If someone you love is locked up in Louisiana, getting money into their account covers commissary - food, hygiene, phone time, writing supplies - and keeps the connection alive. Louisiana's Department of Public Safety and Corrections (LDOC) uses JPay as its deposit platform, with several ways to send money depending on whether you prefer online, walk-in, phone, or mail. One rule applies to all methods equally: any deposit of $500 or more will be investigated before the funds post, which means delays. Plan your deposits around that threshold.
Louisiana also uses parishes rather than counties. All 64 parishes have their own jail or detention system, and many also hold state felony inmates under contract with LDOC. The deposit process varies by whether your person is in a state facility or a local parish jail.
State prisons: LDOC and JPay
If your person is in a Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections state facility, the deposit vendor is JPay. Louisiana's official LDOC FAQ lists JPay as the method for all inmate deposits and links to JPay's money order deposit form. There are five ways to send money.
Online through JPay - go to jpay.com, create an account, find your person by name and offender number, and deposit using a Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card. JPay only accepts Visa and Mastercard - no other card types. Fees apply. Funds are generally available within 48 hours. This is the fastest and most convenient method for most families.
By the JPay mobile app - the JPay app is available on iOS and Android and works the same as the website. Visa and Mastercard only. Fees apply.
By phone - call 1-800-574-5729. Visa or Mastercard required. Fees apply. The maximum deposit by phone is $300. Phone deposits are not accepted after 10:00 p.m. Central time. Funds post within 48 hours.
By MoneyGram walk-in - visit any MoneyGram location including CVS and Walmart. Use MoneyGram receive code 8714. You can pay with cash or debit card. Fees apply. Deposits up to $4,999.99 are accepted. Funds are typically available within 24 hours. Note that deposits of $500 or more may trigger an investigation regardless of method.
For the MoneyGram account number, the format is the offender's ID number followed immediately by their last name with no space between them - for example, if the ID is 12345 and the last name is Thibodaux, the account number is 12345Thibodaux. Using the wrong format will prevent proper crediting.
By lobby kiosk - kiosks are available in the visiting areas of all state correctional facilities. Cash deposits from $0.01 to $500 are accepted at a flat fee of $4.00 per transaction. Card deposits at the kiosk carry the same fees as online deposits.
By money order through the mail - the no-fee option. Fill out a JPay deposit slip (available at jpay.com). Make the money order payable to "JPay." The deposit form requires a valid email address and mailing address for the sender - money orders will not be processed without both. Do not include any letters, notes, or other items; enclosures are discarded. No JPay account is needed to send a money order. Mail the completed deposit slip and money order to:
JPay
P.O. Box 531370
Miami Shores, FL 33153
Processing takes up to ten business days after JPay receives the money order. JPay is not responsible for money orders lost in the mail. If you initiate a stop payment after mailing, you are responsible for any bank fees that result.
The $500 investigation threshold
Regardless of which deposit method you use, all deposits of $500 or greater are subject to investigation by LDOC. Funds at or above that amount will not be posted to the account until the investigation is completed. There is no stated timeframe for how long an investigation takes. If you need money to reach the account quickly, keep individual deposits below $500.
The offender number is required
The Louisiana LDOC offender number is assigned to every person in LDOC custody. It is required for all deposit methods. Find it using the LDOC Offender Locator on the department's website.
Cash App is illegal for inmate deposits in Louisiana
LDOC specifically and explicitly warns that using Cash App to send money to or for an inmate is illegal. The department states there is no legitimate reason for an incarcerated person to request Cash App transfers from family. Transfers made this way are used to support illegal activity - purchasing contraband and drugs inside the facility. Anyone who has been asked to send Cash App payments on behalf of an incarcerated person should stop immediately. The only legal methods are those listed above through JPay.
Who can and cannot send money
Louisiana has specific rules about who is allowed to deposit funds:
Funds cannot be sent from other incarcerated people or the families of other incarcerated people without the prior written approval of the warden.
Funds cannot be sent from people who were formerly incarcerated, or their families.
Funds cannot be sent from current LDOC employees or their families.
These are not suggestions - they are LDOC policy. Deposits that fall into these categories will be flagged.
Phone calls are separate
Louisiana DOC contracts with Securus Technologies for inmate phone calls at state facilities. Each incarcerated person can have up to twenty approved phone numbers on their call list. The list can be updated once per quarter. Calls are typically limited to 15 minutes. If you are receiving unwanted or harassing calls from an incarcerated person, contact LDOC Adult Services at (225) 342-9711 to request blocking. Phone account setup and funding go through Securus - separate from the JPay commissary/trust account.
Parish jails: vendor varies
Louisiana operates on a parish system rather than a county system. All 64 parishes have their own detention facilities operated by the parish sheriff. Many parish jails hold state felony inmates under contract with LDOC - this is common in Louisiana due to the state's large incarcerated population and contractual local housing arrangements.
