Charles County Detention Center Inmate Commissary

Charles County Detention Center

Address:
6905 Crain Highway
La Plata, MD 20646

Phone:

301-932-3101

Charles County Detention Center Commissary Information

Charles County Detention Center contracts with Oasis Commissary (aka jailcanteen.com) for the online ordering of snacks and other foods, hygiene products, letter writing materials, clothing and reading glasses.



Family members and friends can go to their website, order for their inmate and have it delivered directly to Charles County Detention Center.

Instructions
1.     Register here first.    
2.    Confirm registration in your email.
3.    Select Maryland, then Charles County Detention Center, then input your inmate’s name.
4.    Shop… then pay using a Visa, MC or Discover credit or debit card.

Useful Information
1.     Each order incurs a $5.95 processing fee.
2.    Orders are delivered once a week.
3.    There is no limit to the number of orders you can place each week.
4.    You can purchase orders for multiple inmates and/or at multiple jails.
5.    Orders are processed weekly. The cutoff time is on Sunday at 11:59 PM.
6.    Orders are delivered to the jail within ten days.
7.    Returns incur a 20% restocking fee.

Resources
Frequently Asked Questions.  
Check the Status of your order here.  
Online Contact Form.

Oasis is now offering tablets for inmates to use for easy ordering of commissary of products. They can be used for free for 15 minutes at a time.  If an inmate wishes to use on a reguar basis for education, entertainment or programming, they can be rented for a small monthly fee.

Customer Service Contact
Call 800-956-2747 Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST. 
Email: [email protected].

What Services does JAIL ATM Offer?

JailATM – Send Money or Send Commissary Gift Packs to Charles County Detention Center

Note: While JailATM offers the following inmate services, Charles County Detention Center may not allow all of them. Check on the JailATM website to confirm. Services available through JailATM are subject to change with no notice.

Send Money

  • Charles County Detention Center has an agreement with JailATM so that you can deposit money online or using the kiosk in the jail lobby.

Send Gift Packs

  • Charles County Detention Center has an agreement with JailATM, which ships predetermined Gift Packs of candy, snacks and hygiene products to the inmate. Check the JailATM website to see if they allow Gift Packs.
  • When available these may be ordered by you online and then are delivered directly to the inmate.

What is an Inmate Commissary?

Commissary, also known as Canteen, is the ‘store’ within a jail or prison where inmates can purchase items that they want or need to make their stay in jail or prison less of a burden.

Snacks and comfort foods, branded hygiene products they are used to, sneakers and t-shirts, prayer blankets, radios, headphones, television sets, tablets, stationary products and art supplies; depending on the facility, there are thousands of products to choose from.

Some jail and prison systems run their own commissary store, others contract out to companies that serve dozens or hundreds of jails, where inmates and/or their friends and families can purchase products through a website from home, or a kiosk or tablet within their facility.

What items can inmates purchase in jail and prison?

Food
•    Cookies
•    Pastries
•    Candy
•    Tuna and mackerel
•    Coffee and Tea
•    Soft drinks
•    Energy drinks
•    Pizza
•    Hamburgers
•    Chicken fingers
•    Spices

Hygiene
•    Shampoo
•    Soap
•    Shaving supplies
•    Lotions
•    Deodorant
•    Oral care
•    Toilet paper
•    Nail care

Clothing
•    Sweats
•    Sneakers
•    Shorts
•    Underwear and bras
•    Socks
•    Jackets
•    Hats

Electronics
•    Televisions
•    Radios
•    Headphones
•    Tablets
•    Watches

Miscellaneous
•    Playing cards
•    Games
•    Bibles
•    Books
•    Art supplies
•    Stationery supplies
•    Vaping products (only some states)
•    Greeting cards

How much money can an inmate spend on commissary each month?

Generally, the maximum spend in jail is about $300 per month. Prisons allow a bit more as it is more of a permanent home, whereby jail is temporary. To find out how much an inmate in the Charles County Detention Center can spend each month, call 301-932-3101.

How often can inmates purchase commissary?

Some jails it's twice a week, others once a week or every other week. A lot of the online stores care pack companies are once a month. To find out the exact schedule for Charles County Detention Center, call 301-932-3101.

How can a friend or family member deposit money for an inmate in jail or prison?

Charles County Detention Center has its own methods for receiving money for inmates, and that information can be found above or by calling 301-932-3101 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 Charles County Detention Center, 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 301-932-3101.

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 Charles County Detention Center contracts with for inmate deposits, call them at 301-932-3101.

How expensive are items on commissary?

