Virginia · commissary guide
Virginia 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 Virginia, with official links and 135 facilities in our directory.
Adding money in Virginia state prisons
Virginia 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, by mobile app, or by phone through JPay
- Cash at MoneyGram agent locations
- Money order by mail to JPay with a deposit slip
- Do not mail cash or checks to facilities
Deposit companies named by the agency: JPay, MoneyGram.
Official page on sending money
County and city jails in Virginia
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 Virginia
6 federal facilities are in Virginia. Federal prisons follow Bureau of Prisons rules, not state rules. See our federal prison commissary guide.
Finding your loved one
Use the official Virginia 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 Virginia?
Our directory lists 135 adult facilities in Virginia, including 39 prisons and 66 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 Virginia state prison?
Virginia Department of Corrections lists these options: Online, by mobile app, or by phone through JPay; Cash at MoneyGram agent locations; Money order by mail to JPay with a deposit slip; Do not mail cash or checks to facilities. 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 Virginia prison?
Use the Virginia Department of Corrections official inmate locator at https://vadoc.virginia.gov/general-public/inmate-locator/. County jails keep their own rosters, usually on the sheriff's office website.
Do county jails in Virginia 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.