Does My Inmate Need the Western Union Ref Number?

Western Union is one of several money transfer options used by correctional facilities, but not every facility uses it. Your first step is to confirm that the Work Ethic Camp in McCook actually accepts Western Union deposits. The easiest way to do that is to call the facility directly and ask to speak with the case manager, unit counselor, or unit team secretary. They can tell you exactly which money transfer services they accept and what information you need to complete the transaction.

If Western Union is accepted, you will typically need the inmate's ID number and the facility's city and state code when completing the transfer. The reference number generated by Western Union after your transaction is generally for your own records and for troubleshooting if a deposit does not post. Your inmate does not usually need to do anything with it, but again, the facility staff can confirm whether there is anything specific required on his end.

Getting that confirmation call in before you send anything is the right move. It avoids the hassle of a misdirected deposit that takes time to trace and reverse.