Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles Inmate Commissary

Search for an Inmate in Shelby County

Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles

Address:
201 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN 38103

Phone:

(901) 377-4500

Buy Commissary for an Inmate in the Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles

Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles Inmate Commissary - Sending Money or Purchasing Commissary for an Inmate

The Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles allows inmates to purchase commissary. This can be snacks, hygiene products, stamps, stationary, clothing and even electronics.

There is a monthly limit of $200-300 on how much inmates can spend on commissary items. This is subject to change so call the facility at (901) 377-4500 in order to confirm the amount that cannot be exceeded.

Inmates have access to both an in-house commissary store, and commissary packages that can be purchased and shipped to the inmate by friends and family.

Scroll down for further information on the commissary program, how it works, what type of things inmates can buy, how often they receive commissary, and a lot more.

You can also go to our Inmate Money page for information on how to send money to an inmate.

Inmate Money Deposit Instructions for Inmate Communications Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles

Depositing Money for Communicating with an Inmate

How to Make a Deposit for Phone, Email or Visitation using GettingOut.com

Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles uses GettingOut for some or all of its communication services with an inmate.

If you want to deposit money using this company for your use or your inmate's account, there are four ways to do it:

  • Online - They accept all major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
  • At the Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles using the kiosk in the jail lobby - (cash, debit or credit card) NOTE - Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles may require identity verification so bring your driver’s license or some other form of ID.
  • By phone by calling 866-516-0115 - They have bi-lingual operators are standing by 24 hours 7 days a week to assist you with your deposit. Major credit cards accepted are Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
  • By using their app, either Android or iphone. - All credit cards mentioned above are accepted.

Occasionally, it may take up to 72 hours for funds to be active on an inmate Trust & Commissary account, however most people experience deposits are available immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions about Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles Commissary


What is Inmate Commissary?

What items can inmates purchase in jail and prison?

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

How often can inmates purchase commissary?

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

What companies do jails use to send money to inmates?

How do I send an inmate money by mail?

Can I send an inmate money using the internet?

How expensive are items on commissary?

What is a Commissary Deposit?

How much money can an inmate have in his commissary account?

Can I send an inmate a package or care pack?

Can an inmate buy gifts on commissary?


 

 

What is 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.

Commissary can be purchased directly by inmates using money deposited into the accounts, or purchased online by friends and family, which are then shipped to the inmate.


 

 

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 Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles can spend each month, call (901) 377-4500 or review the commissay instructions.


 

 

How often can inmates purchase commissary?

Some jails allow the purchase of commissary 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 the Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles, call (901) 377-4500.


 

 

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

Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles has its own methods for receiving money for inmates, and that information can be found above or by calling (901) 377-4500 and asking, however most jails and prisons 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 Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles, this online deposit information will be outlined above.


 

 

What companies do 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 (901) 377-4500 to confirm this address for the Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles:

201 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN 38103


 

 

Can I send an inmate money using the internet?

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 Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles contracts with for inmate deposits, go to the inmate money page or call them at (901) 377-4500.


 

 

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 the inmate can have money to spend on commissary and communication services.


 

 

How much money can an 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 Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles, call the facility at (901) 377-4500.


 

 

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 the Money Page or the Commissary Page for this information, or call the jail at (901) 377-4500 to see which one that the Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles 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.

There are five choices for putting money on an inmate's books that may be used for paying an inmate's Bond or Bail.

Check with Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles by calling (901) 377-4500 prior to paying a bond online as this is being rolled out to different facilities slowly.

1. Commissary money in the form of a money order may be mailed to:
AdvancePay Service Department
P.O. Box 911722
Denver, CO 80291-1722

2. You may use cash or credit/debit cards at any time by using the kiosk located in the front lobby.  The fee for the use of the ATM is generally $1.50 per transaction for cash and 10% fee for credit/debit cards.

3. Commissary money can also be added to an inmates account at any time using any of these methods online.

4Cash deposits to ConnectNetwork are now available at 26,000 retail locations nationwide including Walmart, ACE, Kmart, Kroger, and more. You’ll start the payment process online in your ConnectNetwork account, then complete your transaction with cash at a participating local retail store. Plus, many of these stores are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Find a retail store near you.

5. You can call customer service 24/7 at 877-650-4249 and get instructions for depositing money over the phone using a debit or credit card.


 

How to Deposit Money in an Inmate's Trust Account in Order to Purchase Prepaid Calling Cards, Phone Calling Time or Commissary

To Deposit Money in an inmate's account follow these steps:

  • Create a ConnectNetwork account 
  • Select your inmate, and add to them to your account,
  • Deposit money into his or her commissary account.

