If someone you love is locked up in New York, getting money into their account covers commissary - food, hygiene, phone time, writing supplies - and keeps the connection alive. New York has two separate adult corrections systems and they use different processes: the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) runs the state prisons upstate, while the New York City Department of Correction (NYC DOC) runs Rikers Island and the borough detention facilities. Confirm which system holds your person before sending anything.
State prisons: DOCCS and JPay
If your person is in a DOCCS state prison facility, the deposit vendor is JPay. DOCCS contracts with JPay for all external deposit services. There are six ways to deposit - two are free, four carry fees.
No-fee options
Visit-day lockbox - every DOCCS facility has a conventional visitor deposit lockbox. Visitors can leave cash (up to $50 per person per day, processed by facility staff) or money orders and checks (up to $999.99 maximum) in the lockbox. Money orders and checks require a JPay deposit slip provided by the facility - the deposit slip must accompany the payment. DOCCS sends completed money orders and checks to JPay for processing. There is no fee for using the visit-day lockbox.
Mail-in lockbox - the no-fee mail option. Fill out a JPay deposit slip (English and Spanish versions available at doccs.ny.gov/account-deposits). Make the money order or check payable to "JPay." Do not include any letters or notes - enclosures are discarded. Mail to:
JPay
PO Box 531190
Miami, Florida 33153
Personal checks mailed to JPay are held for 10 days. All approved money orders and checks are processed within 10 business days of receipt. A JPay account is not needed to send a money order by mail.
Fee-based options
JPay online - go to jpay.com, create an account, find the person using their DIN, and deposit by credit or debit card. Funds post the next business day. Fees apply by tier.
JPay mobile app - download the free JPay app from the App Store or Google Play. Same process and fees as online.
JPay by phone - call 1-800-574-5729. Credit card required. Fees apply by tier.
MoneyGram - visit any MoneyGram location and use receive code 1317. Pay with cash. The flat fee is $4 for any MoneyGram deposit. The maximum MoneyGram transaction is $2,999.99, subject to current MoneyGram regulations.
Fee schedule for online, app, and phone deposits:
$2.00 to $9.99 - $1.75 fee
$10.00 to $19.99 - $2.75 fee
$20.00 to $49.99 - $3.75 fee
$50.00 to $300.00 - $4.75 fee
DOCCS does not receive any commission on fees charged by JPay.
Court surcharges and financial obligations
Court surcharges, fees, or other encumbrances that are unpaid will be applied from funds coming in from outside before the balance is available for commissary spending. DOCCS applies these obligations automatically from incoming deposits.
The DIN is required
The DIN (Department Identification Number) is DOCCS's unique identifier for each incarcerated individual. It is required for all JPay deposits and is needed to use the online deposit system. Find it using the DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup at nysdoccslookup.doccs.ny.gov. You need the person's complete name and date of birth for a successful search.
Secure messaging through JPay
DOCCS also uses JPay for its secure messaging program (electronic mail). Each incarcerated individual receives four free stamps per month, replenished on the first of each month. Stamps for additional messages range from 9 to 12 cents per stamp depending on bundle size. Messaging is separate from account deposits. To set up a messaging account, visit jpay.com or call JPay Customer Support at 1-800-574-5729.
DOCCS Incarcerated Accounts contact
Phone: 518-485-7068
Email: incarceratedaccounts@doccs.ny.gov
New York City jails: NYC DOC is a separate system
If your person is at Rikers Island or one of NYC's borough detention facilities - not a DOCCS state prison - they are under the New York City Department of Correction, which is an entirely different agency from DOCCS. The DOCCS deposit system does not apply. NYC DOC facilities house people who are awaiting trial or serving sentences of one year or less.
NYC DOC deposit methods
DOC Cashier Window - no fee. Visitors can deposit money directly at any NYC DOC Cashier Window. No fee is charged for deposits made directly at the window. The main cashier office is at the Vernon C. Bain Center, 1 Halleck Street, Bronx NY 10474. The Rikers Island Central Cashier (RICC) is at 1 East 1st Street, East Elmhurst NY 11370, open 24 hours every day. Additional cashier windows are open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Manhattan Courthouse (100 Centre Street) and Brooklyn Courthouse (360 Adams Street).
DOC Cashier Kiosks - kiosks are located at the DOC Cashier Office. One kiosk accepts cash only. Another accepts cash and credit/debit cards. Fees apply to kiosk transactions.
JPay - online at jpay.com or by phone at 1-800-574-5729. Fees apply.
Access Corrections - online at accesscorrections.com or by phone at 1-866-345-1884. Fees apply.
