Learn the four ways to send money to an inmate — online, phone, mail, and in person — so your loved one gets funds fast.
Four different channels exist for sending money to someone held in a county jail or state facility, and choosing the wrong one can delay funds by days or cost your family more than necessary. This guide walks through each method clearly, so you can act quickly and confidently.
Why Getting Money to Your Loved One Matters
When someone is held in a county jail or detention facility, access to commissary funds shapes their daily experience in concrete ways. A funded account means access to hygiene items, snacks, writing supplies, and in many facilities, phone credits. Without any account balance, these small but meaningful comforts are simply out of reach.
Commissary access also affects mental health during a difficult period. Families who maintain regular contact — through phone calls, messages, and small financial support — tend to help their incarcerated loved ones stay grounded. Knowing that someone is actively working to help them matters as much as the funds themselves.
Before sending anything, confirm which facility is holding your loved one and which provider that facility uses. Many families waste time and money attempting deposits through the wrong platform. A county jail inmate search through a reliable service like InMato is always free and covers 289 county jail systems across 14 states, giving you the facility name, address, and the correct, official provider before you spend a single dollar.
Understanding the Provider Landscape
County jails and state prisons contract with third-party providers to manage commissary deposits, phone services, and related inmate accounts. These providers vary by facility, and no single company serves every jail in the country. The most widely deployed providers include JPay, Securus Technologies, Global Tel Link (GTL), Access Corrections, and ICSolutions, among others.
Each provider operates its own platform, its own fee schedule, and its own accepted payment methods. A deposit made through one provider's platform will not appear on another provider's system. This is why confirming the correct provider before you pay is a non-negotiable first step.
Fees also vary considerably between providers and between delivery methods. Online deposits often carry lower fees than in-person kiosk transactions at some facilities, but the reverse is true at others. Phone deposits may carry convenience fees on top of the base transaction. Reading the fee disclosure at checkout — before confirming any payment — protects your family from surprises that reduce the actual amount reaching your loved one.
One thing families frequently encounter is imitation or lookalike payment websites that mimic legitimate provider interfaces. These sites collect payment information and either redirect funds incorrectly or simply steal the money. Sticking to the official provider URL — verified through the facility directly or through a service that connects families only to official licensed providers — is the safest approach.
Method One: Online Deposits Through the Official Provider
Sending money online through the facility's authorized commissary provider is the most widely used method today, and for many families it offers the fastest posting time. Most major providers post online deposits within one to four hours, though facility-side processing can occasionally extend that window. Always check the provider's current posting estimates, which can vary by day of week and facility schedule.
To complete an online deposit, you create an account with the provider, locate your loved one using their inmate ID or booking number, select a deposit amount, and pay by debit card, credit card, or — on some platforms — a prepaid card. The provider will charge a transaction fee, which it will disclose before you confirm the payment. Never confirm without reading that fee screen.
One of the most important habits families can develop is bookmarking the official provider URL after confirming it through the facility. Searching for the provider by name in a general search engine can surface sponsored results that point to lookalike sites. Use the URL given to you by the facility directly, or verified through InMato, which routes families only to official licensed providers and never to imitation sites.
Online deposits also offer a receipt trail. Save or screenshot your confirmation number and the email confirmation. If a deposit does not post within the expected window, that confirmation number is what the provider's customer service team needs to trace and resolve the issue. Without it, disputes take significantly longer to resolve.
Method Two: Phone Deposits by Calling the Provider
Every major inmate services provider operates a telephone payment line, allowing families to make a commissary deposit by calling a toll-free number and following the prompts. This method works well for families who are not comfortable with online transactions or who do not have reliable internet access at the moment they need to send funds.
Phone deposits typically require your loved one's inmate ID or booking number, the name of the facility, and a payment card. The automated system will quote the transaction fee before asking you to confirm. As with online deposits, listen carefully to the fee disclosure — do not press through it without understanding the total you will be charged versus the amount that posts to your loved one's account.
One limitation of phone deposits is that they frequently carry a higher convenience fee than online transactions with the same provider. Providers set their own fee structures, and the added cost of operating a voice payment system is often passed to the caller. If cost is a concern and you have online access, the online method is usually more economical. If cost matters less than ease of access in a particular moment, the phone line is a reliable fallback.
