Address:
5555 Giant Highway
Richmond, CA 94806
Phone:
510-262-4200
The information below provides you complete instructions regarding the West County Detention Facility:
- Inmate Accounts and Deposits,
- Commissary Information,
- Depositing Money Online,
- Mailing Inmate Money, and
- What 'property' West County Detention Facility inmates are allowed to have in jail and/or have dropped off to them.
Follow the instructions below on this page exactly to help ensure that your inmate has access to commissary, and in some cases medical and bail money, as soon as possible.
Whatever cash the inmate has on their person when booked into the facility will automatically deposited and credited to their account. When released any money left in the account will be returned to them in the form of a check from the Sheriff's Department or the West County Detention Facility Trust Account. There may be circumstances where the inmate can give permission to have his money released to a family member or friend.
Option 1 - Dropping Money at the Jail
Option 2 - Mail the Inmate Deposit to the Jail
Mail to:
5555 Giant Highway
Richmond, CA 94806
Failure to do this properly will delay your inmate getting their account credited and may require you to have to resubmit a second money order.
Call 510-262-4200 to ask any questions about this.
West County Detention Facility has its own methods for receiving money for inmates, and that information can be found above or by calling 510-262-4200 and asking, however all jails and prisons all receive money for an inmate’s trust and commissary account, as well as an account used for communications, pretty much the same way.
1. Mailing an inmate a money order or cashier’s check from a trusted source such as the Post Office, a local bank, or Western Union. The Money order should be be made out to either the inmate or the facility, with the inmate’s name and ID# on the memo line of the check.
When mailing a money order or cashier’s check, send it an envelope by itself. Never send it with a letter or photos for your inmate.
Never send personal checks or cash either.
2. Deposit cash or use a debit or credit card to send an inmate money using an ATM machine that is usually located in the lobby or visitation area of the facility.
3. Some jails have a reception desk or booth that is open during certain hours that they will list on their website. They will accept cash, money orders or cashier checks. Other facilities that don’t have a human manning the desk will have mail drop where you can leave a money order or check. No cash can be left in these boxes.
4. There are multiple companies that jails and prisons contract with which accept inmate deposits online, by mail or over the phone, or even in ATM machines you can find in check cashing stores and retail outlets across the country.
If one of these companies (listed in the next question) works with West County Detention Facility, this information will be outlined above.
There are many companies competing for the accounts of jail and prison inmates. Their intention is to alleviate the staffing and financial responsibility of handling inmate’s accounts. They usually charge a fee equal to 3-5% of the total deposit.
The companies, in alphabetical order, are:
Access Corrections
AllPaid (aka GovPayNet)
Care A Cell
Cash Bond Online
CIDNET
City Tele Coin
CommissaryDeposit.com
Correct Solutions Group
Correctpay
Ctel
Edevo
Express Account
gettingout
GTL
Inmate Canteen
InmateSales
JailATM
Jail Pack Store (McDaniel Supply)
Jailpayments.com
Jpay
NCIC
JailCanteen (Oasis)
Paytel
Pigeonly
Prodigy Sales
Reliance
Securus
Smart Communications
Tennessee Business Enterprise
Tiger
Touchpay
To send an inmate money by mail you first have to have the money converted to a money order, preferably from the US Post Office, or a Cashier’s Check. Never send cash, and never send a personal check.
To find the address for sending money to an inmate, call the jail at 510-262-4200.
Almost every facility contracts with a company that helps friends and families of inmates send them money. The list can be found above.
To find out who West County Detention Facility contracts with for inmate deposits, call them at 510-262-4200.
There are several ways to send money to an inmate into United States Bureau of Prisons.
There are three ways to deposit money in an inmate's account in the Federal Bureau of Prisons:
In order to do any of these you need to know the exact name the inmate is incarcerated under, and their Inmate ID# (aka Register Number)
If you can't find the inmate and Register Number online, use the online contact form to request help.
1. West County Detention Facility and Moneygram
You can send an inmate funds electronically using MoneyGram's ExpressPayment Program.
You can send money either online or at a Moneygram location.
- Funds are received and processed seven days per week, including holidays.
- Funds sent between 7:00AM - 9:00PM EST are posted within 2 to 4 hours.
- Funds sent after 9:00PM EST are posted at 7:00AM EST the following morning.
- If you have any questions you may contact BOP staff at 202-307-2712 between 8:00AM and 4:30PM EST.