Western Union - by phone at 1-800-325-6000.
For all NYC DOC deposits, you need the person's full name and Book and Case number - not the DOCCS DIN. The Book and Case number is the NYC DOC identifier. You can find it through the NYC DOC inmate lookup at nyc.gov/site/doc.
County jails: vendor varies by county
New York State has 57 upstate counties outside New York City, each with its own jail. County jails operate independently from DOCCS and set their own deposit vendors. Most upstate county jails accept JPay deposits; some use Access Corrections, TouchPay, or their own systems. The only reliable way to find the current vendor for a specific county jail is to check that county's website or call the facility directly.
Accounts do not transfer between systems. When your person moves from a county jail or NYC DOC facility to a DOCCS state prison, the previous account stays with the previous vendor. You set up new deposits through JPay using the DIN.
Federal custody in New York
If your person is in federal Bureau of Prisons custody in New York - including MDC Brooklyn, MCC New York, FCI Ray Brook, FCI Otisville, or FCI Allenwood - 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 DOCCS or NYC DOC methods for federal inmates.
What to know before you send anything
Confirm state prison vs. NYC jail vs. county jail. All three systems work differently. The DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup covers state prisons only.
The visit-day lockbox and mail-in lockbox are both free. Online, phone, and MoneyGram carry fees. Use the lockbox if cost matters.
Get the DIN for DOCCS; get the Book and Case number for NYC DOC. They are different identifiers used by different agencies.
Do not include letters with mailed money orders. Enclosures are discarded by JPay and will not reach the incarcerated person.
DOCCS has a $300 cap per online or phone transaction. MoneyGram allows up to $2,999.99.
Related pages:
/prisons/new-york
How to write a letter to someone in a New York facility
Send mail and photos through InmateAid
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
What vendor does New York DOCCS use for state prison deposits?
JPay. Six deposit methods: visit-day lockbox (no fee), mail-in to JPay PO Box 531190 Miami FL 33153 (no fee), jpay.com online (fee), JPay mobile app (fee), JPay phone at 1-800-574-5729 (fee), and MoneyGram with receive code 1317 (flat $4 fee).
What is the MoneyGram receive code for New York DOCCS?
1317. Available at MoneyGram locations with cash. $4 flat fee for any amount. Maximum $2,999.99 per transaction.
What is the no-fee way to send money to a DOCCS state prison inmate?
Two options: leave a money order or check (with JPay deposit slip) in the visit-day lockbox at the facility, or mail a money order with a completed JPay deposit slip to JPay PO Box 531190, Miami FL 33153. Both are free.
What is the DIN and where do I find it?
The DIN (Department Identification Number) is DOCCS's inmate identifier. Required for JPay deposits. Find it at nysdoccslookup.doccs.ny.gov using the person's full name and date of birth.
Does the mail-in lockbox require a JPay deposit slip?
Yes. Both the visit-day lockbox and mail-in option require a JPay deposit slip. The slip is available at the facility or can be downloaded from doccs.ny.gov/account-deposits.
How long does a mailed money order take to post?
Personal checks are held 10 days after receipt by JPay. All approved money orders and checks are processed within 10 business days of receipt.
Is NYC DOC the same as DOCCS?
No. NYC DOC is the New York City Department of Correction - a separate city agency that runs Rikers Island and borough detention facilities for people awaiting trial or serving short sentences. DOCCS is the New York State system for state prison sentences. They use different identifiers, different deposit systems, and different vendor lists.
How do I deposit money for someone at Rikers Island?
Through NYC DOC methods: DOC Cashier Window (no fee; main office at Vernon C. Bain Center, 1 Halleck St, Bronx; RICC at 1 East 1st St, East Elmhurst, open 24 hours); kiosks at cashier office; JPay (jpay.com; 800-574-5729); Access Corrections (accesscorrections.com; 866-345-1884); or Western Union (1-800-325-6000). You need the person's Book and Case number.
What is the Book and Case number?
The NYC DOC inmate identifier - different from the DOCCS DIN. Required for all NYC DOC deposits. Find it at nyc.gov/site/doc.
Do county jails upstate use JPay?
Most upstate county jails accept JPay, but not all. Some use Access Corrections, TouchPay, or their own systems. Check the specific county's website or call the facility.
How do I send money to someone in federal prison in New York?
Use the BOP Trust Fund - Western Union, MoneyGram, or bop.gov. NY federal facilities include MDC Brooklyn, MCC New York, FCI Ray Brook, FCI Otisville. You need the eight-digit BOP register number. ====================================================================
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