Minnesota · commissary guide
Minnesota 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 Minnesota, with official links and 115 facilities in our directory.
Adding money in Minnesota state prisons
Minnesota Department of Corrections runs the state prison system. On its official pages, it lists these ways for families to add money to an account:
- JPay online, by phone, or cash walk-in
- Money order or cashier's check payable to JPay mailed to the JPay lockbox with deposit form (no fee)
- Cash at MoneyGram locations
- Money orders and cashier's checks not accepted at facility addresses
Deposit companies named by the agency: JPay, MoneyGram.
Official page on sending money
Commissary rules
- Canteen sells snacks, personal care items, and items such as TVs, radios, and hot pots
County and city jails in Minnesota
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 Minnesota
3 federal facilities are in Minnesota. Federal prisons follow Bureau of Prisons rules, not state rules. See our federal prison commissary guide.
Finding your loved one
Use the official Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
Our directory lists 115 adult facilities in Minnesota, including 15 prisons and 89 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 Minnesota state prison?
Minnesota Department of Corrections lists these options: JPay online, by phone, or cash walk-in; Money order or cashier's check payable to JPay mailed to the JPay lockbox with deposit form (no fee); Cash at MoneyGram locations; Money orders and cashier's checks not accepted at facility addresses. 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 Minnesota prison?
Use the Minnesota Department of Corrections official inmate locator at https://mn.gov/doc/family-visitor/search-individuals-fugitives/index.jsp. County jails keep their own rosters, usually on the sheriff's office website.
Do county jails in Minnesota 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.