Send Inmate Money — Ask the Inmate
Putting money on a loved one's books is one of the most direct ways to improve their daily life inside. Commissary funds cover phone calls, food supplements, personal care, and the small daily necessities that make incarceration more bearable. But every facility uses specific approved money transfer services and sending money through an unapproved channel means delays, fees, or the money not arriving at all. This section covers which money transfer services are approved at federal and state facilities, how to find the right service for a specific institution, how long transfers take to post, deposit limits and frequency restrictions, how to send money from outside the United States, and what to do when a transfer does not post as expected. The practical guidance here is built around getting money where it needs to go efficiently and without unnecessary fees. See also our sections on Commissary, Money Transfer, and Inmate Phone Calls.
Related InmateAid Services
Most facilities take MoneyGram. Click and check the list of facilities where MoneyGram is accepted. When searching, keep in mind that there are 200 federal facilities but the User goes to one place for all, "FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS (7932)" on their site. Same with state prison systems. For instance, one state system looks like this: IOWA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (6185). Find your inmate's facility and you'll be able to get money to them instantly.
Read moreNo personal checks are allowed
Read moreThey know the last name of the sender.
Read moreIf the inmate is in state or federal, there is a system they can check to see if their funds have arrived on their books.
Read moreWorse case he will do a little more than ten months.
Read moreThere are no online methods of money transfer available for the San Joaquin County Honor Farm. You may deposit money in the lobby kiosk at the facility or send a POSTAL money order through US Mail. Money orders must have the inmate's name, booking number and the return address of the sender.
Read moreInternet Payments (credit cards via http://www.jailatm.com/) Mail (money orders only - must have inmate name) addressed to Washoe County Jail, ATTN: Inmate Accounting
Read moreThey want you to use [Western Union](https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/send-to-inmate.html?src=aff_cj_mt_Inmate+Aid%252C+LLC_6191743_SENDMONEYPAGETEXT) have money on their books immediately so that they may use the money to shop at the commissary or to buy phone time.
Read moreYes, and setting up separate accounts is actually the cleaner way to handle it when multiple parties want to support the same inmate independently. On the InmateAid side, each account is tied to a unique email address. If both families want their own separate accounts, they simply need different email addresses to register with. That keeps everything distinct, gives each party their own transaction history to review, and ensures that letters and postcards sent through the service show as
Read moreIt depends entirely on how that specific facility processes incoming money orders, and there is no way to know from the outside without checking. Some smaller county jails will process a deposit by name alone if there is no other inmate there with the same name. Others require the inmate ID number and will hold or return anything that arrives without it. Call Gonzales County Jail directly and let them know you sent a money order with just his
Read more