Texas · commissary guide
Texas 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 Texas, with official links and 436 facilities in our directory.
Adding money in Texas state prisons
Texas Department of Criminal Justice runs the state prison system. On its official pages, it lists these ways for families to add money to an account:
- Online through approved vendors (Access Corrections, ACE, eCommDirect, JPay, TouchPay)
- Money order or cashier's check by mail with a deposit slip
- Automatic monthly debit from a checking account
Deposit companies named by the agency: Access Corrections, America's Cash Express (ACE), eCommDirect, JPay, TouchPay.
Official page on sending money
Commissary rules
- eCommDirect purchases: up to $70 per quarter (Jan–Sep), $95 for Oct–Dec
- eCommDirect transaction fee: $3.75
- No cash or personal checks accepted
County and city jails in Texas
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 Texas
30 federal facilities are in Texas. Federal prisons follow Bureau of Prisons rules, not state rules. See our federal prison commissary guide.
Finding your loved one
Use the official Texas 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 Texas?
Our directory lists 436 adult facilities in Texas, including 84 prisons and 281 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 Texas state prison?
Texas Department of Criminal Justice lists these options: Online through approved vendors (Access Corrections, ACE, eCommDirect, JPay, TouchPay); Money order or cashier's check by mail with a deposit slip; Automatic monthly debit from a checking account. 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 Texas prison?
Use the Texas Department of Criminal Justice official inmate locator at https://inmate.tdcj.texas.gov/InmateSearch/start.action. County jails keep their own rosters, usually on the sheriff's office website.
Do county jails in Texas 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.tdcj.texas.gov/families/commissary_trust_fund.html
- https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/faq/comm_trust.html
Official pages checked 2026-11-03. Rules change, so confirm with the facility before sending money.