What IDOC Actually Asks For
The Illinois Department of Corrections does not ask for your checking account number or routing number during the standard intake process. When someone enters IDOC custody, the department collects identification, emergency contact information, and medical history — not banking details.
However, IDOC does ask about bank accounts in a specific context: if an incarcerated person has money they want to deposit into their commissary account (the account they use to buy items from the prison store). In that case, they may need to provide information about where that money is coming from, but this is different from giving IDOC direct access to an account.
The confusion often arises because money can reach a commissary account through several routes, and some of those routes do involve banking information — but the person providing that information is usually a family member or friend on the outside, not the incarcerated person themselves.
Key Takeaways
- IDOC does not request checking account numbers or routing numbers during intake or standard custody procedures.
- If an incarcerated person wants to deposit their own money into commissary, they may need to explain the source, but IDOC does not take control of outside bank accounts.
- Family members who send money to commissary accounts may need to provide their own banking information to the money transfer service they use, not to IDOC directly.
- Money sent to commissary typically goes through a third-party vendor (currently JPay or similar services in Illinois), not through IDOC's own banking system.
How Money Actually Reaches a Commissary Account
When someone outside wants to send money to an incarcerated person's commissary account, they do not send it to IDOC. Instead, they use a third-party money transfer service that IDOC contracts with. In Illinois, this is typically JPay or a similar vendor.
The family member or friend sets up an account with that vendor and links their own checking account or credit card to it. The vendor then deposits the money into the incarcerated person's commissary account. At no point does IDOC itself ask for or receive the outside person's banking information.
The incarcerated person may be asked by IDOC staff where money in their account came from (for record-keeping and to prevent contraband purchases), but this is a question about the source, not a request for account access.
What Happens If Someone Claims to Be IDOC and Asks for Banking Details
If someone contacts you claiming to represent IDOC and asks for your checking account number, routing number, or online banking password, this is a scam. IDOC does not contact families by phone or email to request banking information.
Scammers sometimes pose as prison staff and claim an incarcerated person owes fines, needs bail money, or requires an emergency deposit. They pressure people to provide account details or wire money immediately. Real IDOC communications come through official mail, the official IDOC website, or in-person visits to the facility.
If you receive such a call or message, hang up or delete it. You can verify whether someone is actually with IDOC by calling the facility directly using the phone number on the official IDOC website — never use a number provided by the caller.
Documents IDOC Actually Requests During Intake
When someone enters IDOC custody, staff collect specific documents and information, but banking details are not among them. The intake process focuses on identity, health, and safety.
Standard intake requests include a valid ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID), emergency contact names and phone numbers, medical history and current medications, and information about any mental health conditions or disabilities. IDOC may also ask about gang affiliations, prior convictions, and family relationships — all for classification and safety purposes.
If the person has money on them when they arrive, IDOC will document it and hold it in a trust account. They do not need banking information to do this; they simply record the cash and store it.
How to Send Money to Someone in IDOC Custody
To send money to an incarcerated person in Illinois, you will need their IDOC number (a unique identifier assigned at intake) and access to the approved money transfer service. You do not need their checking account information, and they do not need yours unless you are using a service that requires you to link your own account.
Visit the official IDOC website or call the facility to find out which vendor is currently approved. Set up an account with that vendor using your own name and contact information. Link your checking account or credit card to the vendor's platform (this is standard for any money transfer service, not specific to IDOC). Then transfer money to the incarcerated person's commissary account using their IDOC number.
Fees vary by vendor and transfer method. Some vendors charge per transaction; others charge a monthly subscription. The incarcerated person can then use the money in their commissary account to purchase items from the prison store, pay for phone calls, or cover certain fees.
What to Do If You Are Unsure About a Request
If you receive a request for banking information that claims to be from IDOC or related to an incarcerated person, stop and verify before responding. Do not assume the request is legitimate just because it mentions a real person's name or IDOC number.
Contact the facility directly using the phone number on the official IDOC website. Ask whether they sent the request and whether it is real. You can also visit the facility in person during visiting hours if you need to confirm something with staff or the incarcerated person themselves.
Keep in mind that IDOC staff will never ask you to wire money, provide account passwords, or send funds to a personal account. Any request like that is a scam, regardless of how official it sounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can IDOC take money directly from my checking account?
No. IDOC does not have access to outside bank accounts and does not request that access. If you send money to commissary, you control the transaction through a third-party vendor. IDOC never receives your account number or routing number.
What if the incarcerated person's commissary account is overdrawn or has a debt?
IDOC can deduct money from a commissary account to cover fines, restitution, or other court-ordered debts, but only from money already in that account. They cannot reach into an outside bank account to collect. The incarcerated person (or someone sending them money) controls what goes into commissary.
Is it safe to link my checking account to the money transfer vendor?
The approved vendors used by IDOC are established companies with security measures in place. Linking your account to send money is similar to using any other online money transfer service. That said, only link your account if you trust the vendor and have verified it through the official IDOC website.
What if someone in prison says they need my banking information?
They do not. If an incarcerated person asks you for your checking account number, routing number, or online banking password, this is either a scam (someone impersonating them) or a sign of a problem. Do not provide this information. If you are concerned about the person's safety or wellbeing, contact the facility directly.
Can I set up automatic deposits to commissary?
Some vendors allow recurring transfers, but you set this up through the vendor's platform, not through IDOC. Check with the approved vendor to see whether automatic deposits are an option and what the process looks like.