Items on commissary are no more expensive than they would be at a local Walmart store.

What is a Commissary deposit?

A commissary deposit is the money that a person on the outside deposits in an inmate’s trust account, so they can have money to spend on commissary and communication services.

How much money can inmate have in his commissary account?

The limit that an inmate can have in their commissary account is usually about $300.00. To find out what the limit is for Charles County Detention Center, call 301-932-3101.

Can I send an inmate a package or care pack??

Many jails contract with companies that send food, hygiene products and/or clothing to inmates. These can be purchased and sent by friends and family on a weekly or monthly basis.

You can only send items from the one that your jail has a contract with. 

An inmate carepack is a pack of snacks and/or hygiene products that friends or family members of an inmate can purchase online and have shipped to an inmate. The carepack company needs to have a contract with the facility before it can be shipped to the inmate.

Check this page, the Money Page or the Commissary Page for further information, or call the jail at 301-932-3101 to see which one that the Charles County Detention Center works with.

Here are the commissary package companies, in alphabetical order, that provide this service to jails in the United States:

Access Securepak
Care A Cell
Commissary order
Correct Pay
Express Account
icare
Inmate Canteen
Jail ATM
Jail Pack Store (McDaniel Supply)
My Care Pack
Oasis (jailcanteen)
Prodigy Solutions
Tiger
Union Supply Direct

Can an inmate buy gifts on commissary?

Not really. Other than the basic supplies mentioned above there are no gifts other than greeting cards that they can fill out and mail to a friend, family or loved one.

Charles County Bail Bond Information

Because Charles County and Maryland can change their bail bond procedures, it is always best to call either the Charles County Detention Center at 301-932-3101, or the court in the jurisdiction (i.e. Municipal Court, District Court, etc.) where the offender was charged, and do this right after an arrestee has been booked. 

Ask the staff at the Charles County Detention Center or the Charles County Court Clerk these specific questions:

  1. Is the defendant eligible for bail or a bond?
  2. How much will the bail or bond be, and what are the additional fees?
  3. Where do I go to pay it?
  4. Are there any days or times of the day or night when I cannot post bail?
  5. What types of payment are allowed? Cash? Money order? Credit card? What types of credit cards? Property or other collateral? Surety bonds?
  6. Do I have to use a bail or bond agent?

If you feel the bail is too high and you wish to get it reduced, contact a lawyer or the defendant's public defender and get them to look into what they can do to get a bail reduction. The sooner you get working on this the quicker you will get your loved one released. 

This entire process will go smoother and faster with a criminal attorney or bail agent handling it for you.


 

Charles County Detention Center Inmate Mail Guidelines

Postcards
The Charles County Detention Center 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 Charles County Detention Center also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates.

Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID# (call 301-932-3101 for this)
Charles County Detention Center - Maryland
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131



Legal Mail

Send all legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID# (call 301-932-3101 for this)
Charles County Detention Center
6905 Crain Highway
La Plata, MD 20646



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 Charles County Detention Center 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 Charles County Detention Center 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# (call 301-932-3101 for this)
Charles County Detention Center
6905 Crain Highway
La Plata, MD 20646


 


TextBehind enables you to communicate with your incarcerated loved ones located inside the United States from anywhere in the world using text letters, kids' drawings, and custom greeting cards. Unlimited inmate reply letters are processed for electronic delivery to your smartphone and email at no extra charge.
The cost to send an electronic letter is approximately $1.00.

Here’s how it works for Charles County Detention Center:
1.    All offender mail (paper and electronic) is addressed and delivered to TextBehind. Electronic mail is sent through the apps (iphone, Google Play). Paper mail is sent to the address below:
Inmate Name and Inmate Number
Charles County Detention Center Maryland
(note: please do not abbreviate the name)
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131

2.    If it was sent via TextBehind's app (iphone, Google Play), TextBehind can process it within one business day.
3.    An additional step is involved in processing mail that is sent using the U.S. Postal Service. TextBehind will  use a scanner to make digital files of the contents of the mailing—including cards, photos or artwork.
4.    All digital files are then forwarded to the offender’s assigned prison.
5.    Charles County Detention Center mailroom prints approved pages and delivers them to the inmate.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • TextBehind does not deliver any mail to the inmate directly, nor do they guarantee delivery of your letters to the inmates by the courier, jail or prison staff. Once they process your mail and ship them out on your behalf, they are out of the loop entirely. However, at times they may offer to resend your letters under certain strict conditions as a courtesy. 
  • Inmates do not receive any invites when you add them, and neither do they need to accept the use of TextBehind service. Once you add the inmate, you can create letters for them. 

