The basic process: who you contact and what you need
To send money to an inmate, you contact the facility where they are held—not a central government office. Each jail, prison, or detention center runs its own commissary or inmate account system, and each has different rules about how money gets in, how fast it arrives, and what fees apply.
Start by calling the facility's main number and asking for the commissary department or inmate services. Have the inmate's full name, booking number or inmate number, and date of birth ready. The staff member will tell you which payment methods that specific facility accepts, what the current processing time is, and whether there are any holds on the account.
Most facilities accept money orders, cashier's checks, and wire transfers sent by mail to a specific address. Many now also accept online payments through third-party services that specialize in inmate accounts—these typically charge a processing fee of $1.50 to $3.95 per transaction. A few facilities accept credit or debit card payments over the phone, but this is less common.
Key Takeaways
- Call the facility where the inmate is held to learn which payment methods they accept, because rules vary by location and change over time.
- Money sent by mail takes 5 to 10 business days to post; online payment services are faster but charge a fee per transaction.
- The inmate's full name, booking number, and date of birth are required for any deposit, and sending money to the wrong person delays the transfer.
- Once money is in the account, the inmate can use it to buy commissary items, make phone calls, or pay court fees, depending on facility rules.
- Some facilities freeze accounts during lockdowns or investigations, and money cannot be withdrawn or refunded once deposited.
Payment methods: mail, online, and phone
Money orders and cashier's checks are the most widely accepted method across all facilities. You buy them at a bank, post office, or grocery store, write the inmate's full name and booking number on the memo line, and mail them to the facility's business office address. Processing time is typically 5 to 10 business days after the facility receives the envelope.
Online payment services like JPay, Securus, GTL, and Paypal's Xoom (in some states) let you deposit money from a computer or phone in minutes. You create an account, enter the inmate's information, choose the amount, and pay a fee. The money usually posts within 24 hours, though some facilities batch deposits once per day. These services are faster but cost more per transaction than mailing a money order.
Wire transfers through Western Union or MoneyGram are also accepted at many facilities. You go to an agent location, provide the inmate's details, and the money is available within hours. This method is faster than mail but more expensive than a money order.
Phone payments by credit or debit card are available at some facilities but not all. Call the commissary department to ask whether they accept this method and what the process is. If they do, you will need the inmate's account number and the card information.
What information you need to send money
The inmate's full legal name must match exactly what is in the facility's system. If you use a nickname or misspell the name, the deposit may not post or will be delayed while staff track down the correct account. Ask the inmate or check any paperwork from the arrest or booking.
The booking number or inmate number is the second piece of information you must have. This is a unique identifier assigned when the person is booked into the facility. If you do not have it, call the facility and provide the inmate's name and date of birth; staff can look it up for you.
The facility's mailing address or the correct online platform matters. Some large county jails have multiple facilities, and sending money to the wrong address delays the deposit by weeks. The commissary department will give you the exact address or direct you to the correct online portal when you call.
How long money takes to arrive and post
Mail takes the longest. A money order or check mailed to the facility typically arrives within 3 to 5 business days, then takes another 2 to 5 business days to be processed and posted to the account. Total time is usually 5 to 10 business days, though it can stretch longer if the envelope is misdirected or the facility is understaffed.
Online payment services are faster. Money deposited through JPay, Securus, or similar platforms usually posts within 24 hours, sometimes the same day. However, the facility may batch process deposits once per day, so timing depends on when you submit the payment and when the facility runs its system.
Wire transfers and phone payments are the fastest. Money sent through Western Union or MoneyGram can be available within hours. Phone payments by card may post the same day or the next business day, depending on the facility's processing schedule.
Ask the facility staff what the current processing time is when you call. During holidays, lockdowns, or staff shortages, processing slows down. Some facilities post money only on certain days of the week.
Fees and what the money can be used for
Online payment services charge a per-transaction fee, usually $1.50 to $3.95. Money order fees are typically $1 to $2 at a bank or post office. Wire transfers and cashier's checks cost more—$5 to $15 depending on where you send them from. Mailing a money order is the cheapest option if you are not in a hurry.
Once money is in the inmate's account, they can use it to buy items from the commissary—snacks, hygiene products, clothing, and other approved goods. They can also use it to make phone calls, send emails through the facility's system, or pay court fees and restitution, depending on what the facility allows.
The inmate does not receive cash. The money stays in the account and is deducted when they make purchases or use services. Some facilities allow inmates to transfer money to other inmates' accounts or to send money out through a release process, but this varies by location.
What happens if the account is frozen or the money does not post
Facilities sometimes freeze inmate accounts during investigations, disciplinary hearings, or lockdowns. If an account is frozen, money cannot be deposited or withdrawn. Call the facility to ask whether the account is frozen and when it will be unfrozen.
If money does not post after the expected time, call the facility's commissary department with the inmate's name, booking number, and the date you sent the money. Ask them to check whether the deposit was received. If you sent a money order by mail, ask for the tracking number or confirmation that the envelope arrived. If you used an online service, log into your account to confirm the payment went through on their end.
Money cannot be refunded once it is posted to an inmate's account. If you send money by mistake—wrong amount, wrong person, or duplicate deposit—contact the facility immediately. Some will reverse a recent deposit if you catch it quickly, but this is not may provide. Once the inmate spends the money or the facility processes it, recovery is difficult.
If you sent money through an online service and it did not post, contact the service's customer support. They can investigate whether the payment failed on their end and may issue a refund to your original payment method.
Sending money to different types of facilities
County jails, state prisons, and federal facilities each have their own systems. County jails often accept online payments and mail; state prisons may have fewer online options; federal facilities (Bureau of Prisons) use a specific system called Inmate Commissary and accept money orders mailed to a central address or online deposits through their portal.
Immigrant detention facilities run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) use a different system. Money is sent to a facility-specific address or through an online portal. Call the detention facility directly to learn the process.
Private detention facilities operated by companies like CoreCivic or The GEO Group may use their own payment systems or third-party services. The facility will direct you to the correct method when you call.
If you do not know which facility the person is in, use the facility locator on your state's Department of Corrections website or call the county sheriff's office. Once you locate them, call that facility's commissary department for payment instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send money if I do not know the inmate's booking number?
Yes. Call the facility and provide the inmate's full name and date of birth. Staff can look up the booking number for you. Having the number speeds up the process, but it is not required to start.
What if the inmate is transferred to a different facility?
Money in the account at the original facility usually transfers with the inmate, but this is not automatic at all facilities. Call both the old and new facility to confirm the money moved. If it did not, ask the old facility to transfer the balance or issue a refund.
Can I get the money back if the inmate is released?
No. Once money is deposited into an inmate account, it belongs to the inmate. When they are released, they receive any remaining balance, usually as a check or debit card. You cannot withdraw money you sent.
Do I need to be a family member to send money?
No. Anyone can send money to an inmate's account. You do not need to prove a relationship or provide your name, though some facilities ask for a sender's name for record-keeping.
What if the facility says the account does not exist?
Double-check the inmate's full legal name and booking number. If the information is correct, the person may not have been booked into that facility yet, or they may have been transferred. Call the county sheriff's office or use your state's inmate locator to confirm which facility they are in.