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
Subject: Commissary
What 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 high-end budget...
Read moreSubject: Commissary
Commissary 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.
Subject: Commissary
Yes, 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.
Subject: Commissary
Western 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 moreSubject: Commissary
Your 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.
Subject: Commissary
Inmates 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.
Subject: Commissary
Thank 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...
Read moreSubject: Commissary
Some facilities do offer online commissary services where you can purchase food or small items like snack packages, but it depends entirely on the specific jail or prison your dad is in. Each facility contracts with different vendors, so there is no single system that works everywhere.
If his facility supports it, you would typically order through that approved vendor’s website, and the items are delivered directly to your dad through commissary. That is the only way food items like cupcakes...
Read moreSubject: Commissary
In most cases, inmates do not have access to regular email or the internet, so they cannot choose to send you a message electronically just because you provided your email or entered payment information online.
If you include your home address when sending a letter, that is where the inmate will write back. Their response will come through standard postal mail, not email. They will use stamps and envelopes from their commissary account, or if they have no funds, the facility...
Read moreSubject: Commissary
We said we would re-send the letters at NO CHARGE. Why are you questioning whether we did? We said we did and we keep our word...
Subject: Commissary
When you hear a sentence like “5 years at 50% with no lid,” it refers to how much time must be served and how release is handled.
“5 years at 50%” means:
The person must serve at least 50% of the sentence before being eligible for release consideration
In this case, that is 2.5 years before they can be considered for parole or early release
“No lid” generally means:
There is no guaranteed early release date
The inmate could be kept for up to the full sentence (5 years) depending on decisions by parole authorities...
Read moreSubject: Commissary
In most cases, prisons do not automatically take money from what you send, but there are a few situations where deductions can happen.
1. Restitution or fines:
If your inmate has court-ordered restitution or fees:
A portion of deposits may be taken
In federal cases, this is often around 25% of incoming funds
State systems vary, but similar deductions can apply
2. Jail or facility fees:
Some county jails charge:
A daily housing fee
Medical or booking fees
These can be deducted from the inmate’s account over time
3. Other deductions:
Medical or dental visits
Disciplinary fines...
Read moreSubject: Commissary
Inmates go through an Admission and Orientation before they are allowed telephone calls and visitation. Once they are situated (a couple of days up to 2 weeks) they may submit lists for both that require some approval. Be patient, all of the facilities have their own rules and procedures. Inmates get mail Monday through Friday. The staff opens and inspects all mail for contraband - this sometimes delays the process too.
Subject: Commissary
Sending a letter from inside a correctional facility works the same way it does on the outside. The inmate writes the letter, addresses the envelope, affixes a postage stamp purchased from commissary, and drops it in the facility mail system. There is no special process or additional cost beyond the stamp itself. Envelopes and writing paper are also available through commissary for inmates who need them.
The commissary itself carries a surprisingly broad range of products given the context. Food items...
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