Here’s what happens when TextBehind receives a letter from an inmate:

  • Upon receiving, TextBehind staff open their letters, scan, and upload high-quality images to your TextBehind account as a complimentary service. You are not required to have any money or credits balance in your TextBehind account to receive inmate letters.
  • Next, you will receive a text and email alert to notify you of any new incoming reply letters. At that time, you can log into the TextBehind website or mobile app and view letters in your CONTACTS >> Click on Conversation Icon. 

YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS...

  • Inmates do require a stamp to send out their letters to TextBehind using Postal Service.
  • The cash or credit balance from your TextBehind account will not be shared with inmates as a substitute for the stamps. 
  • All letters printed and shipped by TextBehind nationwide to virtually any jail or prison facility are delivered to the jails/prisons by couriers such as the USPS or FedEx as their standard process.
  • After the shipments, TextBehind has no control over the process.
  • The delivery of your letters depends on couriers and prison staff taking necessary action on time.

IMPORTANT TextBehind LINKS:
Register / Log in with TextBehind
Contact TextBehind with Questions
Add an Inmate to your list of Contacts

** Address to Mail letters using TextBehind **
Inmate Name and Inmate Number
Charles County Detention Center Maryland (
note: please do not abbreviate the name)
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131

Why is TextBehind used by Lockups?
Due to the problem of letters and postcards containing, or soaked in contraband (drugs), TextBehind electronic and physical letters is replacing the former policy of allowing mail to be sent directly from inmate’s friends and family members, and vice versa.


 

How to Deposit Money Online for an Inmate in Charles County

To deposit money online for an inmate in Charles County Detention Center follow these steps:

  • Register to open an account, or Sign In to JailATM, a service that acts as a bank for inmates in Charles County.
  • After registering and signing in, select 'Send Money Now'.
  • Choose Maryland, then choose Charles County Detention Center
  • Type in your inmate's last name or their Inmate ID.
  • Select your inmate.
  • Input an amount to deposit to your inmate in Charles County Detention Center, and then input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much money you can send your inmate in Charles County at any one time.
  • If you need to phone customer support, call 877-810-0914.

For all information, tips and procedures for sending money to an inmate in Charles County Detention Center, or depositing money at the jail, over the phone or by mail, check out our Send Money Page for Charles County.


 

How to visit an inmate in Charles County Maryland using Video Visitation or visiting an inmate at the jail

To visit an inmate in Charles County follow these steps:

  • In addition to visiting inmates at the jail, Charles County Detention Center uses a video visitation service called iWebVisit.com.
  • In order to visit with your inmate online or at the Charles County Jail Video Kiosk, you must first register with iWebVisit.
  • Registering is free.
  • Next, select “Choose A Facility” and then select Charles County Detention Center. This will become your “Default” facility each time you log in.
  • Next, Click “Schedule a Visit” and enter your inmate's name and inmate number.
  • Select either “Visit Now” or “Schedule Visit Later” and choose an available date and time.
  • After your visit payment is processed, you may begin visiting your inmate in Charles County at your scheduled time. 

Who do you contact if you are having any problems arranging the remote video visit of an inmate in Charles County?
Call iWebVisit support at 775-434-8748. They are available 7 Days a week (5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. PST / 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. EST)

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


 

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Charles County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Charles County Detention Center follow these steps:

  • Select Maryland, then select Charles County Detention Center, and then select the 'Send a Package Order' option.
  • Register and create an account with My Care Pack, also known as Access Securepak, for Charles County.
  • Choose the inmate and the products you want shipped to them, and input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much product you can send your inmate in Charles County at any one time.

For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Charles County Detention Center check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Charles County.

Customer Service Contact
Call 800-956-2747 Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST. 
Email: [email protected].


 

How Do Inmates in Charles County Detention Center Make Phone Calls?

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

  • Charles County Detention Center uses the services of IC Solutions.
  • Register with them online or call them at 888-506-8407
  • Agents are available 24 hours a day, and speak both English & Spanish.
  • Services for Charles County inmates and their families and friends include Collect Calling, PIN Debits, Purchasing Calling Cards, Voicemail & Prepaid calls.  In addition, IC Solutions provides secure messaging, sending photos, video phone calls and online deposits for inmates and their families in Charles County.
  • Although rates are subject to change, they generally run about $0.21 per minute for phone calls.

Note: All your calls with an inmate are recorded, stored and shared with law enforcement if the conversation deals with your case or any criminal activity. Anything communicated can be used against you or your inmate in court.

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


 

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