Supporting someone inside costs money, and often more than people expect. This section explains the main ways money is spent when someone is in jail or prison, including phone calls, commissary deposits, and related fees. The goal is to help you understand how these systems work, avoid common pitfalls, and make informed decisions without unnecessary stress or surprise costs.

Sending Money

Most facilities use third-party companies to handle money deposits. Funds are placed into a commissary or “trust fund” account that the person inside can use for approved purchases and services. This money can usually be used to buy items from the commissary, pay for phone or video calls, and sometimes cover other approved services. The name and rules for these accounts vary by institution.

Common Ways to Send Money:

Online Services

The fastest and most common method. Most facilities partner with services like JPay, GTL, Keefe, or Access Corrections. These allow instant transfers but charge fees (typically $2-$10 per transaction).

Money Orders by Mail

Some facilities still allow money to be mailed. This method usually has lower fees but takes longer and must follow strict rules. Even small mistakes, like missing information or using the wrong envelope, can cause delays or rejected deposits.

Kiosks at the Facility

Certain jails and prisons have kiosks in the lobby where money can be deposited during visitation hours. Availability varies by location.

Processing Times

Processing times vary:

• Online deposits may post within hours or a few days
• Mailed money orders can take a week or longer
• Holidays, lockdowns, or transfers can cause delays

If the money doesn’t show up right away, it doesn’t necessarily mean something went wrong.

Common Issues to Watch For

• Using the wrong facility or ID number
• Sending money during a transfer
• Not realizing a facility changed vendors
• Assuming rules are the same everywhere

Always double-check the facility’s current rules before sending money, even if you’ve done it before.

Calls

Depending on the facility, calls may be set up as:

• Prepaid calls:
  You create an account with the facility’s phone provider and add money in advance. These are often cheaper than collect calls but still carry fees.
• Collect calls:
  Charges appear on your phone bill. These calls are usually more expensive and may be blocked by some phone carriers.
• Video or tablet-based calls:
  Some facilities offer video calls through tablets or kiosks. These may feel more personal, but they are often priced higher and subject to strict scheduling rules.

Phone Calls

Phone calls are one of the main ways people stay connected, but they are often limited, monitored, and expensive. Most jails and prisons contract with private phone companies, and each facility sets its own rules about when, how often, and how long calls can be made.

Calls usually have time limits, may be recorded, and can end abruptly due to lockdowns, count, or technical issues. Missed calls are common and often unavoidable.

In most facilities:

• The person inside initiates the call
• Calls are limited in length
• Calls can only be made during approved hours
• Calls may be restricted based on housing or disciplinary status

Rules can change suddenly, and what’s allowed in one facility may not apply in another.

Video Calls

Some facilities offer video calls through tablets or kiosks. These may feel more personal, but they are often priced higher and subject to strict scheduling rules.

Commissary

Commissary is the system that allows people in jail or prison to purchase basic items that are not regularly provided, or are provided in very limited amounts. What’s available and when it is accessible (ex: weekly, bi-weekly, etc.) depends on the facility, security level, and vendor, but commissary usually includes everyday necessities.

Common commissary items include:

• Food and snacks (ramen, chips, packaged meals, coffee)
• Hygiene items (soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste)
• Writing supplies (paper, envelopes, stamps)
• Basic clothing or laundry items (socks, underwear, detergent)
• Over-the-counter items (pain relievers, lotion, eyeglasses wipes)
• Limited electronics in some facilities (radios, tablets, headphones)

Access to commissary can make a significant difference in daily comfort and dignity, especially when standard-issued items are minimal.

Spending Limits and Ordering Schedules

Most facilities place limits on:

• How much money someone can spend per week
• How often commissary orders can be placed
• Which items can be ordered at one time

Orders are usually placed on a schedule, such as weekly or biweekly, and missed ordering windows may mean waiting another week or more.

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What’s Usually Worth Buying

While needs vary, people often prioritize:

• Hygiene products they prefer or that work better
• Extra food to supplement small or unappealing meals
• Writing supplies to stay connected and advocate for themselves
• Items that reduce daily stress or discomfort

Because money is limited, many people inside plan carefully around commissary schedules and spending caps.

Care Package Services

Some jails and prisons allow supporters to send care packages through third-party vendors. These services let you purchase pre-approved bundles of items that are delivered directly to the facility for the person inside.

Care package services are different from commissary. Instead of sending money and having the person inside place an order, you choose and pay for the items yourself.

What Care Packages Usually Include

Items vary by facility and vendor, but commonly include:

• Hygiene items (soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste)
• Food and snacks
• Writing supplies
• Socks or basic clothing
• Shoes
• Seasonal items (such as thermal wear or jackets, if allowed)

Items are limited to what the facility has approved. You usually cannot customize packages beyond the available options.

How Care Package Services Work

• You sign up for the facility-approved vendors service (confirm with the facility what vendors are approved)
• You select the facility and the person’s ID number
• You choose from facility-approved package options
• You pay online through the vendor
• The package is delivered during a scheduled distribution window

Most facilities limit:

• how often packages can be sent (monthly, quarterly, or seasonally)
• how much can be spent per order
• how much the package can weigh
• which housing levels are eligible

Orders placed outside the approved window are often rejected.

How This Differs From Commissary

• Commissary: Money is deposited into an account, and the person inside chooses what to buy.
• Care packages: You buy a pre-approved bundle of items directly through a vendor.

Some supporters prefer care packages when commissary access is limited or when they want to ensure specific basic needs are met.

Costs and Limitations

• Care packages are often more expensive than similar items outside
• Prices and contents vary by facility and vendor
• Not all facilities allow care packages
• Delivery timing is controlled by the facility, not the vendor

Things to Keep in Mind

Care package services can be helpful, but they are optional. Like many services connected to incarceration, they are run by private companies and come with restrictions and markups. Always check the facility’s current rules before ordering.

Food Services

Some facilities offer food and meal services through third-party vendors (example: iCare). These services allow supporters to purchase food packages or meals directly, rather than sending money to commissary.

Depending on the facility, these services may include:

• Food packages delivered to the person inside
• Meals shared during in-person visits
• Special meal bundles for holidays or designated ordering periods

Availability, pricing, and rules vary by facility. Not all jails or prisons offer food or meal services, and ordering windows are often limited. Timing is important.

A Note for Supporters

Supporting someone you care about shouldn’t be this complicated, but the system often makes it that way. Understanding the basics can help you avoid unnecessary stress, lost funds, and surprise fees.