store—food, hygiene products, phone time, or stamps. Some facilities also let prisoners use commissary funds to pay court fees or restitution. The money does not go directly to the person; it sits in an account managed by the facility until they spend it or are released.

The process is straightforward once you know which facility holds the person and which payment method that facility uses. The hard part is finding accurate contact information, because it changes and websites are often outdated.

Key Takeaways

  • Contact the specific prison, jail, or detention center where the person is held—each facility manages its own commissary account system.
  • Money goes into a commissary account for the prisoner to spend on store items, phone time, and fees, not into a personal bank account.
  • Payment methods vary by facility: online portals, phone lines, mail, or kiosks are all common, and most facilities accept multiple methods.
  • Fees charged by the facility or third-party payment processors reduce the amount that reaches the prisoner's account, so confirm the total cost before sending.
  • The prisoner's full name and booking or inmate number are required; sending money without correct identification may delay or lose the deposit.

Finding the right facility and its payment methods

Start by confirming which facility holds the person. If you know the city or county, call the local jail or sheriff's office. If the person is in state prison, call the state department of corrections. The federal system (Bureau of Prisons) has its own process. Do not assume you know which facility—people are sometimes transferred without notice, and sending money to the wrong place delays everything.

Once you have the facility name and phone number, ask the business office or commissary department which payment methods they accept. Write down the exact process: whether you need an inmate number, whether there is a setup step, and whether there are fees. Ask how long deposits take to appear in the account—this ranges from same-day to five business days depending on the method and the facility.

Many facilities now use third-party payment processors like JPay, Securus, or GTL. These companies run the online portals and phone lines for multiple prisons. If the facility uses one of these, you will set up an account with the processor, not with the prison directly. The processor charges a fee—often $1.50 to $3.00 per transaction—on top of the amount you send.

Payment methods and what each costs

Online portals are the fastest and usually the cheapest option. You create an account with the facility's processor, enter the prisoner's name and number, choose the amount, and the money appears in their account within hours or by the next business day. Fees are typically $1.50 to $2.00 per transaction. This method works if you have a debit or credit card and internet access.

Phone payments work the same way but take longer—usually one to two business days—because the processor has to process the call manually. Fees are similar to online: $1.50 to $3.00. You call the facility's payment line, provide the prisoner's information and your payment method, and the transaction is recorded. Ask whether the facility accepts phone payments before you call, because not all do.

Mail-in checks or money orders are free but slow. You write a check or buy a money order, address it to the facility's commissary department with the prisoner's full name and inmate number, and mail it. The facility receives it, processes it, and deposits it into the account—a process that takes one to three weeks. This method works if you do not have a card or internet access, but the delay means the prisoner waits longer to use the funds.

In-person deposits at kiosks or the facility's business office are when ready but only work if you can travel to the facility. Some jails have kiosks in the lobby where you can deposit cash or a card payment and the money appears in the account the same day. Call ahead to confirm the kiosk is working and what hours it is staffed.

Fees and how much actually reaches the prisoner

Every payment method except mail has a fee, and the fee comes out of the amount you send. If you send $50 online and the fee is $2, the prisoner receives $48. If you send $100 by phone and the fee is $3, they receive $97. These fees are charged by the facility or the payment processor, not by your bank.

Some facilities also charge a percentage fee instead of a flat fee—for example, 3% of the amount sent. On a $100 deposit, that is $3. On a $500 deposit, that is $15. Ask the facility which fee structure they use before you send money, because the difference adds up over time.

Mail-in deposits have no transaction fee, but you pay for the check or money order and postage. A money order costs $1 to $2, and a stamp costs 68 cents (as of 2024, though this changes). The delay is the real cost: the prisoner cannot use the money for weeks.

What information you need and how to send it correctly

You need the prisoner's full legal name exactly as it appears in the system, and their inmate or booking number. If you use the wrong name or number, the deposit may go to the wrong person or sit in a holding account until the facility matches it manually. Ask the prisoner or their family member for both pieces of information before you send anything.

When you send money by mail, write the prisoner's full name and inmate number clearly on the envelope and on the check or money order itself. Include a note with your name and contact information in case the facility needs to reach you about the deposit. Mail it to the facility's commissary department address, not to the general prison address.

When you send money online or by phone, the processor will ask for the prisoner's name and number. Double-check both before you confirm the transaction. If the system does not recognize the information, call the facility to confirm the person is still there and that you have the correct spelling and number.

Timing: when the money appears and what affects it

Online deposits usually appear in the prisoner's account within 24 hours, sometimes the same day. Phone deposits take one to two business days. Mail deposits take one to three weeks from the date the facility receives them. In-person kiosk deposits are when ready.

Weekends and holidays slow everything down. If you send money on a Friday evening, it may not process until Monday. If you send it the day before a holiday, it may not process until after the holiday. Ask the facility whether they process deposits on weekends and holidays.

Some facilities hold deposits for a verification period—usually 24 to 48 hours—before crediting them to the account. This is rare but happens at some state prisons. If the prisoner needs the money urgently, ask whether the facility does this before you choose a payment method.

What happens if the deposit is lost or goes to the wrong account

If you sent money online or by phone and it does not appear within the promised timeframe, contact the payment processor first. They can tell you whether the transaction went through and where the money is. If it went through but did not reach the prisoner's account, the processor will file a trace and usually refund you within one to two weeks.

If you sent a check or money order by mail and it does not appear after three weeks, contact the facility's commissary department. Ask them to search for it by the prisoner's name and the amount. If they cannot find it, ask what documentation you need to provide to file a claim. You may need a copy of the cancelled check or money order receipt.

If money was deposited to the wrong prisoner's account, the facility can usually move it, but it takes time. Contact the commissary department when ready with the prisoner's correct name and number, and ask them to correct the deposit. Do not send another deposit until this is resolved, or you will have two deposits in the system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send money to someone in federal prison?

Yes. The Federal Bureau of Prisons uses a system called JPay for most facilities. Go to the BOP's official website, find the facility, and follow the link to JPay. The process is the same as state prisons: you create an account, enter the inmate's name and number, and choose your payment method. Fees are similar—usually $1.95 per transaction.

What if the person is in a county jail and I do not know which one?

Call the county sheriff's office or the main jail phone line and give them the person's name and date of birth. They will tell you whether the person is in custody and which facility they are in. If they have been transferred, the sheriff's office will tell you where. Once you have the facility name, call their commissary department for payment instructions.

Can I send money if the person has a court case pending?

Yes. Money in a commissary account is separate from restitution or court fees. However, some facilities allow the court to place a hold on commissary funds if there is an outstanding fine or restitution order. Ask the facility whether any holds are on the account before you send money. If there is a hold, the money may be applied to the debt instead of going into the commissary account.

What if I do not have a debit or credit card?

Use mail-in check or money order. You can buy a money order at most grocery stores, pharmacies, or banks for $1 to $2. Write it to the facility's commissary department, include the prisoner's name and inmate number, and mail it. It takes longer than online payment, but it works without a card.

Can the prisoner refuse money I send?

No. Once money is in the commissary account, it belongs to the facility's system, not to the prisoner personally. They can spend it or leave it there, but they cannot refuse it. If you are sending money to someone who does not want it, contact the facility's commissary department and ask whether they can reverse the deposit or hold it pending the prisoner's instruction.