There is no separate application to apply for commissary privileges for an inmate. In almost every correctional facility, commissary access is automatic once a person is processed in. What family and friends actually need to do is put money into the inmate’s trust fund account, which the inmate then uses to shop at the commissary. In the federal system, the Bureau of Prisons maintains an individual commissary account for each inmate, and deposits from outside go directly into that account.1Federal Bureau of Prisons. Sending Funds Using the United States Postal Service State and county facilities run their own systems, but the pattern is the same: find out which deposit method the facility uses, gather the inmate’s identifying details, and send the funds.
What the Money Is For
The commissary works like a small store inside the facility. Inmates can buy food and drinks such as ramen, coffee, chips, canned tuna, and candy; hygiene products like soap, shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste; over-the-counter medications including ibuprofen, antacids, and allergy tablets; writing supplies such as pens, legal pads, envelopes, and stamps; clothing items like socks, sweatpants, and shoes; and some electronics, including AM/FM radios and earbuds. The exact list varies by facility and rotates. Some items are seasonal or stocked in limited quantities.
Security governs what’s excluded. Glass containers, aerosol cans, and anything that could be fashioned into a weapon or used to hide contraband won’t appear. Items sold are typically commercially sealed. Many federal facilities publish their commissary lists on the BOP website if you want to check whether a specific product is available.
Information You Need Before Sending Money
Before you send anything, gather these details about the inmate:
- Full committed name — the legal name under which they were booked. No nicknames or aliases.
- Identification number. In the federal system this is an eight-digit register number. State systems use different labels such as SID number, booking number, or CDCR number.
- Facility name and location, needed for mail deposits and to confirm which electronic service the facility uses.
For federal inmates, you can look up register numbers through the BOP’s inmate locator at bop.gov. State departments of corrections usually have similar search tools. Getting the identification number right matters — one wrong digit is the most common reason deposits get delayed or misdirected.
As the sender, you’ll also need to provide your own full name and mailing address, and in many cases a valid government-issued ID. Electronic deposit services usually require you to create an account before your first transaction.
How to Deposit Money
Available deposit methods depend on whether the inmate is in a federal, state, or county facility. Federal prisons accept deposits through MoneyGram, Western Union, and the U.S. Postal Service.2Federal Bureau of Prisons. Inmate Communications – Section: Sending Money State and county jails often contract with third-party services such as JPay, ConnectNetwork, or Access Corrections. The facility’s website will say which service to use. Sending through the wrong platform means the money won’t arrive.
Electronic Transfers
For federal facilities, MoneyGram and Western Union are the primary electronic options. You can send funds in person at any MoneyGram agent location using cash, or online with a credit or debit card. You’ll need the BOP receive code (7932) and the inmate’s register number.3Federal Bureau of Prisons. Sending Funds Using MoneyGram Western Union works similarly through its Quick Collect program.4Federal Bureau of Prisons. Sending Funds Using Western Union Online transfers through MoneyGram are capped at $300 per transaction.
State facilities typically route electronic deposits through a contracted provider’s website or app. You search for the inmate by name and ID number, enter a deposit amount, and pay with a credit or debit card. Some providers also accept deposits by phone through a toll-free number.
Mail Deposits
To send money by mail to a federal inmate, you need a money order, U.S. government check, certified check, cashier’s check, or bank draft. Cash and personal checks are not accepted.1Federal Bureau of Prisons. Sending Funds Using the United States Postal Service Write the inmate’s full committed name and eight-digit register number on the instrument itself and on the outside of the envelope, and put your name and return address in the upper left corner. Mail everything to the BOP’s centralized lockbox in Des Moines, Iowa, not to the inmate’s facility directly.
State facilities have their own mailing addresses and accepted payment types, but the general pattern is the same: make the payment out to the designated entity, include the inmate’s name and ID number, and send it to the address specified by the facility or its contracted processor.
In-Person Deposits
Some facilities have lobby kiosks that take cash or card payments directly into an inmate’s account. These require the inmate’s identifying details and your own information. Not every facility offers this, so check before making a trip for that purpose.
Fees
Almost every deposit method charges a fee. Amounts vary with the service, the deposit size, and the payment type. Credit card transactions generally cost more than debit card or cash payments. Fees are charged to the sender, not deducted from the inmate’s balance. For a $50 deposit, expect anywhere from a few dollars up to roughly $5 or more depending on the service.
