California · commissary guide
California 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 California, with official links and 292 facilities in our directory.
Adding money in California state prisons
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation runs the state prison system. On its official pages, it lists these ways for families to add money to an account:
- Electronic funds transfer (paid service) through GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, or Access Corrections; posts in 1-3 days
- Money order, personal check, or cashier's check to the JPay lockbox (no fee; max $999.99 per deposit form)
- Check or money order payable to CDCR mailed to the institution (no fee; 30-day hold)
Deposit companies named by the agency: GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, Access Corrections.
Official page on sending money
County and city jails in California
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 California
19 federal facilities are in California. Federal prisons follow Bureau of Prisons rules, not state rules. See our federal prison commissary guide.
Finding your loved one
Use the official California 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 California?
Our directory lists 292 adult facilities in California, including 90 prisons and 156 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 California state prison?
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation lists these options: Electronic funds transfer (paid service) through GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, or Access Corrections; posts in 1-3 days; Money order, personal check, or cashier's check to the JPay lockbox (no fee; max $999.99 per deposit form); Check or money order payable to CDCR mailed to the institution (no fee; 30-day hold). 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 California prison?
Use the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation official inmate locator at https://ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov/. County jails keep their own rosters, usually on the sheriff's office website.
Do county jails in California 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.