North Carolina · commissary guide
North Carolina 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 North Carolina, with official links and 168 facilities in our directory.
Adding money in North Carolina state prisons
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction runs the state prison system. On its official pages, it lists these ways for families to add money to an account:
- Online or by mobile app through ConnectNetwork (ViaPath)
- By phone with credit/debit card
- Cash at Western Union (payment code NCDAC TRUST)
- Money order by mail to TouchPay with a deposit slip (not accepted at prisons)
- Only approved visitors may deposit funds
Deposit companies named by the agency: ViaPath (ConnectNetwork), TouchPay, Western Union.
Official page on sending money
Commissary rules
- Each prison has canteens selling drinks, snacks, hygiene items, stamps and batteries
County and city jails in North Carolina
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 North Carolina
5 federal facilities are in North Carolina. Federal prisons follow Bureau of Prisons rules, not state rules. See our federal prison commissary guide.
Finding your loved one
Use the official North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
Our directory lists 168 adult facilities in North Carolina, including 64 prisons and 51 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 North Carolina state prison?
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction lists these options: Online or by mobile app through ConnectNetwork (ViaPath); By phone with credit/debit card; Cash at Western Union (payment code NCDAC TRUST); Money order by mail to TouchPay with a deposit slip (not accepted at prisons); Only approved visitors may deposit funds. 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 North Carolina prison?
Use the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction official inmate locator at https://www.dac.nc.gov/dac-services/criminal-offender-searches. County jails keep their own rosters, usually on the sheriff's office website.
Do county jails in North Carolina 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
- https://dac.nc.gov/divisions-and-sections/prisons/send-money-offender
- https://www.dac.nc.gov/divisions-and-sections/institutions/canteens
Official pages checked 2026-11-03. Rules change, so confirm with the facility before sending money.