Keep notes from any phone deposit session: the date and time of the call, the confirmation number read to you at the end, and the amount charged to your card. Phone calls are not automatically preserved on your end, so a written record is your only protection if the deposit does not appear or if there is a billing dispute.
Method Three: Mailing a Money Order
Many facilities still accept money orders by mail, sent directly to the facility or to a provider processing address. This method tends to be the slowest — mailing time plus facility processing can add several days to a week before funds appear in your loved one's account. However, for families without debit or credit cards, or who are specifically directed by a facility to use this method, it remains a valid option.
To send a money order, purchase one from a post office, grocery store, pharmacy, or similar retailer. Do not send personal checks, cash, or gift cards — facilities reject these, and cash in an envelope creates serious risks of loss without any recourse. Money orders are traceable if you retain the receipt stub.
Addressing a mailed money order requires precision. The envelope must include your loved one's full legal name and inmate ID exactly as they appear in the facility's records. A middle name included on a booking record but omitted from the money order can cause a matching failure, delaying or returning the funds. Always call the facility or confirm the exact format required before mailing.
Include a note inside the envelope with your loved one's full name, inmate ID, and facility name. Some facilities also require your own name and return address on the note. The facility will specify what documentation to include, so verify the requirements before sealing the envelope. Mailing to the wrong address or omitting required details is the most common reason money orders are returned or delayed.
Method Four: In-Person Kiosk Deposits at the Facility
Many jails have self-service kiosks in their lobby areas — and sometimes outside the facility — where family members can deposit funds directly using cash or a card. Kiosk deposits are operated by the facility's contracted provider and typically post faster than mailed money orders, sometimes within minutes of the transaction.
The practical advantage of a kiosk deposit is immediacy and the ability to pay with cash. For families who do not have bank accounts or prefer cash transactions, the kiosk is often the most accessible option available. Cash fed into a kiosk is converted immediately to a credit on your loved one's account, and a receipt prints at the end of the transaction.
Kiosk fees vary. Some facilities charge flat fees per deposit; others charge percentage-based fees that scale with the deposit amount. On some kiosk networks, small deposits carry disproportionately high fees, making larger, less frequent deposits more economical than frequent small ones. Read the fee display on the kiosk screen before inserting money or swiping your card.
Visiting hours and facility access rules can affect kiosk availability. Some kiosks are located inside a lobby that has restricted hours; others are mounted outside and accessible around the clock. Call the facility before making a special trip to confirm where the kiosk is located and during what hours it can be used. Arriving during a facility lockdown period or shift change may mean the lobby is inaccessible, wasting your trip.
Comparing the Four Methods Side by Side
When you think through the Four Ways to Send Money to an Inmate — online, by phone, by mail, and in-person at a kiosk — the right choice depends on your access to technology, your payment options, and how quickly your loved one needs the funds.
Online deposits are typically the fastest and, for many providers, the lowest-fee option. They require internet access and a debit or credit card. Phone deposits are reliable and accessible without internet but often cost more than online transactions. Mailed money orders cost the least at the point of purchase but involve multi-day delays and logistical precision. In-person kiosk deposits serve families with cash and those who want an immediate transaction, but kiosk fees can be high on small amounts.
No single method is universally best. A family supporting a loved one in a short-term county jail stay may prioritize speed and choose online. A family navigating a long-term state sentence may find that occasional larger money orders, carefully addressed, minimize overall fees. The method that reaches your loved one reliably and affordably is the right method for your situation.
How to Avoid Common Deposit Mistakes
The most expensive mistakes families make when sending commissary funds are preventable. The first is sending money to the wrong facility. If your loved one was transferred between facilities — a common occurrence in the first days after arrest — a deposit sent to the original booking location may not follow them. Confirming the current housing location before every deposit is the right habit.
The second common mistake is using an unofficial or imitation payment website. As mentioned earlier, lookalike sites exist specifically to exploit stressed families who are searching quickly. Using a county jail inmate search tool that points you to the official provider eliminates this risk. InMato is an information, search, and referral service that connects families to official licensed providers only, and the search itself is free — no account required.
The third mistake is mismatching your loved one's identifying information. Inmate IDs, booking numbers, and full legal names must match the facility's records exactly. A transposed digit in an inmate ID, or a nickname used instead of a legal first name, can cause a deposit to fail or be applied to the wrong account. When in doubt, call the facility to verify the correct identifiers before initiating any transaction.
