Commissary Questions — Ask The Inmate

In most cases you cannot purchase clothing, shoes, or personal care items directly and send them to your inmate. The good news is that in most facilities your inmate can purchase these things themselves through the commissary — as long as they have money on their account. In federal facilities the commissary offers a reasonable range of options. Inmates can typically purchase sweatpants, shorts, premium underwear, sneakers, and work boots in addition to basic toiletries, hygiene products, and personal care items....

Sending money to an incarcerated loved one is one of the most important things you can do to support them. Having funds available gives them access to phone calls, commissary items, personal care products, and other basic necessities that make a significant difference in daily life inside. Here is how to send money depending on where your loved one is housed. For federal inmates the Bureau of Prisons works with MoneyGram as its primary approved money transfer service. You can send funds...

Sending commissary money to someone you have never met, especially at Lowell Correctional Institution, is something you should approach very carefully. There are inmates who genuinely need help, but there are also many who look for support from people on the outside as a way to secure ongoing money. Once you send funds, it is common for requests to continue, sometimes with increasing urgency or emotional pressure. Here are some practical guidelines: Be cautious from the start If you do not have a real relationship...

Commissary lists for federal prisons are available on InmateAid. Navigate to the facility's page on the site and scroll down to the Commissary Lists section. You will find itemized lists with current prices. Keep in mind that only the inmate can make purchases at commissary, typically once per week, and they use funds deposited into their inmate account. You can add money to that account through the approved deposit method for their facility, which InmateAid can also help you find. On...

It depends on your financial situation, but $300 is a solid starting point if you can manage it. When you first arrive, the facility issues necessities, but basic is the right word for it. The soap, shampoo, and toiletries they hand you are the bare minimum, and most inmates replace them with name-brand versions from the commissary as soon as they can. It is a small thing that makes a real difference in daily comfort. Beyond toiletries, there are a few items...

Sending shoes from the outside directly to an inmate is rarely permitted. Most facilities, particularly federal prisons, do not allow personal footwear to be mailed or brought in by family. The security and contraband concerns around outside packages are tight, and shoes are rarely on the approved items list. The good news is that size 17 is carriable through the federal commissary system. The Bureau of Prisons commissary stocks larger sizes specifically because the inmate population includes people who cannot be...