Glossary
What is Commissary Spending Limit?
A cap on how much an incarcerated person can spend at commissary in a week or month, set by each facility or state.
A commissary spending limit caps how much your loved one can buy in a set period, usually a week or a month. Limits differ by system and sometimes by housing unit or privilege level.
For example, a DC Department of Corrections policy dated April 2024 sets weekly limits of $100 for general population at one facility and $125 at another, and $25 for people on restricted status. Oregon ties limits to an incentive level system and may raise them during a holiday buying period.
Washington State caps commissary-designated family deposits at $500 a month free of mandatory deductions. Amounts over that go to the regular spendable account. Limits change, so check with the facility.
Read more
- Commissary Spending Limits: How Much Can Your Loved One Spend?
- How Does Prison Commissary Work? A Plain-English Guide for Families
- Federal Prison Commissary: A Family Guide