Washington · commissary guide

Washington 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 Washington, with official links and 97 facilities in our directory.

Adding money in Washington state prisons

Washington State Department of Corrections runs the state prison system. On its official pages, it lists these ways for families to add money to an account:

Western Union online, by phone, app, or in person (Spendable sub-account only)
Securus Debit
Cashier's check or money order by mail (lowest cost)

Deposit companies named by the agency: Western Union, Securus.

Official page on sending money

Commissary rules

Commissary sub-account funds may only buy items on the facility commissary list
Commissary is operated by Correctional Industries
Indigency threshold: no more than $100 in the account over the prior 30 days

Official commissary page

County and city jails in Washington

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 Washington

2 federal facilities are in Washington. Federal prisons follow Bureau of Prisons rules, not state rules. See our federal prison commissary guide.

Finding your loved one

Use the official Washington 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 Washington?

Our directory lists 97 adult facilities in Washington, including 21 prisons and 53 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 Washington state prison?

Washington State Department of Corrections lists these options: Western Union online, by phone, app, or in person (Spendable sub-account only); Securus Debit; Cashier's check or money order by mail (lowest cost). 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 Washington prison?

Use the Washington State Department of Corrections official inmate locator at https://doc.wa.gov/records/incarcerated-data-search/search-tools-disclaimer-terms-use. County jails keep their own rosters, usually on the sheriff's office website.

Do county jails in Washington 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.