Montana · commissary guide
Montana 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 Montana, with official links and 55 facilities in our directory.
Adding money in Montana state prisons
Montana 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 through the state inmate banking portal (Montana OKTA account required)
- USPS money order by mail to the facility, payable to the inmate with DOC number
- One-time $100 money order or cashier's check while visitation approval is pending
- Senders must be approved visitors (family, one non-family member) or the inmate's attorney
Official page on sending money
Commissary rules
- Deposited funds are used to buy items from the canteen
County and city jails in Montana
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 Montana 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 Montana?
Our directory lists 55 adult facilities in Montana, including 6 prisons and 21 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 Montana state prison?
Montana Department of Corrections lists these options: Online through the state inmate banking portal (Montana OKTA account required); USPS money order by mail to the facility, payable to the inmate with DOC number; One-time $100 money order or cashier's check while visitation approval is pending; Senders must be approved visitors (family, one non-family member) or the inmate's attorney. 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 Montana prison?
Use the Montana Department of Corrections official inmate locator at https://offendersearch.mt.gov/conweb. County jails keep their own rosters, usually on the sheriff's office website.
Do county jails in Montana 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.