It’s easy to forget from outside the penal system how important it is to send money to an inmate. Seemingly, there’s little use for money inside prison walls. But that’s not the case. It’s important to stress that inmates cannot receive cash inside as that is contraband. Instead, money sent to a prisoner goes into a commissary account with a highly specialized use.
What Is a Commissary?
Commissaries, or small stores located within the penal institution, are highly important for prisoners for the various items they provide prisoners. Some of these are necessities. These include hygiene products like razors and soap. They sell clothing and shoes. For those seeking a treat, they sell snacks and food. Prisoners can find all manner of entertainment with books, cards, magazines, and even radios for sale. Most important is stationery for writing letters, the primary method of communication for an inmate.
Prisoners get money in their commissary accounts in three key ways. First, they earn money for the account by working jobs within the institution. Trust funds and legal settlements are eligible for use in commissaries. Finally, there’s money sent from outside the system.
Sending money to an inmate is a good idea. But it’s important to know what to do and what not to do in the process.
How to Send Money to an Inmate
The process of sending money to an inmate can vary as wildly within the system as outside of it. Virtually all prisons have a kiosk on the prison grounds to deposit money, such as after a visit. Money orders made payable to the inmate and sent to their specific mailing address at the prison, a detail easily found in an inmate search online, are almost universally accepted across the system. But increasingly common is electronic banking, where outsiders can send money directly to the account online. This method is easier to keep track of and more accurate, making it popular with all.
No matter the method, sending money requires several key pieces of information:
- You need to know the full name the inmate was committed to the institution under. Looking at an inmate list may help
- You need their location
- You need the inmate’s identification number
You can find all this information from inmate search sites, where you can search an extensive inmate list.
It’s vital to get every one of these details correct. Failure to do so can keep money from going to the right place. Inmates have few options to correct a loss of funds, which puts the duty on the sender to get it right. Thus, an inmate search becomes the most vital tool available as it makes it easy to get the correct information quickly.
Why Should You Send Money to an Inmate
Sending money to inmates serves many purposes. For one thing, it’s a method of giving a loved one in prison simple comforts from home that they might not otherwise have access to. The joys of a comfort snack or a good relaxation are nice, humble sensations that shouldn’t be denied to anyone simply because they’re in the system. All people deserve a few simple pleasures, and money in the commissary account funds that.
There’s also the value of buying items to enhance how they look and feel. Toiletries allow an inmate to feel clean and fresh. After all, who doesn’t feel significantly refreshed by a nice clean shower or a smooth shave? The clothes purchased from the commissary allow inmates to look sharp on their court date. This change in appearance can greatly affect their chances of parole and sentencing.
There’s also a small bonus for the victims. In many states, a percentage of the money sent goes towards fines and other forms of restitution. With inmates unable to pay the fines themselves until release, this provides a small but positive method of helping a loved one to pay off the debt they’ve accrued.
But most important is this. Money sent to inmates shows support and love from the outside world. Often inmates feel alone and isolated from society. The simple act of sending money shows that loved ones still support them. By sending a few dollars, an inmate remembers that the outside world believes in them and wants them to rehabilitate.
The Risks of Sending Money
It’s a sad truth that money sent to an inmate is far from a safe prospect. Even if everything goes through perfectly in sending the cash, things can still go wrong. Often inmates ask for more money soon after it’s sent. This isn’t always malicious, and fines do eat away at the money. Other inmates steal the things they buy. These things happen.
Unfortunately, illegal activity does occur with money sent. For this reason, it’s essential to be vigilant. Only send money to people you know and trust intimately. Never send money to another inmate’s account, even if the inmate you know requests it, as this is often a telltale sign of illegal activity. Hold on to all receipts and paperwork. If an inmate claims the money never reached them, the evidence trail will disprove this.
Money sent to an inmate is risky, but it’s vital in connecting with an incarcerated loved one. Inmates are in prison to serve their sentences for their crimes, but they aren’t animals. With the money sent, inmates are simply reminded of their essential humanity. For this reason, as long as all precautions are taken, money sent is an act of kindness worth pursuing. Reach out or visit our website for further information on how to send money to an inmate.
