How inmates buy TVs and what they cost

At Arizona State Prison Phoenix West, inmates can usually purchase televisions through the commissary system, but the exact options and pricing depend on the facility’s approved vendor list.

Typical costs:

• Small black and white TV: around $100
• Small color TV: about $250 to $300

To buy one, your fiancé will need money in his inmate trust or commissary account. You can send funds using approved services like Western Union. Once the funds are available, he places the order through commissary, and it usually takes about a week or more for delivery.

Spending limits:
TV purchases do count toward commissary spending limits, but facilities often handle larger purchases differently. Instead of counting the full amount against a single week’s limit, they may:

• Spread the cost over multiple weeks
• Allow it as a special purchase outside normal limits

Policies vary, so your fiancé should confirm with commissary staff or his counselor how it is handled at his specific unit.

Once purchased, the TV becomes his approved property and can be kept in his assigned housing area according to facility rules.