For state felony inmates held in parish jails under LDOC contract, JPay typically handles deposits the same way as at state facilities - the LDOC offender number and JPay platform apply. Confirm with the specific facility whether JPay is the active deposit method for their LDOC contract population.
Parish jails holding only pretrial or locally sentenced inmates may use their own vendors. Jefferson Parish Correctional Center (Gretna), one of the largest parish facilities in the state, uses a third-party payment system for online transfers. Orleans Parish (New Orleans) and East Baton Rouge Parish also operate large detention systems with their own vendor arrangements.
The only reliable way to confirm the current vendor for a specific parish jail is to check that parish sheriff's website or call the facility directly.
Accounts do not transfer between vendors. When your person moves from a parish jail to an LDOC state prison, the account and balance stay with the original vendor. You set up a new account with JPay using the LDOC offender number.
Federal custody in Louisiana
If your person is in federal Bureau of Prisons custody in Louisiana - including FCI Pollock, USP Pollock, FCI Oakdale, or other BOP facilities - deposits go through the BOP Trust Fund via Western Union, MoneyGram at retail (different receive code from LDOC), or online at bop.gov. You need the eight-digit BOP register number. Do not use LDOC's JPay or MoneyGram code 8714 for federal inmates.
Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections contact
P.O. Box 94304
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9304
(225) 342-6740
doc.louisiana.gov
What to know before you send anything
Keep deposits under $500 if you need them to post promptly. Any deposit of $500 or more triggers an investigation with no defined completion timeframe.
Only Visa and Mastercard are accepted by JPay. No other card types work for online or phone deposits.
Phone deposits stop at 10:00 p.m. CST and are capped at $300. Plan phone deposits earlier in the day.
Use the correct MoneyGram account number format. The format is offender ID number immediately followed by last name with no space - 12345Thibodaux, not 12345 Thibodaux.
Do not include letters or notes with mailed money orders. Enclosures are discarded and will not reach the inmate.
Cash App is illegal. Do not use it under any circumstances for deposits.
Related pages:
/prisons/louisiana
How to write a letter to someone in a Louisiana facility
Send mail and photos through InmateAid
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
What vendor does Louisiana DOC use for inmate deposits?
JPay. All LDOC state facility deposits go through JPay - online, by app, by phone, by MoneyGram walk-in, by lobby kiosk, or by money order mail. JPay is the only authorized platform for LDOC deposits.
What is the MoneyGram receive code for Louisiana DOC?
8714. Use this code at any MoneyGram location including CVS and Walmart. You can pay cash or debit card. Deposits up to $4,999.99 accepted.
How do I format the account number for a MoneyGram deposit?
The offender ID number immediately followed by the last name with no space - for example, 12345Thibodaux. A space or wrong format will prevent proper crediting.
What is the money order mailing address for Louisiana DOC?
JPay, P.O. Box 531370, Miami Shores FL 33153. Make payable to "JPay." Include a completed JPay deposit slip with valid sender email and mailing address. No letters or notes. No fee. Up to ten business days after receipt.
What is the $500 investigation rule?
Any deposit of $500 or greater is subject to LDOC investigation before funds post. This applies to every deposit method. If you need funds to post quickly, keep individual deposits below $500.
Is Cash App legal for Louisiana inmate deposits?
No. LDOC explicitly states that using Cash App for inmate deposits is illegal. There is no legitimate reason for an incarcerated person to request Cash App transfers. Do not do it.
What cards does JPay accept for Louisiana deposits?
Visa and Mastercard credit or debit cards only. No other card types.
What is the phone deposit maximum and cutoff time?
Maximum $300 per phone deposit. No deposits accepted after 10:00 p.m. CST. Call 1-800-574-5729.
How do I use the lobby kiosk?
Kiosks are in the visiting areas of all state correctional facilities. Cash: $0.01 to $500, $4.00 flat fee. Card: same fees as online deposits.
Who is not allowed to send money in Louisiana?
Funds cannot come from: other incarcerated people or their families (without warden approval), formerly incarcerated people or their families, or LDOC employees or their families.
What is the offender number and where do I find it?
The LDOC offender number is the identification number assigned to every Louisiana state prison inmate. Required for all deposit methods. Find it via the LDOC Offender Locator at doc.louisiana.gov.
How do parish jails work for deposits?
Parish jails vary. Those holding LDOC contract inmates typically use JPay - confirm with the specific facility. Jails holding only local/pretrial inmates use their own vendors. Check the parish sheriff's website or call.
How do I send money to someone in federal prison in Louisiana?
Use the BOP Trust Fund - Western Union, MoneyGram, or bop.gov. Federal facilities in Louisiana include FCI and USP Pollock, FCI Oakdale. You need the eight-digit BOP register number. Do not use LDOC's MoneyGram code 8714 for federal inmates. ====================================================================
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