Smoking has been banned in just about every facility. There are still some county jails here and there that sell tobacco products on their commissary but there are very few. Cigarettes are a major "black market" item that can sell for one dollar to $20.00 per cigarette depending upon the custody level of the prison.

Commissary prices are pretty close to the price of goods on the street. Inmates are restricted in their spending and county jails are usually $50-75/week. If you want to see a sample commissary list go to Federal Correctional Institution - Loretto Low and click on the commissary list for that facility in additional information.

No, commissary is for the inmates inside the prison.

We are working with Western Union to have ALL the prisons and jails available. Today, Talbot County only takes money orders mailed into their system but with this request and others, we will endeavor to get this rectified. You can still send books, newspapers and magazines through InmateAid and believe me, he will LOVE the reading materials you send him from the outside.

Most prisons DO have kosher meals, especially at the federal level and if they don't you can contact the Aleph Institute in Miami Beach to arrange for them to get them set up. For the commissary food items, there are limitations to what a "kosher registered inmate" may select from.

There are items that span from clothing and shoes, to food and drink, to over-the-counter medical supplies and personal hygiene items. Typically there is one day designated for shopping. Remember that the commissary is a privilege and inmates may be subject to revocation for incident reports. For a more complete list, go to InmateAid's Commissary Information page.

Federal prison is $320 per month. County jails and state prisons are generally $50-75 per week. Usually the shopping is on a designated day between certain hours.