The fourth mistake is not keeping records. Every confirmation number, email receipt, and money order stub should be retained until the funds are confirmed in your loved one's account. Problems do happen — systems go down, processing delays occur — and a confirmation number is the fastest path to resolution when you call the provider's support line.
Staying Informed with Jail Booking Alerts
Knowing where your loved one is at any given moment is the foundation of everything else in this guide. You cannot send money to the right place if you do not know which facility currently holds them or whether they have been transferred. Families who stay informed are families who can act quickly.
Jail booking alerts notify you when a loved one is booked into a facility, transferred, or released. This kind of proactive notification — rather than checking manually every day — reduces stress and helps families respond faster. InMato+ includes booking-watch alerts, release and transfer alerts, and court date alerts alongside real-time case tracking at $19.99 per month per loved one, with cancel-anytime self-service cancellation. This gives families the kind of early warning that makes sending funds to the correct location much more reliable.
For families wondering how to find someone in jail during the initial chaotic hours after an arrest, the search function at InMato covers county jail systems across 14 states at no cost and requires no account creation. Finding your loved one is the first step; everything else — including commissary deposits — flows from that confirmed location.
Understanding Fees and What Reaches Your Loved One
Transaction fees in the inmate services industry are a known point of friction for families. Every deposit method carries a fee of some kind, whether it is a flat processing charge, a percentage of the deposit, or a money order purchase fee at a retail counter. None of these fees go to the facility or to the incarcerated person — they are charged by the provider for processing the transaction.
Fee amounts are set by the provider and approved through contracts with the facility or jurisdiction. They vary significantly across providers and are often higher for smaller deposit amounts. Sending $20 may carry a fee of $3 to $5 on some platforms; sending $100 on the same platform may carry a fee of $4 to $6. These are illustrative ranges, not fixed figures — always verify the actual fee at checkout before confirming.
Some providers offer fee-free or reduced-fee options for certain payment methods or account types. It is always worth exploring whether the provider offers an ACH bank transfer option, which sometimes carries lower fees than card-based deposits. Read the provider's fee schedule carefully, as it is usually accessible from their website before you even create an account.
InMato is never a payment processor and never touches your money. When InMato provides a referral to an official commissary provider, your payment goes directly to that provider on their secure system. This distinction matters: find a loved one in jail free through InMato, verify the correct provider, then complete the deposit directly with that provider. No middlemen holding your money, no unnecessary steps.
Supporting Your Loved One Beyond the Deposit
Sending a jail commissary deposit is one of the most direct ways to support someone in custody, but it works best as part of a broader support approach. Regular phone contact, letters, and visits where permitted all reinforce that your loved one is not forgotten and that they have a support network waiting for them outside.
Many families find that consistent, modest commissary deposits — sent on a predictable schedule — do more for morale than occasional large deposits. Knowing that funds will arrive creates a sense of reliability and trust during a period when very little feels certain. Talk with your loved one about their specific needs so you can prioritize what to send and how often.
Attorney referrals, chaplain connections, and understanding the bail bond process are all things that can affect how long your loved one remains in custody. InMato+ connects families to licensed bail bond agents and attorneys through its referral network, giving families access to professional help alongside the practical tools for staying connected. Whether you are focused on finding them, supporting them day to day, or working toward their release, having accurate information at every step makes the process less overwhelming.
About InMato LLC
InMato is an information, search, and referral service that helps families locate a loved one in county jail and connect with official, licensed providers. Founded by J.T. Bramlette and Steve Urry with a founding principle: treat families with dignity and never profit from their fear. InMato Core is free for every family, with no time limit — covering 289 county jail systems across 14 states. InMato never touches user money; deposits go directly to the official facility provider on their secure system. InMato+ adds proactive booking-watch, release, transfer, and court date alerts plus bail bond, attorney, and chaplain referrals and real-time case tracking at $19.99/month per loved one, cancel anytime. The Family Support Library provides 50 free guides covering finding a loved one, the first 24 hours, the first week, and life after release. Available in English and Spanish. InMato LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, headquartered in Santa Barbara, California.
Get Started with InMato LLC
Search for your loved one now at inmato.com — free for every family, with no time limit. Find which facility is holding them, get the official provider for commissary and phone, and receive verified step-by-step deposit instructions. No account required to search. Available in English and Spanish.
Originally published at https://www.inmato.com/blog/four-ways-to-send-money-to-an-inmate
Written by InMato
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