Alabama · commissary guide
Alabama commissary: how to send money and find a facility
Commissary is the store inside a jail or prison where your loved one buys food, hygiene items and stamps with money in their account. Here is how it works in Alabama, with official links and 131 facilities in our directory.
Adding money in Alabama state prisons
Alabama Department of Corrections runs the state prison system. On its official pages, it lists these ways for families to add money to an account:
- Online by debit/credit card through Access Corrections
- By phone 24/7 through Access Corrections
- Cash at retail locations through CashPayToday
- Money order by mail with a deposit coupon to Secure Deposits, Alabama DOC (St. Louis, MO lockbox)
Deposit companies named by the agency: Access Corrections, CashPayToday.
Official page on sending money
Commissary rules
- Incentive and footwear packages are ordered through Union Supply from pre-approved lists
County and city jails in Alabama
Each county jail chooses its own commissary and deposit company, so the options can differ from the state prisons. Look for the sheriff's office website, or call the jail before you send money. Our guide on sending money to someone in jail covers the common options.
Federal prisons in Alabama
3 federal facilities are in Alabama. Federal prisons follow Bureau of Prisons rules, not state rules. See our federal prison commissary guide.
Finding your loved one
Use the official Alabama inmate locator for state prisons. For a county jail, check that county sheriff's inmate roster.
Questions families ask
How many prisons and jails are in Alabama?
Our directory lists 131 adult facilities in Alabama, including 20 prisons and 82 county or city jails. It is built from public government datasets, so check with the facility for the latest details.
How do I put money on someone's commissary in a Alabama state prison?
Alabama Department of Corrections lists these options: Online by debit/credit card through Access Corrections; By phone 24/7 through Access Corrections; Cash at retail locations through CashPayToday; Money order by mail with a deposit coupon to Secure Deposits, Alabama DOC (St. Louis, MO lockbox). You will need the person's ID number and facility. Fees and rules can change, so confirm on the official page first.
How do I find someone in a Alabama prison?
Use the Alabama Department of Corrections official inmate locator at https://www.doc.alabama.gov/inmate/inmate-search/. County jails keep their own rosters, usually on the sheriff's office website.
Do county jails in Alabama use the same deposit system as state prisons?
Not always. Each county jail picks its own commissary and deposit vendor, so check the sheriff's office website or call the jail before you send money.
Sources
Official pages checked 2026-11-03. Rules change, so confirm with the facility before sending money.