Mail deposits by money order tend to carry the lowest transaction fees, since you’re mainly paying for the money order itself (usually under $2 at the post office for amounts under $500) plus postage. The tradeoff is speed. Fee schedules for electronic services are typically posted on the provider’s website under the facility search tool, so you can check exact costs before confirming the transaction.
What May Be Deducted Before the Inmate Can Spend
Not every dollar you deposit ends up available at the commissary. The facility may deduct portions of incoming funds for various obligations before the inmate sees a usable balance.
Court-Ordered Financial Obligations
In the federal system, the Inmate Financial Responsibility Program (IFRP) requires inmates with court-ordered fines, restitution, or special assessments to make regular payments. For inmates not working in UNICOR, the minimum payment is typically $25 per quarter. UNICOR workers at higher pay grades are expected to put at least 50% of their monthly wages toward these obligations.5Federal Bureau of Prisons. Inmate Financial Responsibility Program The BOP excludes $75 per month from this calculation so inmates can maintain phone access, but funds above that threshold can be assessed for IFRP payments.
State systems have their own deduction rules, and some are more aggressive. Certain states deduct a fixed percentage of every incoming deposit, regardless of the source, to satisfy restitution orders. If your loved one owes court-ordered restitution, a portion of what you send may go toward that balance rather than to commissary purchases. Ask the inmate about their specific obligations so you know what to expect.
Medical Copays
Federal inmates are charged a $2 copay each time they request a health care visit.6Federal Bureau of Prisons. Inmate Copayment Program If the inmate doesn’t have sufficient funds at the time, the system creates a debt that gets deducted from future incoming deposits. Most states charge similar copays, though amounts vary.
Spending Caps and Shopping Schedules
Federal prisons cap monthly commissary spending at $360, with a $50 increase allowed during the November and December holiday period.7Federal Bureau of Prisons. Trust Fund/Deposit Fund Manual That limit applies to regular sales items; certain categories such as stamps, over-the-counter medications, and copy cards may be excluded from the cap. State facilities set their own limits.
Most facilities let inmates shop once per week on an assigned day. Miss the scheduled time and the week’s shopping opportunity is usually gone. Unspent allowance from one period doesn’t carry forward. The timing of your deposit matters for this reason. If you send money the day after the inmate’s shopping day, the funds may sit unused for nearly a week even after they post.
When Privileges Are Restricted
Commissary access is standard for the general population, but it can be taken away. Under federal regulations, loss of commissary privileges is a listed sanction for disciplinary infractions at every severity level.8eCFR. 28 CFR 541.3 – Prohibited Acts and Available Sanctions An inmate placed in disciplinary segregation (the SHU) will have personal property impounded and commissary access limited for the duration of that placement.9eCFR. 28 CFR Part 541 – Inmate Discipline and Special Housing Units Inmates in administrative detention, a less punitive form of separation, typically keep reasonable commissary access.
Deposits you’ve already made remain in the account during a restriction; the inmate just can’t spend until it lifts. There’s no separate application to restore privileges. Access returns when the sanction period ends or when facility staff determine the restriction is no longer warranted.
Tracking a Deposit and Fixing Problems
Electronic deposits generate a confirmation number or email right after the transaction completes. Save that record. It’s the fastest way to resolve any discrepancy later. Deposits through MoneyGram or Western Union can be tracked through their standard systems using the reference number.
Processing times vary. Electronic transfers through MoneyGram or Western Union typically post within one to three business days, and the facility may take additional time to credit the inmate’s account on top of the service provider’s window. Mail deposits take considerably longer — a week or more for postal delivery to the lockbox, plus internal processing. Personal checks, where state systems accept them, can be held for ten business days or longer.
If money you sent hasn’t appeared within the expected timeframe, start by checking your confirmation details and verifying you used the correct register number and name. A single wrong digit in the ID number is the most common cause of delayed deposits. Contact the deposit service provider’s customer support first, since they handle the transfer before the facility does. If the provider confirms the funds were sent but the inmate still doesn’t see them, reach out to the facility’s trust fund office directly.
When a deposit can’t be posted — because of incorrect information or because the inmate has been transferred or released — the BOP returns the funds to the sender, which is why including your return address on mail deposits is required.1Federal Bureau of Prisons. Sending Funds Using the United States Postal Service State facilities generally follow a similar return policy, though refund times vary.