NOTE: Do not send money until the inmate has actually arrived to the facility he has been assigned. At that point you can locate their location online.
Please visit https://www.moneygram.com/mgo/us/en/paybills, and enter the receive code 7932 or Federal Bureau of Prisons.
First time users will have to set up a profile and account.
A MasterCard or Visa credit card is required.
The maximum you can send is $300 at a time.
Locate the nearest agent by calling 800-926-9400 or finding a location online.
You'll need to complete a MoneyGram ExpressPayment Blue Form.
You can pay with cash or credit/debit Mastercard or Visa.
2. West County Detention Facility and Western Union.
- First, you need to know the exact spelling of the inmate's name and inmates ID #
NOTE: Do not send money until the inmate has actually arrived to the facility he has been assigned. At that point you can locate their location online.
You need to know these codes.
Codes:
Code City: FBOP, DC
State: DC
Senders Account #: Inmate's eight-digit register number with no spaces or dashes, followed immediately by the inmate's last name (example: 12345678DOE)
Attention: Inmate's full committed name
Western Union Facilities
Deposit funds in-person at Western Union.
Codes:
Code City: FBOP, DC
State: DC
Senders Account #: Inmate's eight-digit register number with no spaces or dashes, followed immediately by the inmate's last name (example: 12345678DOE)
Attention: Inmate's full committed name
If you have any questions you may contact BOP staff at 202-307-2712 between 8:00AM and 4:30PM EST.
3. West County Detention Facility and Mailing a Payment
- First, you need to know the exact spelling of the inmate's name and inmates ID #
NOTE: Do not send money until the inmate has actually arrived to the facility he has been assigned. At that point you can locate their location online.
When sending an inmate money by mail, the West County Detention Facility will only accept:
**Important Notes**
- Obtain a money order and include both the inmate's:
- Full committed name AND complete eight-digit register number on the money order.
- Non-postal money orders and non-government checks will be placed on a 15-day hold.
- If you have any questions you may contact BOP staff at 202-307-2712 between 8:00AM and 4:30PM EST.
Make sure your full name and return address is on the envelope.
Address the Money Order to:
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Insert Valid Committed Inmate Name
Insert Inmate Eight-Digit Register Number
Post Office Box 474701
Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001
Inmate funds are the cash that an inmate has on themselves when they are booked into jail, plus the money that friends and family add while they are incarcerated. Inmate funds are also known as ‘inmate trust account’, ‘inmate commissary account’, and ‘inmate money account’.
Typically, most jails allow an innate spend no more than $300-400 per month on snacks and hygiene products, with another $300 spent on phone calls and other communication services. Some jails limit the amount an inmate can spend on snacks to as low as $100 per month, but that is rare.
To find out how much the West County Detention Facility allows, call the jail at 510-262-4200.
Most jails limit the amount that you can send an inmate to $200 at one time. If a money order exceeds $50.00 some jails will hold the money for up to 30 days before releasing it. The quickest way to get money on an inmate’s account is to deposit it either online or over the phone with the outside vendor the jail works with.
It is not illegal for an inmate to have cash, but it is considered contraband and will be confiscated by the West County Detention Facility if it is discovered. There could be additional punishment such as phone or visitation limited. It is unlikely that criminal charges will be levied though.
Inmates are very creative in coming up with alternatives to cash for buying goods and services and taking part in gambling and other recreational activities.
• Some jails use stamps as a form of currency.
• Some use a “unit”, which is basically a candy bar, bag of chips or foil package of tuna.
• Some buy goods and services for a “tray”, which is basically a meal, especially one that contains food that may be in demand, such as “chicken on the bone”.
• Some will trade a service such as legal research, haircutting, jail artwork to send to a loved one.
• Some will agree to clean another’s cell in exchange for a candy bar or some coffee.
Basically, everything and anything can be used for trade instead of cash, but one thing is for certain, in jail, you must pay your debt. If you agree to do something when it comes to owing “money”, and you don’t pay, you may end up with a broken jaw when you least expect it.
Inmates in jail and prisoners in prisons, in lieu of cash, trade food, meals, haircuts, cell cleaning, legal research, artwork and communication credits (phone, email, etc.).
