If someone you love is locked up in Massachusetts, getting money into their account covers commissary - food, hygiene, phone time, writing supplies - and keeps the connection alive. Massachusetts has two separate corrections systems: the Massachusetts Department of Correction (MassDOC) for state sentences, and 15 county houses of correction plus city jails for pretrial detainees and shorter sentences. The deposit vendor and process differ between the two. Access Corrections is the vendor for MassDOC state prisons, but houses of correction vary - some use Access Corrections, others use different platforms.
State prisons: MassDOC and Access Corrections
If your person is in a MassDOC state facility, the deposit vendor is Access Corrections. The official MassDOC deposit page names Access Corrections Secure Deposits as the preferred method and lists it as the primary contact. There are four ways to deposit.
Online through Access Corrections - go to accesscorrections.com, sign up or log in, find your person by commitment number, and deposit with Visa or Mastercard. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
By mobile app - download the Access Corrections app on Android or iOS and deposit by card the same way.
By phone - call Access Corrections toll-free at 1-866-345-1884. Bilingual representatives are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Cash at CashPayToday retail locations - visit cashpaytoday.com to enroll and find drop-off locations near you for cash-only deposits. Call 1-844-340-CASH (2274) for more information.
By mail (lockbox) - the no-fee option for checks and money orders. Fill out the Money Order/Check deposit slip, available in facility lobbies and printable from accesscorrections.com. Mail the completed slip and check or money order to:
Secure Deposits - Massachusetts DOC
PO Box 12486
St. Louis, MO 63132
Checks and money orders are processed within 48 hours of receipt, excluding weekends and holidays. However: all check funds are subject to a 10-day hold after processing before being sent to MassDOC for crediting. Money orders over $200 and all personal checks are placed on a 7-business-day hold. Plan accordingly.
For in-person drop-off at a facility, some institutions allow you to drop a check or money order into a box labeled "Inmate Funds" in the lobby. Call the facility first to confirm this option is available. Make it out to the inmate and include their commitment number.
All deposits must be in U.S. funds. Access Corrections does not accept money orders or checks drawn from non-U.S. financial institutions and does not accept international addresses.
The commitment number is required
The commitment number is MassDOC's identification number for each incarcerated person. It is required for all deposit methods. Find it using the MassDOC inmate locator at mass.gov/corrections.
A note on government and commercial checks
MassDOC may, at its discretion, accept Federal Government checks, State Government checks, or checks issued by commercial entities sent directly by the issuer to the incarcerated person at the facility. These must contain enough information to identify the issuer, payee, source of funds, and the inmate's eligibility to receive them. Dual-payee checks are not accepted. Checks that don't meet criteria are returned to the sender.
Houses of correction: vendor varies by county
Massachusetts has 14 county sheriffs operating 15 houses of correction and jails. These facilities are separate from MassDOC state prisons and handle their own deposit arrangements independently. Many use Access Corrections but not all.
Middlesex Jail and House of Correction (Billerica), at 269 Treble Cove Road, accepts deposits via lobby kiosk (open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.), online through Access Corrections at accesscorrections.com, or by phone at 866-345-1884. For questions call 978-667-1711.
Worcester County Jail and House of Correction (West Boylston), at 5 Paul X. Tivnan Drive, accepts lobby kiosk deposits (cash, debit, or credit card), phone deposits at 866-345-1884, or USPS money orders mailed payable to the inmate. For questions call 508-854-1800.
Hampden County Correctional Center (Ludlow), at 627 Randall Road, accepts deposits via Access Corrections online at accesscorrections.com, by phone at 866-345-1884, or at the lobby kiosk. The Access Corrections app is available on Apple and Android.
Suffolk County House of Correction - South Bay (Boston), at 20 Bradston Street, operates its own deposit system. Money orders or cashier's checks are made out to the inmate or to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office, with the inmate's name and ID number on the memo line. The reception desk accepts cash, money orders, and cashier's checks - call 617-635-1000 extension 2017 for current hours and instructions. Never send personal checks or cash by mail.