**NOTE** GTL is in a transition merging into a new company called ViaPath Technologies.


Features:

  • Deposit options available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via phone 877-650-4249, and online.
  • Mobile-friendly deposit options are available via their app.
  • Deposits and payments made through automated channels (ConnectNetwork Website, Mobile App, Toll Free Phone, or Kiosk at the jail) are transmitted to the facility within one business day.
  • Deposits that are mailed are processed the next business day after they are received by GTL.
  • Inmate can choose how to spend the funds you deposit.

All the information you need to understand depositing money into an inmate's trust fund, specifically for phone calls, but also for Commissary, in Shelby County, can be found on our Send Money Page.


 

How to Arrange Video Visitation with Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles Inmates

Follow these instructions to schedule and then visit an inmate using GTL.

  • Register yourself and all visitors.
  • Select Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles
  • Select your inmate.
  • Schedule your preferred time for the visit.

For all the information you need to know regarding scheduling, cost, rules, tips and guidelines of inmate visits at the Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles, check out our Visit Inmate Page.


 

How Do You Communicate with an Inmate in the Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles by Phone

Follow these instructions on how to open an account with GTL Connect Network (aka Viapath Technologies)

  • Advance Pay - This phone account allows you to prepay so that your inmate can call you (and only you) whenever he/she wants and the cost of each call is deducted from your balance. You can even be notified by text when your balance gets low. You still have the option of accepting or rejecting each call.
  • Pin Debit  -  This option allows you to fund an inmate's commissary account and lets him pay for phone calls to you and others with the money. You will have no control over who your inmate calls.
  • Voicemail  -  You can leave a secure voicemail without having to contact the facility. When you call the local phone number for a facility offering Inmate Voicemail (call Customer Service at 877-650-4249 to get the local voicemail number for Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles, you will be informed of the cost for leaving a message. To leave your message, simply select the inmate by ID number. Then, record your voicemail.

For full instructions on the Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles 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.


 

Depositing Money for Communicating with an Inmate

How to Make a Deposit for Phone, Email or Visitation using GettingOut.com

Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles uses GettingOut for some or all of its communication services with an inmate.

If you want to deposit money using this company for your use or your inmate's account, there are four ways to do it:

  • Online - They accept all major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
  • At the Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles using the kiosk in the jail lobby - (cash, debit or credit card) NOTE - Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles may require identity verification so bring your driver’s license or some other form of ID.
  • By phone by calling 866-516-0115 - They have bi-lingual operators are standing by 24 hours 7 days a week to assist you with your deposit. Major credit cards accepted are Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
  • By using their app, either Android or iphone. - All credit cards mentioned above are accepted.

For all the information you need to know, including tips, guidelines and warnings about depositing money in a Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles inmate's account for communication services, check out our Send Money page.


 

How Inmates Can Use a Tablet to Access Services at Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles

To find out how to get access to a tablet for inmate read the following:

1.  First, Register or Sign In to GettingOut/GTL

2.  Purchase the services you want for your Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles inmate.
3. All inmates have free access to the tablets to read their letters from family & friends, but there are many other services available to keep your inmate busy while incarcerated... such as Games, Books, Music and Movies. These other services come with fees that you can pay for when you pay for phone service.

To learn more about Tablet Rentals for inmates, including the cost, all the services available and everything else you need to know, check out our Tablet Rental Page.


 

How to Communicate with an Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles Inmate by Mail and by Email

To mail or email an inmate in Shelby County follow these steps:

When mailing a letter or postcard to an inmate, please follow these instructions:

  • All mail sent to an inmate at the Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles must include the sender's name and mailing address in the top left corner of the envelope or postcard.
  • All mail must include the facility's address, as well as the inmate's name and assigned number.
  • Failure to include your return address will most likely result in your mail NOT being delivered and your letter destroyed.
  • The Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles has a zero-tolerance policy regarding mail violations. 
  • All the information you need to understand mail and email policies can be found on our Inmate Mail Page and our Text/Email an Inmate Page.

Emailing Messages & Photos

Facility_name_1} contracts with GTL GettingOut, the same service that handles iInmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.
 
If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.

Then use the Facility Finder to:
1.  Select Shelby County Jail-Violent Juveniles,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.

  • Messages can be up to 500 characters long, including punctuation. At the bottom of your message there is a 'character countdown' feature.  
  • After you click the “CONTINUE” button, you can review the cost to send your message to your inmate. You can also attach credits for your inmate to reply to your message.  Be sure to accept the Terms and Conditions and click the “SEND” button for your message to be successfully delivered to your inmate.
  • You can also send your Shelby County inmate photos and videos.

Customer Service Questions
'Online' Contact Form, or
Call   866-516-0115

Go here to this FAQ to get answers to how the transition to ViaPath from GTL and gettingout will affect your account.

All the information you need to understand mail and email policies for Shelby County can be found on our Inmate Mail Page and our Text/Email an Inmate Page.


 

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