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
Sending money into the Contra Costa County-Martinez Detention Facility will only be accepted in the following forms: Money Orders, Cashier's Checks, Local, State, and Federal government checks, including checks from other detention and prison authorities, Traveler's Checks, Personal checks, or cash. Envelopes and all their contents will be returned to the sender. Money Orders, Cashier's Checks, and Traveler's Checks must be made out to the inmate. The inmate's name and booking number must be on the front of the check.
Read moreClick on www.accesscorrections.com to send money to your loved one. Access Secure Deposits takes all MasterCard and Visa debit and credit cards. Additional information is also located under Frequently Asked Questions.
Read moreJPay allows you to send money to an offender in all TDCJ prison facilities. Visit their website at jpay.com or call 1-800-574-JPAY to send funds using Visa, Discover or MasterCard credit/debit cards. Tell them InmateAID sent you... ♦JPay Senders can make cash deposits at MoneyGram locations nationwide using an Express Payment form. Senders may also make cash deposits from their home after setting up a cash collection account with a JPay customer service representative.
Read moreIf your inmate's facility allows for other competing services, we would recommend JPay.com, they are the largest and most reliable of all the inmate money transfer companies. If a money order is an option you could always go to nearby Western Union depot and mail it in.
Read moreThis request comes up regularly and the explanation given is not always the real one. Understanding what is actually happening helps you make an informed decision before you send any money. The commissary limit explanation is real in the sense that it exists as a practice. Some facilities cap how much an inmate can spend through commissary in a given week or month and inmates who want to access more than their limit allows will route money through another
Read moreTo send money to a federal inmate, you have to use MoneyGram. You will need your inmate's name and 8 digit inmate ID number. When you get to the drop down selections, look for Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP).
Read moreIt is true that if there is any sort of balance from a previous charge or any fine or restitution they will deduct it from the commissary. If there is a stipulation as to a percentage, that might be good information to know. But if the amount is substantial, they might take all that you deposit. InmateAid's service is not email; it is with the US Postal Service. Inmates do not have Internet access. We estimate that it takes 2-3
Read moreUsually there is no limit. Depending on where your inmate is, there could be a limitation on the deposit amount. There is a limit on how much they can spend at the commissary each week. I have seen an inmate with a balance in a federal camp of over $20k
Read moreThe situation you are describing is frustrating but legal, and unfortunately, more common than most families expect. Correctional facilities treat the inmate trust account as a financial account tied to the individual, and outstanding debts to the facility follow the person regardless of when the debt was incurred. The types of fees that create these balances vary by facility and jurisdiction. Many jails charge a medical copay each time an inmate receives healthcare, typically a few dollars per visit.
Read moreElectronic transfers normally hit the inmate's account the very same day.
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