Essex County Correctional Facility (Middleton) uses ConnectNetwork (GTL/ViaPath) for trust account deposits, rather than Access Corrections. For care packages, Essex uses iCare Gifts (Aramark Correctional Services).
The vendor and process vary by county - always check the specific sheriff's website or call the facility directly before sending. Do not assume Access Corrections works for every Massachusetts house of correction.
Accounts do not transfer between systems. When your person moves from a house of correction to a MassDOC state prison, the county account stays with the county system. You set up new deposits through Access Corrections using the commitment number.
Federal custody in Massachusetts
If your person is in federal Bureau of Prisons custody in Massachusetts - including FMC Devens in Ayer or MDC Boston - deposits go through the BOP Trust Fund via Western Union, MoneyGram at retail, or online at bop.gov. You need the eight-digit BOP register number. Do not use Access Corrections or MassDOC methods for federal inmates.
Massachusetts Department of Correction contact
For general inquiries: mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-correction
Access Corrections: 1-866-345-1884 (bilingual, 24/7)
What to know before you send anything
Get the commitment number first. Required for all MassDOC deposit methods. Find it at mass.gov/corrections.
$200+ money orders and all personal checks go on hold. Mail deposits of money orders over $200 and all personal checks are held for 7 business days. Check funds face a 10-day hold after processing. For faster access, use electronic deposits or keep money orders under $200.
Houses of correction are not MassDOC. Each county sheriff operates independently. Confirm the vendor with the specific facility before sending.
Access Corrections is not universal across all Massachusetts jails. Middlesex, Worcester, and Hampden use Access Corrections; Essex uses ConnectNetwork; Suffolk has its own system.
Related pages:
/prisons/massachusetts
How to write a letter to someone in a Massachusetts facility
Send mail and photos through InmateAid
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
What vendor does Massachusetts DOC use for inmate deposits?
Access Corrections. Online at accesscorrections.com, by the mobile app, by phone at 1-866-345-1884, or cash via CashPayToday retail. Lockbox by mail also available at no fee.
What is the lockbox mailing address for Massachusetts DOC?
Secure Deposits - Massachusetts DOC, PO Box 12486, St. Louis MO 63132. Include a completed deposit slip. No fee. Processed within 48 hours of receipt (not weekends/holidays).
What are the hold rules for mailed deposits to MassDOC?
Money orders over $200: 7-business-day hold. Personal checks: 7-business-day hold. All check funds: additional 10-day hold after processing before being credited.
What is the commitment number and where do I find it?
The commitment number is MassDOC's inmate identification number. Required for all deposits. Find it via the MassDOC inmate locator at mass.gov/corrections.
What vendor does Middlesex Jail and HOC use?
Access Corrections - lobby kiosk (6am-10pm), online, or phone 866-345-1884. Phone: 978-667-1711.
What vendor does Essex County Correctional Facility use?
ConnectNetwork (GTL/ViaPath) for trust account deposits. iCare Gifts (Aramark) for care packages.
What vendor does Suffolk County House of Correction (South Bay) use?
Suffolk County operates its own system. Money orders or cashier's checks payable to the inmate or the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office; reception desk accepts cash/money orders/cashier's checks. Call 617-635-1000 ext. 2017 for current hours.
What vendor does Hampden County use?
Access Corrections - kiosk, online, or phone 866-345-1884.
Do accounts transfer between houses of correction and state prison?
No. When your person moves from a county house of correction to MassDOC state prison, you set up new deposits through Access Corrections using the commitment number.
How do I send money to someone in federal prison in Massachusetts?
Use the BOP Trust Fund - Western Union, MoneyGram, or bop.gov. Massachusetts federal facilities include FMC Devens (Ayer) and MDC Boston. You need the eight-digit BOP register number. ====================================================================