Commissaries carry every type of food imaginable:
• Cookies
• Pastries
• Candy
• Tuna and mackerel
• Coffee
• Tea
• Soft drinks
• Energy drinks
• Pizza
• Hamburgers
• Chicken fingers
• Spices
Some jails have larger selections than others, and some contract with companies that ship in gift packages of food, and even fast food that can be reheated.
Prisons in Canada even have small fast-food outlets that operate within the jail.
Besides the food products mentioned above, inmates can purchase:
• hygiene products like soaps, shampoos and lotions,
• clothing like sweats, t-shirts, hoodies and sneakers,
• stationary supplies
• religious garments
• books
• televisions, radios and headphones
• movie and television programming
• educational courses
Inmate Money Deposit Instructions for West County Detention Facility
1. Online - Making a deposit using a verified Visa or Mastercard online, or using their Apple or Android App.
2. By phone - Dial 866.345.1884 to reach their 24/7 Access Corrections domestic call centers.
3. Jail Lobby Kiosk - Kiosks accept cash, credit cards, and debit cards.
4. Mail-in Lockbox - Friends or Family who do not have a credit or debit card can mail money orders to their secure lockbox to make deposits to an inmate’s account. Depositors use a customized form that captures all needed information. Upon receipt, they process and post the deposits to the inmate's trust fund in approximately 48 hours.
Money orders may be mailed to inmates at:
Access Corrections
P.O. Box 12486
St. Louis, MO 63132
Money orders must be made out to "Access Secure Deposits".
Include the state, city, inmate name and ID number on all money orders.
5. Walk-in Cash Deposits - Go to any Cash Pay Today location to deposit cash to your inmate's account.
Secure Deposits - Frequently Asked Questions
Secure Deposits - Video Tutorial on How it Works
Secure Deposits - Help Pages
Customer Service Contacts:
Phone: 866-345-1884
Email: [email protected]
Online Chat - Look for 'bubble' on bottom right of the page linked here.
West County Detention Facility Commissary Instructions
Access Securepak carries over 1,000 different items in the following categories:
- Food and Snacks
- Personal Hygiene Products
- Electronics
- Apparel
Registration Process:
1. Register here.
2. Select California.
3. Select West County Detention Facility.
4. Find your Inmate.
5. Deposit Funds.
6. Order Commissary Items.
Once you are logged in, you will receive instructions on how much (and what products) you can send your inmate.
Contact Information:
* If you have any questions, you can call Access Securepak at 800-546-6283.
* You can email My Care Pack at [email protected].
* You can write them at:
Access Securepak
10880 Linpage Place
St. Louis, MO 63132
* You can Live Chat with a Representative online: (bottom left corner of page)
Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.–11 p.m. CST,
and Saturdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. CST.
*Note* Access Securepak will issue a refund for or replace broken, damaged, or missing products reported by West County Detention Facility staff. They will not honor reports of discrepancies from inmate's families or friends.
My CarePack is the West County Detention Facility's outside vendor for Commissary Items. They have a very good mix of Chips, Snacks, Candy, Meat, Seafood, Hygiene products, Letter writing materials, Electronics and Apparel items for sale on their website.
*NOTE* -- Once you are fully registered and have selected the inmate you wish to send commissary to, you will receive instructions on how much you can deposit, how much (and what) you can purchase for your inmate, and how often you can send commissary.
What is the Maximum Amount You Can Add to an Inmate's Account?
All Jails have limits on how much money an inmate can have on the books at any one time.
They also have limits on how much you can deposit for an inmate at a time.
The standard monthly limit an inmate can spend is between $300 and $400. After signing up for Access Corrections Secure Deposits, and choosing your inmate, you will be instructed on what the maximum deposit and frequency is for your inmate and West County Detention Facility.
What Can You Purchase for an Inmate's Commissary at West County Detention Facility
Access Securepak carries over 1,000 different items in the following categories:
- Food and Snacks
- Personal Hygiene Products
- Electronics
- Apparel
Registration Process:
1. Register here.
2. Select California.
3. Select West County Detention Facility.
4. Find your Inmate.
5. Deposit Funds.
6. Order Commissary Items.
Once you are logged in, you will receive instructions on how much (and what products) you can send your inmate.
Contact Information:
* If you have any questions, you can call Access Securepak at 800-546-6283.
* You can email My Care Pack at [email protected].
* You can write them at:
Access Securepak
10880 Linpage Place
St. Louis, MO 63132
* You can Live Chat with a Representative online: (bottom left corner of page)
Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.–11 p.m. CST,
and Saturdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. CST.
