DeSoto County Jail Sending Money

Search for an Inmate in DeSoto County

DeSoto County Jail

Address:
208 East Cypress Street
Arcadia, FL 34265

Phone:

863-993-4710

Deposit Money for an Inmate in the DeSoto County Jail

The Easiest and Securest Way of Depositing Money for an Inmate

There are several methods for depositing money on an inmate's account:

1. To send money online to an inmate in the DeSoto County Jail use Commissary Deposit.

NOTE: Commissary Deposit provides support by email only. Your request must include the facility name, inmate name, and inmate ID. Requests without these details will not be serviced.

2. Deposit cash or use a debit or credit card using a dedicated kiosk for this purpose. The machine is located in the lobby or visitation area of the DeSoto County Jail.

3. The DeSoto County Jail may also allow you to *mail 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 DeSoto County Sheriff's Office, with the inmate’s name and ID# on the memo line of the check. To confirm this option call the facility at 863-993-4710.

*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, unless the facility allows it. Never send personal checks or cash.

4. The DeSoto County Jail has a reception desk that may accept cash, money orders or cashier checks. Call 863-993-4710 to find out the specific hours for drop off times.

DeSoto County Jail uses CommissaryDeposit.com for Inmate Money Deposits

DeSoto County Jail uses the services of CommissaryDeposit.com for you to securely send money to your inmate for phone and commissary purchases.

Sending an Inmate Money using CommissaryDeposit.com is a simple process:

  • Start here and click ‘DEPOSIT MONEY’
  • Choose Florida
  • Choose DeSoto County Jail
  • View the date your order will be delivered, then click ‘NEXT’.
  • Search for, then Select your inmate.
  • Choose the amount to send.
  • Pay for the deposit transaction

The fees to send money directly to your inmate are as follows:

$0.01 - $25.00 =    $3.25 + 3%
$25.01 - $100  =     $4.50 + 3%
$100.01 to $200 =  $6.00 + 3%
$200.01 & up =       $7.50 + 3%
(*NOTE: The maximum allowed deposit is $260.00)

Contact Information

Customer Support page.
Customer Support phone:   912-584-6102
Email - [email protected]
Customer Support Hours - Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM EST

Commissary Purchase Option

If you prefer to send commissary items to your inmate in DeSoto County Jail instead of sending money to them, go here to order the items.

Commissary Order Fees

In addition to the items you purchase, you will pay a ‘service fee’ for each item selected.

The first item you select will cost you a fee of $2.00-3.00, and then an additional $0.35 to $0.50 for each item you select after that.

Maximum Amount

DeSoto County Jail only allows you to purchase a maximum amount of $200.00 worth of products at a time.

Items you may Purchase from CommissaryOrder.com

  • Clothing - thermals, underwear, bras, shoes.
  • Stationary, envelopes, stamps, playing cards, board games
  • Toiletries, hygiene, reading glasses, medicated creams, aspirin
  • Soda, energy drinks, coffee, packaged meats &fish, soups, cookies, chips, pastries.

Send Money Online to an Inmate in the DeSoto County Jail

How do I send an inmate money?

DeSoto County Jail has its own methods for receiving money for inmates, and that information can be found above or by calling 863-993-4710 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 DeSoto County Jail, this information will be outlined above.

Who are the companies that jails use to send money to inmates?

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

How do I send an inmate money by mail?

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 863-993-4710.

Can I send an inmate money online?

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 DeSoto County Jail contracts with for inmate deposits, call them at 863-993-4710.

How do I send money to someone in the United States Bureau of Prisons?

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:

  • Moneygram
  • Western Union Online Deposits
  • United States Postal Service - Mailing a Payment

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.  DeSoto County Jail 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.


Sending a Moneygram 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.


Sending a Moneygram from a Location

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.  DeSoto County Jail 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.

Sending a Western Union payment 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

  • Type in and select FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISON, then follow Western Union's instructions.
  • For questions, concerns or to add funds via Western Union over the phone, call 800-325-6000.

