District of Columbia · commissary guide
District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia, with official links and 3 facilities in our directory.
Adding money in District of Columbia state prisons
DC Department of Corrections runs the state prison system. On its official pages, it lists these ways for families to add money to an account:
- Western Union online, by phone, or walk-in cash
- OffenderConnect online
- Inmate Connector Kiosk in the Correctional Treatment Facility lobby
Deposit companies named by the agency: Western Union, OffenderConnect.
Official page on sending money
County and city jails in District of Columbia
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.
Finding your loved one
Use the official District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia?
Our directory lists 3 adult facilities in District of Columbia, including 1 prisons and 1 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 District of Columbia state prison?
DC Department of Corrections lists these options: Western Union online, by phone, or walk-in cash; OffenderConnect online; Inmate Connector Kiosk in the Correctional Treatment Facility lobby. 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 District of Columbia prison?
Use the DC Department of Corrections official inmate locator at https://doc.dc.gov/node/305632. County jails keep their own rosters, usually on the sheriff's office website.
Do county jails in District of Columbia 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.