Family guides

Commissary guides for families

Straight answers about commissary, money deposits and costs, checked against official sources. Looking for a specific state? See commissary by state.

• Commissary Spending Limits: How Much Can Your Loved One Spend?What is a commissary spending limit? See real limits from the federal BOP, D.C., Washington, Oregon and Texas, and how deposit rules differ from spending caps.
• The Cost of Supporting a Loved One in Prison, and How to Stretch Your BudgetThe real cost of supporting a loved one in prison, with sourced data on what families pay, plus practical ways to stretch money on deposits and commissary.
• Federal Prison Commissary: A Family GuideA plain guide to federal prison commissary: sending money by MoneyGram, Western Union or the BOP lockbox, spending limits, TRULINCS and commissary lists.
• How Does Prison Commissary Work? A Plain-English Guide for FamiliesHow does prison commissary work? Learn how trust accounts, orders, weekly schedules, spending limits and indigent rules work, with real state and BOP examples.
• How to Put Money on Someone's Commissary AccountHow to put money on someone's prison commissary account: online and app deposits, money orders, kiosks and phone, what info you need, and fees to expect.
• How to Send Money to Someone in JailHow to send money to someone in jail: lobby kiosks, online and phone deposits, money orders by mail, the booking number you need, and money at release.
• Jail Commissary vs. Prison Commissary: What Families Should KnowJail commissary vs prison commissary: how short county jail stays and long state prison terms change deposits, fees, what's sold and how money is returned.
• Prison Care Packages: How They Work and What's AllowedHow prison care packages work: why approved vendors are required, package limits in California, Washington and New York, and what is usually not allowed.
• Prison Commissary Food: What People Eat and Why It MattersPrison commissary food explained: ramen, chips, tuna, mackerel and coffee, why so many people rely on it, and how cell-cooked spreads bring people together.
• Prison Commissary List: What Your Loved One Can BuySee what's on a typical prison commissary list: food, hygiene, stamps, clothing, radios, tablets and OTC medicine, with real lists from BOP and state prisons.
• Prison Commissary Prices: Why They Feel So HighWhy prison commissary prices feel so high: markups, facility commissions, extra fees and very low prison wages, with sourced numbers and the year of each.
• What Happens to Commissary Money When Someone Is Released?What happens to commissary money when someone is released: how trust balances are paid out, release card fees, gate money, and tips to keep more of it.

Need a definition? See the commissary glossary.