 

Sending a Western Union payment from a location

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.  DeSoto County Jail 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 DeSoto County Jail will only accept:

  • US Postal Money Orders

**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

What are inmate funds?

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’.

How much money can an inmate have?

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 DeSoto County Jail allows, call the jail at 863-993-4710.

How much money can I send an inmate at one time?

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.

Is it illegal for an inmate to have cash?

It is not illegal for an inmate to have cash, but it is considered contraband and will be confiscated by the DeSoto County Jail 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.

If an inmate can’t have cash in jail or prison, how do they purchase contraband or gamble?

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.

What are things prisoners use or trade in lieu of cash?

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.).

What kind of food can an inmate purchase on Commissary?

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. 

What items can inmates purchase in jail and prison? 

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

How to put money on an inmate's books at DeSoto County Jail

There are two options for putting money on an inmate's books:

Choice 1 - Deposit Inmate Money Online

DeSoto County Jail uses CommissaryDeposit.com to process all online deposits to an inmate's account. The company charges you a small fee for doing so, but the fee probably isn't as much as gas and parking would cost to take it to the jail in person.

Choice 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 and you don't have a debit/credit card for online deposits. Never send cash. Always send a Money Order from the US Post Office, a reputable bank or Western Union.

Make the Money Order out to the inmate's name and put their Inmate ID# in memo section of the Money Order.

**Call 863-993-4710 first to ask DeSoto County Jail if this option is still available.

Inmate Care Packages

DeSoto County Jail may have contracted with a third party Commissary care package company that ships predetermined Care Packages of candy and snacks.

These can be ordered by you online and are delivered directly to the inmate. Call 863-993-4710 to confirm if you don't see the information on this page.

What can an Inmate Purchase through Commissary?

People who have never been to jail would be surprised by the large amount of candy, snacks, art supplies, playing cards, hygiene products and clothing that can be purchased through this jail's commissary.

The DeSoto County Jail Commissary Instructions and Information can be found on this page. If you need more information contact the jail by calling 863-993-4710.

Who Can Put Money in 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, jail inmates can now receive funds from anywhere in the world.

WHY DOES AN INMATE NEED MONEY IN THEIR ACCOUNT AT THE DeSoto County Jail?

Since inmates are not allowed to possess cash money while in custody in the DeSoto County Jail, the jail maintains a 'bank account' for the inmate to purchase products and services from their commissary (canteen) store.

Commissary funds allow inmates to purchase items such as personal hygiene products, snacks and stationery supplies from the jail store.

Inmates can use money from their account to purchase phone time credits or prepaid phone cards in order to make outside phone calls to friends and family members.

Many jails also allow an inmate to bail himself out of jail if he has the funds in his account. The bail amount is typically 10-15% of the bond amount set by the court.

Inmate accounts are also used to pay the co-payment for medication and visits to the jail's medical clinic should they become ill.

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 DeSoto County Jail at 863-993-4710 will let you know how much is deducted from the books for each fee related to medical issues or other jail expenses.

Important Tips

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 DeSoto County Jail and ask to investigate. If an inmate is being targeted, most jails 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.

DeSoto County Jail Inmate Mail Guidelines

Postcards
The DeSoto County Jail 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 DeSoto County Jail also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates.

Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
DeSoto County Jail-FL
Facility ID Number: 5050
P.O. Box 18247
Greensboro, NC 27419



Legal Mail

Send all legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
DeSoto County Jail
208 East Cypress Street
Arcadia, Fl. 34266



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 DeSoto County Jail allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as AmazonBarnes & 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 DeSoto County Jail 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's Full Name & Inmate ID #
DeSoto County Jail
208 East Cypress Street
Arcadia, Fl. 34266


 

Friends and Family can use HomeWAV for messaging with inmates at the DeSoto County Jail


How does HomeWAV messaging system work?

1. Sign Up.
2. Complete both steps of the registration process
3. Add ‘Talk to me Funds’ to your account using your credit or debit card.
4. Start messaging.