*Note* Access Securepak will issue a refund for or replace broken, damaged, or missing products reported by West County Detention Facility staff. They will not honor reports of discrepancies from inmate's families or friends.
Access Securepak is the West County Detention Facility's outside vendor for Commissary Items. They have a very good mix of Chips, Snacks, Candy, Meat, Seafood, Hygiene products, Letter writing materials, Electronics and Apparel items for sale on their website.
Here is a sample of what you can purchase for your inmate:
Food
Hygiene
Apparel
Electronics
*NOTE* -- Once you are fully registered and have selected the inmate you wish to send commissary to, you will receive instructions on how much you can deposit, how much (and what) you can purchase for your inmate, and how often you can send commissary.
Who can Add Money to an Inmate's Account?
Anybody can contribute to an inmate's 'books' or commissary fund as long as there isn't a no-contact order in place.
Because of the ability for family members and friends to deposit money online using a credit or debit card at Access Corrections Secure Deposits, jail inmates at West County Detention Facility can now receive funds from anywhere in the world.
Why Do Inmates in West County Detention Facility need Commissary?
Since inmates are not allowed to possess cash money while in custody, the West County Detention Facility allows the inmate's family and/or friends to purchase products online from Access Secure Pak.
This allows them to obtain items such as personal hygiene products, snacks, apparel, electronics and stationery supplies. Otherwise they go without, and you don't want them to be obligated to others for their basic needs.
Medical Copays, Jail Fees and other Inmate Expenses
Many jails debit (charge) an inmate's commissary accounts for medical visits, any medications including over-the-counter pain reliever, jail stay fees, restitution, etc.
Taking this into consideration when deciding how much to deposit will ensure the inmate gets the amount you wanted him to have after things are deducted.
A quick call to the West County Detention Facility at 510-262-4200 will let you know how much is deducted from the books for each fee related to medical issues or other jail expenses.
Important Tips and Information About Your Inmate's Commissary
Sometimes an inmate's commissary money is used to purchase items to pay gambling debts or purchase prescription medicine from another inmate. If your inmate is spending more than $10.00 a day on commissary items, you are most likely paying for him or her to gamble or buy drugs.
Some inmates, specifically those who are targeted for being weak or are in jail for rape or child molestation, are forced to relinquish their commissary to avoid regular beatings from other inmates.
If you think your inmate is being targeted for violence or having their commissary taken to avoid beatings, contact the West County Detention Facility and ask to investigate. If an inmate is being targeted, they will intervene and have the victim placed in protective custody, away from the general population.
Put your financial needs first and the inmate's second. Don't forget, the inmate is getting three free 2,000 calorie meals a day. The food may not be of the highest quality, but the commissary food is generally much less nutritious.
Click here to purchase commissary online for your inmate at West County Detention Facility.
Option 1 - Dropping Money at the Jail
Bring money to the jail in person.
Either the jail personnel will process the Inmate Account payment or you will use a self-serve kiosk in the lobby that accepts cash, debit or Visa and MC credit cards.
Option 2 - Mail the Inmate Deposit to the Jail
Mailing a deposit takes more time to process than the other methods but can be done if you live too far away to bring it in person.
Never send cash. Always send a Money Order from the US Post Office.
Make the Money Order out to the inmate and put their Inmate ID# in memo section of the Money Order.
Mail to the West County Detention Facility:
5555 Giant Highway
Richmond, CA 94806
For complete information on depositing money at the West County Detention Facility, including limits, where to drop or mail them and anything else, check out our Inmate Money page.
Pigeonly allows you to physically or digitally send an inmate:
Pigeonly offers a service where you don't even have to use the USPS to send the inmate mail, but can send your letters and photos directly from your phone or computer. There are several plans; monthly and annual, that come with a fee, but save you the trouble of dealing with writing and mailing letters the old school way.
will either print them out for your inmate or put them on a terminal in their unit to see and read them.
For complete information on using pigeonly to mail letters, email letters, cards, photos, articles, as well as find out pricing plans, check out our Inmate Email page or Inmate Mail page.
Postcards
The West County Detention Facility allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature.
Envelopes
The West County Detention Facility also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates.
Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate Name – Booking Number
West County Detention Facility - 1118
PO Box 96777
Las Vegas, NV 89193
Legal Mail
Send all legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate Name – Booking Number
West County Detention Facility
5555 Giant Highway
Richmond, CA 94806
Newspapers
Local or national newspapers may also be mailed to the inmate as long as they are mailed directly from the newspaper publisher.
Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.
Books
The West County Detention Facility allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address below.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the West County Detention Facility standards will be disposed of. No more than three books may be shipped at any one time.
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.
All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate Name – Booking Number
West County Detention Facility
5555 Giant Highway
Richmond, CA 94806
Follow these instructions on how to open an account with GTL Connect Network (aka Viapath Technologies)
For full instructions on the West County Detention Facility Inmate Phone System, what the costs are, how it works, and tips and guidelines on rules, regulations and saving money on calls, check out our Inmate Phones Page.
To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in West County Detention Facility follow these steps:
For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in West County Detention Facility check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Contra Costa County.
To send commissary money to an inmate in West County Detention Facility follow these steps:
For all information on how to Send Money to an inmate's account check out our full money and commissary guide for West County Detention Facility.
How do you deposit money in the Commissary Account of a West County Detention Facility inmate online?
For online deposits West County Detention Facility uses a third-party service called Access Corrections. You must first register with them. A link to them can be find on the page above. After registering, you can choose this facility, West County Detention Facility, then select the inmate you want to send money to, choose how much you want to send, then input a credit or debit card for payment. Your inmate will receive the money in his or her account immediately. Note that there is small fee for using this service. If you have any questions or you want to make a deposit over the phone, call Access Corrections at 866-345-1884. Learn more about how to send money to an inmate in the West County Detention Facility.
Can you deposit money to an inmate directly at West County Detention Facility?
Yes, you can deposit money directly at West County Detention Facility either one of two ways: 1. There will be kiosk in the jail lobby which accepts cash, credit and debit cards. 2. You can mail a money order, made out to the inmate with his Inmate ID# number on it also, to the jail at: 5555 Giant Highway
Richmond, CA 94806.
If you have any questions, call the jail at 510-262-4200. Learn more about how to send money to an inmate in the West County Detention Facility.
Does the inmate have to be a member of my family in order to send money to them?
No. Anyone, as long as there is NOT a court-ordered 'no contact order' in place, can send money to an inmate in West County Detention Facility. Learn more about how to send money to an inmate in the West County Detention Facility.
What is the maximum amount of money I can send to an inmate in West County Detention Facility?
The maximum deposit you can send an inmate at any one time is usually $300-400. This amount is subject to change however, so be sure to check with the West County Detention Facility by calling 510-262-4200 before sending a money order to them. If you are depositing money online using Access Corrections, or using the kiosk at the jail, you will be told the monetary limits by the system at the time of the deposit. In addition, West County Detention Facility will have a limit on how much the inmate can spend on commissary products in any given week. Learn more about how to send money to an inmate in the West County Detention Facility.
How much can an inmate spend on commissary products each week?
West County Detention Facility updates the amount of money an inmate can spend on commissary each week from time to time, but generally the maximum amount they can spend will never exceed $125.00 per week. The kiosk you use at the jail to deposit money, or the website of Access Corrections, will always post the maximum amount an inmate can spend each week on commissary, but for confirmation you call call the jail directly at 510-262-4200. Learn more about how to send money to an inmate in the West County Detention Facility.
What can an inmate in West County Detention Facility spend his money on?
Inmates in West County Detention Facility can use the commissary money that you deposit into their accounts to purchase phone cards, stamps, stationary supplies, snacks, candy, hygiene products and certain types of clothing allowed by the jail. If the facility has extra fees for medical visits or medication, it may also be used for that. Lastly, if the inmate's judge allows 'self-bail' and the inmate has the funds, he or she can use their funds to bond themselves out of custody. Learn more about how to send money to an inmate in the West County Detention Facility or call the facility at 510-262-4200.
Can I make a deposit into a West County Detention Facility inmate's account anywhere else besides online or using the kiosk at the jail?
Yes. You can also make a deposit to an inmate's account who is incarcerated in the West County Detention Facility at the following walk-in cash payment companies: Cash Pay Today, Ace Cash Express and Western Union. In addition you can make a deposit using a credit or debit card over the phone by calling Access Corrections at 866-345-1884. Learn more about how and where to send money to an inmate in the West County Detention Facility.
