Sending Money to an Inmate

There are many ways you can support your incarcerated loved one as they serve their sentence in a correctional facility. You can visit them, send a letter or a care package, or offer support in their legal battle; the list is endless.  

One of the best ways to support your loved one in prison is by giving them financial aid. Sending money to your incarcerated loved one can be a challenging and confusing process, particularly if you’ve never done it before.  

Many rules and regulations govern how and when you can send money to your incarcerated loved one. These rules vary depending on the correctional facility where the inmate is held.  

So, whether you’re a friend or family member of an inmate, this guide will provide you with the information you need to make the process of sending money smooth and stress-free. 

Let’s get right into it! 

Ways of Sending Money to an Inmate 

Here are several ways to send money to your loved one in a correctional facility.  

1. Online at JPay.com 

JPay.com provides various services to inmates. It’s a private firm that works with county, federal, and state prisons. Together, they offer safe, dependable, and convenient services to the family and friends of inmates.  

It’s also a platform where inmates, parolees, and probationers can receive funds. It is one of the most popular methods of sending money to an inmate in a correctional facility.  

Here are the steps to follow when sending money to your incarcerated loved one through JPay.com. 

To use JPay.com to send funds to a loved one in a correctional facility, you must create an account first, using the incarcerated loved one’s ID, a valid email address, and the name of the agency that you’ll be using to send funds.  

You should also provide your telephone number, billing information, and the correct billing address. These are the steps to take after creating your JPay account. 

• Go to JPay.com 
• Enter your email and password 
• Enter the incarcerated loved one’s ID 
• Click the “Money” tab 
• Choose the inmate you want to send funds to from the list provided 
• Click the card you’ll use to send the funds 
• Input the billing information- it should be as it appears on your card statement. 
• Confirm your information 

If you’re stuck in any step of the process, you can get in touch with an agent to help you. Sending funds to an inmate online at JPay.com attracts lower fees than using the JPay Mobile App. You can also send money orders via JPay.com.  

2. JPay Mobile App 

One of the most popular ways of sending money by JPay to an inmate is through their Mobile App. You can get the app for free on both Android and iOS devices. The app is user-friendly and offers a secure and convenient way of sending money to your incarcerated loved one. 

You can download the app on Google Play or App Store and sync it directly to your JPay account.  

3. Western Union 

You can send funds to an inmate worldwide via Western Union. But you must be 18 years and above to use this service. Western Union is available 24/7.  

Here are the steps to take: 

• Sign up or log in, then authenticate your profile 
• Choose “Pay inmate.” 
• Complete the needed fields (The fields include the correctional facility name, the name of the inmate, and their account number). If an error message appears after you input the inmate’s ID, check if the number is correct. You can also call Western Union customer care at 1-800-325-6000 for help.  
• Choose the payment method you want to use. You can pay using your bank account or credit/debit card.  
• Confirm your details 
• Click “Send” 

After doing that, the funds will be on their way. You’ll also receive a confirmation email.  

4. Western Union App 

Western Union also has a Mobile App. It’s an alternative way you can use it to send funds to your loved one in a correctional facility anytime, wherever you are.  

You can download it from Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Then, authenticate your profile using your passport, driver’s license, or national ID (Government-Issued).  

Here are the steps to follow after downloading the Western Union App: 

• Log in using your credentials or Touch ID 
• Choose “Send Money to an Inmate” 
• Input the correctional facility name and your incarcerated loved one’s name and account number. 
• Use your credit/debit card to pay for the funds’ transfer 
• Then, you’ll receive your transaction’s tracking number (MTCN) 

5. MoneyGram 

MoneyGram offers a convenient and dependable option for sending funds to your loved one in a correctional facility. The fees and processing times may vary depending on the chosen payment method and the location of the correctional facility. 

When you send funds to a loved one in prison, they’re received and processed every day of the including holidays. Here’s how the funds are processed. 