Go the the Solutions Page for full video tutorials and answers to your questions.


 

DeSoto County Jail now offers Homewav ComPAS™ (Portable Access System) tablets to their inmates.


 
Homewav is the same company that handles the inmate phone system, video visitations, email and texting and digital letters.

The tablets can be rented on a monthly basis and while not directly connected to the internet, the inmates can use them for phone, visits, messages, education, self-help and entertainment.

Questions:

To learn more about Homewav tablets, the dozens of features, cost and how to get one delivered to your inmate, check out our Inmate Tablet page.


 

How Do Inmates in DeSoto County Jail Make Phone Calls?

To receive phone calls from inmates in DeSoto County, or to assist them in making phone calls to other people, follow these steps:

  • DeSoto County Jail uses the services of HOMEWAV.
  • Register with them online or call them at 844-394-6639
  • Agents are available from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM CST, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and speak both English & Spanish.
  • Services for DeSoto County inmates and their families and friends include Collect Calling, PIN Debits or Purchasing Calling Cards.

For all the information regarding phone calls with DeSoto County inmates; rules, policies, phone calling times, video, messaging, time limits and more, visit our Inmate Phone Page.


 

How to Visit or Email an Inmate in DeSoto County Florida or visiting an inmate at the jail

To visit or email an inmate in DeSoto County follow these steps:

  • In addition to visiting inmates at the jail, DeSoto County Jail uses a video visitation service called HomeWav.
  • Register and Sign Up Here.
  • Complete all steps of the registration process to get full access to DeSoto County Jail inmate communication services.
  • Add ‘Talk to me Funds’ to your account using your credit or debit card.
  • Then you just wait for your DeSoto County inmate to communicate.
    How do you add Funds to your account?
  • Once you are logged in, click “Add Talk to Me Funds".
  • Type in the amount of dollars you want to add to your account.
  • Click “Update”.
  • Choose a way to pay (Credit, debit, or prepaid card).

Who do you contact if you are having any problems arranging the remote video visit, phoning or emailing of an inmate in DeSoto County?
Call HomeWav support at 314-764-2872, or toll free 844-394-6639.
Monday – Friday 
9:00AM to 6:00PM EST
Saturday – Sunday 
8:00AM to 6:00PM EST

NOTE: All communications between you and your inmate at DeSoto County Jail will be recorded and stored. Do not discuss your inmate's case or other sensitive information as it can be used against them (or you) in court.

For full instructions on all the benefits of using Homewav to visit a DeSoto County inmate, visiting an inmate at the jail itself, email and texting an inmate, rates, policies, rules, dress codes, bringing children, attorney and clergy visits and more, go to our official Visit Inmate Page. 


 

How Do Inmates in DeSoto County Jail Make Phone Calls?

To receive phone calls from inmates in DeSoto County, or to assist them in making phone calls to other people, follow these steps:

For all the information regarding phone calls with DeSoto County inmates; rules, policies, phone calling times, costs, limits, tablet rental and more visit our Inmate Phone Page.


 

How to Deposit Money Online for an Inmate's Commissary Account in DeSoto County

To deposit money in an DeSoto County Jail inmate's commissary account follow these instructions:

  • Start here and click ‘DEPOSIT MONEY’ in CommissaryDeposit.com
  • Choose Florida
  • Choose DeSoto County Jail
  • View the date your order will be delivered, then click ‘NEXT’.
  • Search for, then Select your inmate.
  • Choose the amount to send.
  • Register, and Pay for the deposit transaction

Note: You will be charged a fee to send money to your DeSoto County inmate. In addition, there is a maximum amount you can send. 

Contact Information
Customer Support page.
Customer Support phone:   912-584-6102
Email - [email protected]
Customer Support Hours - Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM EST

For complete information on fees, products, policies, deadlines, rules, minimum and maximum deposits and all the information you need to know regarding depositing money for your inmate in DeSoto County, go to our Send Money Page for details.


 

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