Glossary
What is Commissary Markup?
The amount a commissary adds to an item's cost when it sets the price. Markups vary by state and contract.
A commissary markup is the amount added on top of what an item costs the commissary. Some systems set it by policy. Oregon's commissary policy, for example, sets a minimum 20% markup on regular items unless directed otherwise.
Markups do not always mean prices above outside stores. A 2018 Prison Policy Initiative study found some commissary prices were lower than local stores and others only slightly higher, while some items, like digital music, cost much more.
The study said wages are often the bigger issue. In Massachusetts, a $1.87 pack of dental floss could take over 13 hours of work at 14 cents an hour.
Read more
- Prison Commissary Prices: Why They Feel So High
- How Does Prison Commissary Work? A Plain-English Guide for Families