Commissary — Ask the Inmate
The commissary is one of the most important parts of daily life inside a correctional facility. It is where inmates purchase food to supplement institutional meals, personal care items, stationery, postage, and in many facilities access to phone credits and entertainment. For families on the outside understanding how commissary works, how to put money on an account, and what items are available can make a meaningful difference in their loved one's daily comfort and wellbeing. This section covers how commissary accounts work across federal and state facilities, how much money can be deposited and how often, what items are typically available, how commissary functions as informal currency inside facilities, and how to send money efficiently using approved services. The practical knowledge here comes from people who lived inside and know firsthand what a well-funded commissary account means to someone doing time. See also our sections on Money Transfer, Send Inmate Money, and Prison Food.
Related InmateAid Services
Depending upon where they located, there are various services online or ways to send it through the mail. Where is your inmate incarcerated?
Read moreNo, you cannot send an MP3 player directly to your son, whether it is new or used. Facilities have very strict rules about property, and personal electronics are not allowed to be mailed in from the outside. If you try to send one, it will almost always be rejected and returned. If MP3 players are allowed at his facility, they must be: Purchased through the prison’s approved vendor or commissary system Designed specifically for inmate
Read moreVisitation is different in every prison system. Whether it is federal, state or state, they all have a set of rules that have to be followed - where your inmate may have to place you on a list. Some require a form to be filled out and background check performed (Arizona requires you to pay a fee for that check). Others allow you to come straight in with just a government ID. What prison are you thinking about visiting, we
Read moreWhat commissary provides is the ability to supplement those meals with preferred items and to have more control over what goes into the diet. Common commissary food purchases include soups, snacks, protein supplements, condiments, coffee, and items that make the standard facility meals more palatable or filling. For inmates who find the cafeteria food difficult to eat consistently, having commissary food available becomes more important. At the county jail and state prison level, $75 per week represents a reasonable
Read moreCommissary is only once per week. There are dollar limits as to the amount that may be spent in a given week or month. It is usually $50-75 for weekly maximums in state facilities and $310 per month in federal.
Read moreYes, you add money to the prison phone carrier using the new number we provided. You have to use them regardless, the choice you are making is to use a number that will give you the same call for a lot less. The difference in the call price will pay for our service in about 3-5 calls.
Read moreWestern Union does not have Wayne County as a money transfer vendor. Money may by deposited into a Wayne County Jail Inmate's Commissary account under the following conditions: the money order must contain the Inmate's full and correct name and his WCJ Inmate number in order for the monies to be credited to the proper account. The money order must contain a return address and preferably a telephone number, in the event the person is discharged or there is a
Read moreYour inmate cannot receive calls, they can only make outbound calls. You can help you inmate by setting up the service so that their calls are paid for. If you are interested in doing thins, check with us via email (aid@inmateAID.com) and we can give you an honest estimate of the price of the calls, and if we can make those calls even cheaper through our Discount Telephone Service.
Read moreInmates new to a facility will have to go through Admissions and Orientation. This is where they learn the rules of the prison and it is there where the visitation and phone privileges are spelled out. It can take only a few days to get into the system to communicate or up to a couple of weeks. It depends on the staff and the attitude, compliance and behavior of the inmate.
Read moreThank you for the kind words. If she does not have money to get writing material to send letters, the prison has a program for indigent inmates. They supply the paper, pencil, stamps and envelopes. Commissary is available to inmates, once a week. If your inmate has a job in the prison, they get paid a nominal amount that may be used to purchase items at the commissary. Inmates receive an incentive wage in the amount of $.40, $.70, or
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