• If you send funds between 7:00 in the morning and 9:00 in the evening EST, they’re posted within two to four hours. 
• If you send funds after 9:00 in the evening, they’re posted the following morning.  

You must have the inmate’s account number when sending funds via MoneyGram. It’s an 8-digit number. What follows immediately is the last name of the inmate you’re sending funds to. Besides this, you need: 

• The city or state where the correctional facility is located 
• Receive code 
• The beneficiary (The inmate’s full name) 

6. MoneyGram Online Money Transfer App 

The MoneyGram app is a convenient way of sending money to your loved ones worldwide.  

Follow the below steps to send funds to your incarcerated loved one via the MoneyGram App.  

• Download the MoneyGram Online Money Transfer App. You can get it on Google Play Store or Apple App Store. 
• Create a profile or log in to your profile. Ensure you enter the correct data. This way, MoneyGram can verify your identity. 
• Then, give information about the inmate receiving the funds and how much you want to send them.  
• Select the payment method you want to use. Payment methods include money transfers directly from your bank account, paying by credit card, or using cash at a MoneyGram location.  
• Look at all the details again and edit them if need be 
• Click “Send.” By doing that, you’ll have completed the transaction. 

7. Access Secure Deposits Lobby Kiosk 

Access Secure Deposits Lobby Kiosk is another excellent way of sending funds to your incarcerated loved one. This method is convenient if you prefer a physical transaction rather than sending funds online or via mail. 

Access Secure Deposits Lobby Kiosks accept deposits using credit and debit cards and cash. Sending funds through Access Secure Deposits Lobby Kiosk is free in all correctional facilities. Some benefits of using these Lobby Kiosks are: 

• When you deposit, the Lobby Kiosk takes your photo. The photo helps in investigations if something goes wrong later. 
• The correctional facility staff doesn’t handle money orders and cash. 
• It reduces the workload of the accounting staff and the mail room. 
• The funds you deposit for your loved one are guaranteed. 
• There’s no exposure to counterfeit money. 

8. Using a Letter 

You cannot give an inmate cash directly. It’s considered contraband and you can get arrested for it. Hand the letter containing funds you want to give to your loved one to the correctional facility staff.  

On the envelope, write the full name of the inmate and their DOC number, to correspond to the one in the letter.  

Besides getting funds from their loved ones, inmates can work within the correctional facility. By doing this, they receive menial pay they use to buy necessities. The inmate may also have an inheritance, a trust fund, or a legal settlement.  

Where Do The Inmates Buy Necessities From In The Correctional Facility? 

Inmates in correctional facilities have limited access to the outside world. So, where do they buy their everyday necessities from? Well, many correctional facilities have commissaries.  

A commissary is a store located in the correctional facility. It sells various products to inmates in the correctional facility. Some of the products sold in a commissary include snacks, food, clothing, and shoes. 

Besides these items, a commissary sells hygienic merchandise such as shampoo, soap, and shavers, as well as entertainment products like magazines, radios, cards, and books. 

The most important items an inmate can buy from a commissary are envelopes, papers, and stamps. The reason is that inmates use these items to communicate with their loved ones by writing to them. A few correctional facilities provide papers and stamps to inmates who want to write to their loved ones.  

The funds you send to your incarcerated loved one is deposited into the inmate’s commissary account. It’s just like a bank account.  

Many correctional facilities give only one day a week for the inmates to buy items they may need. The day inmates get to buy the stuff they need is called a commissary day.  

Conclusion 

Sending funds to your incarcerated loved one may seem like a complicated procedure. But with this guide, you’ll send funds to your loved one in a breeze. When you send funds to them, it ensures they have the basic necessities of life. 

Before you send funds to your loved one, adhere to the rules and regulations of the correctional facility. It’s also crucial to select a dependable and secure method of sending the funds. There are many options for sending funds to inmates.  

Keep in mind that inmates have restrictions on the funds they can receive. If you follow these guidelines, you can ensure that your loved one has access to the funds they need. That way, they can buy items in a commissary within the correctional facility and also stay connected to the outside world.