Pennsylvania · commissary guide
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania, with official links and 130 facilities in our directory.
Adding money in Pennsylvania state prisons
Pennsylvania 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 or by phone through JPay
- Lobby kiosks at each state prison
- Cash through MoneyGram
- Money order by mail to JPay with a deposit slip (not accepted at prisons)
Deposit companies named by the agency: JPay, MoneyGram.
Official page on sending money
Commissary rules
- Deposit limits: $300 per card every 72 hours; money orders up to $999.99 each
County and city jails in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania
11 federal facilities are in Pennsylvania. Federal prisons follow Bureau of Prisons rules, not state rules. See our federal prison commissary guide.
Finding your loved one
Use the official Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
Our directory lists 130 adult facilities in Pennsylvania, including 37 prisons and 69 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 Pennsylvania state prison?
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections lists these options: Online or by phone through JPay; Lobby kiosks at each state prison; Cash through MoneyGram; Money order by mail to JPay with a deposit slip (not accepted at prisons). 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 Pennsylvania prison?
Use the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections official inmate locator at https://inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov/#/. County jails keep their own rosters, usually on the sheriff's office website.
Do county jails in Pennsylvania 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://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/cor/resources/for-family-and-friends/how-to-send-money.html
- https://www.pa.gov/agencies/cor/inmate-parolee-locator.html
- https://www.pa.gov/agencies/cor
Official pages checked 2026-11-03. Rules change, so confirm with the facility before sending money.